The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-06-01

republic as a whole Ii is Just as rrue
IN peace now as il was forty-fye years
ago in war that il is the character of
the average man that must Be the de-
termining factor in achieving national
success or going down to national dis
aster. Leadership is necessary in or
der that we gay get really good results
out OF q high average of individual
character; but without the high char
acter in the acreage individual the
leadership by itself can avail but little.
Now it is s to say this in words
which shall imply merely fiattery of the
average voter or Of the average enlist
ed man. / certainly do not intend my
words to be SO taken. 1t is a sure sign
OF weakness in any man if he is always
wanting TO be fiattered, and especially
IL he lets his head be turned by flattery.
The average voter needs TO learn and
TO keep steadily in mind the fact that
II In the last resort the real power is
his, 50 in the last resort the real re-
sponsibility is his. He can not cast of
on anyOne else the responsibility for
our governmental shortcomings. Moth
ing is cheaper than to say that the peo-
pie are all right but that the politicians
are all wrong. As a matter OF fact
politics, n therefore politicians, will
IN the long rUc represent faithfully
either the wishes or tie indifference of
the people; and if the people are in
different the results are just about as
bad as if they deliberately choose TO go
wrong. So it is With the enlisted man.
When | call attention to the high place
he holds, n must ever hold in the eS-
TEEN OF every sensible man, | do it less
with the intent n OF emphasizing the
respect due him y outsiders than with
the intention Of making him realize the
burden OF ~hOrO:aD obligation resting
upon his should erS. By unwearied eff
fort he must learn to do his duty,
whether that duty lies aloat or ashore,
whether it lies in the cavalry or the in
fantry, in the gun turret or in the en-
CINE room. He must be able to handle
himself ana to handle the formidable
and delicate mechanism intrusted to
his care in such manner that if ever it
becomes his fortune to take part in
battle TO rthe flag another page shall
be added to the many which go to
make up the long honor roll of Ameri-
can history.
In closing I ask your attention tt the
fact that our soldiers and sailors are
able to do their duty in great emer-
gencies even other than those of war.
Recently the most appalling disaster
that has ever befallen any city in our
country, the most appalling disaster
that has befallen any city Of the same
size for a century past, befell the great
and beautiful city of San Francisco.
In the midst Of their horror and pity
and sympathy the rest of our people
were rendered proud and glad by the
courage, the self-reliance, the self-com-
mand shown by the men anu women of
a Francisco themselves under the
sudden end awful calamity which had
befallen them. We had yet another
source of pride in the fact that the first
Americans outside the city who were
able to extend relief and help were the
officers and enlisted men of the garri-
son and the ships in the immediate
neighbOrhOOd of San Francisco. The
alertness, the instant response to the
demand made upon them, the mixture
of self-reliant initiative with orderly
obedience and conference Of action, the
high personal valor and the steady en-
durance and strength shown by the
soldiers and sailors of the regular army
and nav in c~oping<with this disaster,
were as great as If shown in time of
battle. Such a record should make
every true American proud of the army
and the navy and should make every
true American %resolute to see that
through our national authorities at
Washington we make such provision
by law for the maintenance the sup
port, and the training of the army and
the LAY that they shall ever stand in
the forefront of their respective profess
siOns.
UNWILLING OF THE MONUMENT.
When the president had concluded a
procession was formed to the cemetery
adjoining, where he unveiled the beau
tiful shaft erected by the army and
nav union.
The president and Admiral HarrinS-
ton, hen returned to the navy yard
where they were the guests of the ad-
miral at luncheon.
At 2 o'clock the president left on
the May1Ower for Hampton, where
he ate in the afternoon delivered a
brief address to the students Of Hamp-
ton institute.