The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-07-07
LINCOLN WAS His TEXT
President Roosevelt's 4th Of July
Grafton at Oyster Bay.
VIE SPOKE DURING HEAVY RAIN

Curb Trusts Without Fear, Favor
or Malice-Ertlre Party Were Com
pletely Drenohed.
OYSTER Bay. n. Y. July 5.--President
Roosevelt was pleased to justify his
stewardship in review of the year
for tine benefit Of his neighbors. lie
spoke ina the open air. and yearly all OF
his important uttcrances were deliver
cd during heavy downpour of rain
When he had finished both himself
and his thousand aud more auditors
were drcnchod. The rain came sud
denly. and there was no shelter in
sight. and when the president paused
while umbrellas were raised, he re-
marked good naturally Il am sorry
for you ladies'. but ashamed of You
mon because YOU are afraid You VIII
melt
10 emphasize that his acts as presi'
dent had been free from malice he
begged pardon of the dominies and
took a text" illustrating this point
from Lincoln. The sentiment of this
text ran tnrouGh his entire speech.
ana when hc said he would curb the
trusts" De emphasized that In doing
chat duty pc would act without fear.
favor or malice.
Mrs. Rocs Welt aud the children
were present az the ceremonies.
The president said he took for his
text the words OF Abraham Lincoln,
which be- quoted rs follows,
"'ln any great national trial here
after the men OF that day as com
pared with those of this will be as
weak and as strong. as silly and as
wise. as bad and as good. Let us.
therefore. study tae incidents OF this,
as philosophy from which 10 learn
wisdom. and not as wrongs TO be-
avenged D." and he added later in the
speech a touching and characteristic
expression as his. saying, $50 long as
have been here have not Willingly
planted thorn in any mans breast
"NowIriendsTomembcr that lincoln
faced the greatest crisis that this ma
ton has seen since the Revolutionary
war a. great a crisis as the nation
can ever face. for II was a crisis
which. accordingly as the result went
one way or the other meant national
life or national death: and yet with all
his firm resolution Of purpose. with all
the mbeud.ug strength OF his Will,
with an the deep seated Intensity ana
sincerity OF his belief which alone
couH have borne him up throush
trials such as those he had 10 face il
was yet possible for him 10 say with
entire truth that he bore no rancor
even TO those who had gone hopelessly
wrong. that while cndeayorng ruth
lassly 10 cut ont the evil he yet did
his work without hatred 10 the door OF
the evil. that while never for one mo-
ment binding himself TO the truth. 10
the philosophy of what was round
about him. he yet dil not treat any
thing that was done against him as a
wrong TO bee avenged tie treated the
wrong as calling for remedy. not as
calling for vengeance
we have heard a great deal during
the past year or two Of the frighuu
niqulties IN our politics and our bust
ness and the frightful wrongdoing in
our social life. Now there is plenty OF
niqulty In business, in politics, in our
social life. There is every warrant for
our acknowledging these great evils
Put there IS no warrant for growing
hysterical about them.
Let as remember that many of the
men who do the things Of which we
complain even among those who do
the worst. are American citizens with
much the same tastes. tempers and
characters rs we have. but who have
been exposed TO special temptations
or course. there are some men who
are inherently wicked and for these
only drastic punishment will avail. But
very many wrongdoers. especially
when the wr0n4joing Is committed by
2 whole class. are wrongdoers only
throu. h force Of circumstances. Try
to remove the cause Of their wrong
loing. remove rs far as may De botl
thc power and the temptation 90 a.
wrane. bat do not cultivate towarl
them n spirit Of rlncorcus hatrc J
which in the end viii react most surely
upon ourselves.
"W lien 70 becomes neces any 70 en- h
great corporation, curb il. ] will 90
my best to help Won do 3d. But ! viii
10 it in no spirit of anger or hatred
10 the men who own on control thrt
corporation. ana If any SOCK in their
urn to DO wrong 10 the mon of means
70 DO wrong 90 tine men who own those
corporations ] will turn around AM
fight Tor them IN defense of their
rights just as hard as / will Geh'
AGAINST them when | think they ar
doing wrong.
"Distrust as 4 demagogue the man
who talks ONLY Of the wrong done by
the men of wealth. Distrust as a dema-
gogue the man who measures iniquity
by the purse. Measure iniquity by the
heart. whether a mans purse be full
or empty. partly full or partly empty.
If the man is a decent man. whether
well off or not well off, stand by him.
If he is not a decent man stand against
him whether he BE rich or poor. Stand
against him in no spirit of vengeance
but only with the resolute purpose to
make him act as decent citizens must
act If this republic is to be-