The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-05

oyster BAY, July O.-SthnulnB palo-
headed in driving sheets of rain and
with a rubber cloak grasped tightly
about his shoulders. President Roose-
Welt yesterday morning gave what he
termed an account OF his stewardship 20
about 1000 neighbors and fellow townsmen
In meadow back OF the village
In his address the president said:
There are two or three things aoout
which / want to talk 10 you today; and
II in the presence OF domines, may ven
ture 10 speak from a text. | shall take
as my text the words OF Abraham Lin
coin. which he spoke in a remarkable
little address TO a band OF people who
were serenading him at the White House
Just after his reelection 20 the presi-
dency. He said
"In any great national trial hereafter
the men OF that day. as compared Win
those of this, will be as weak and as
strong. as silly and as wise, as bad
and as good. Let us. therefore. study the
Incidents OF this as philosophy from
which 10 learn wisdom, ana not as
wrongs 20 be avenged.
And he added later In the speech
touching and characteristic expression or
his, saying:
:" so long as have been here l have
not willingly planted thorn In any
mans breast
'It Is in 1ust that spirit that we as
nation. II we possess the power OF learn
ing Alright the lessons 10 be taught US by
Iincolns life will approach our problems
OF today We haven't got the same prob
lens nor as great problems as those with
which the men OF Lincolns generation
were brought face 10 face with. ana yet
our problems are real and great anu
upon the way in which we solve them
will depend whether or not our children
have cause TO feel pride or shame as
American citizens.
AGAINST HYsTERIA.
..r have heard a great deal during the
mast wear or two of the frightful iniqul-
ties in our political and our business ana
the frightful wrongdoings In our sociai
life. Now there is plenty OF iniduity IN
business. in politics. In our social nIs'
There is every warrant for our ackho"i-
edging these great evils but tnele
no warrant for growing hystericai aoout
them. 80,
''It is a poor trick TO spend nine-tenths
Of the time in saying that there was never
such iniauty as Is shown in TINS natlon
and the remaining tenths In saying that
we are the most remarkable nation that
ever existed We want 10 be more care
ful in praising ourselves.
emphasis in blame rs apt 10 overreach II
"Oyeremphasis in praise. as well as over
self: tust as the man who promises too
much. and especially on the stump is apt
10 strike the balance by performing 100
little.
in speaking about II do not let us lose
our heads: and. above all. let as avoid
the Wild yindictiveness preached by GER
tain demagogues-a vindictiveness as FAR
as the poles are asunder from the wise
charity of Abraham Lincoln.
Let US 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 as we
have. but who have been exposed 10
special temptations.
WORK OF CONGRESS-
This year in congress our chief task
has been 10 carry the government for
ward along the course which i think IL
must follow consistently for a number OF
years TO come. that is. in the direction of
seeking on behalf OF the people as
whole, through the national government,
which represents the people ms a whole,
TO exercise a measure OF supervision, con-
troll and restraint over the individuals,
ana especially over tne COIpoTdNlollS' VI
great wealth, in so far as the business
use OF that wealth brings IL within the
reach Of the federal government.
1--WE have accomplished a fair amount
and the reason that we have done so has
been. In the first place, because we have
not tried TO do too much and. In the
next place. because we have approached
the task absolutely free from any spirit
OF rancor or hatred.
I'm any such movement man Will find
that he has allies whom he does not like.
You cannot protect property without find
ing that you are protecting the property
Of some people who are not very straight.
You cannot war against the abuses OF
property without finding that there are
some people warning beside you whose
motives you would frankly repudiate.
But in each case be sure you keep your
own motives and your own conduct
straight When It becomes necessary 10
curb a great corporation, curb II. l will
do my best to help you do It. But I will
do IL in no spirit OF anger or hatred.
"Distrust a demagogue the man who
talks only of the wrong done by the men