New-York tribune., 1906-05-31
PRESIDENTS SPEECHES.
DeHUered at Portsmouth
"a, and Ham ptOn Institute.
GBy Telegraph to The Tribune

Fort Monroe. Va. May SO.-President Roose-
velt made two notable speeches to-day in the
Old Dominion The first was near the Naval
Cemetery at Portsmouth where he unveiled a
monument erected to the memory Of the com
rades of the Army and Navy Union who have
died in battle duty; and the second was
delivered before the negro and Indian students
of Hampton Institute
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH
At Portsmouth the President said:
This day is hanowed and sacred in our his
tory for on this day Throughout the land We
meet to pay homage TO the memory of the valiant
dead who fell in the great Civil War. No other
men deserve well of this country those to
whom we owe IL that we now have country
Moreover the men TO whose valOr owe IL that
the Union preserved have left country
reunited in fact as we'll as in name. They have
left the memory of the great deeds and the
self devotion alike of the who the
blue and of the men who wore the gray IN the
contest where brother fought brother with equal
courage. with equal sincerity of conviction. with
equal fidelity TO a high ideal. as il given to
each 10 see that ideal
Moreover 1t is a peculiar pleasure to speak to-
day under the auspices OF the Army and Navy
Union. of the union which is meant TO include
the officers and enlisted men of the regular
forces of the United States Exactly as there
is no other body of men 60 whom in the past
we have owed much TO the veterans OF
The Civil War so there is no other body Of men
among all Of citizens of to-day who a
whole deserve quite as well OF the country as
the navy Of the United States Every man who
has served well and faithfully. afioat or ashore
in the service of the United States. has shown
that he possesses certain QuaI1JleS which en-
title him in peculiar degree TO the respect OF
all his fellow citizens, while every man who is
now in the service cannot but feel himself up
lifted by the thought that in any time OF future
crisis il may be that the honor Of the whole
nation will depend upon his bearing. There rests
upon each of you tremendous burden OF
sponsibility. and therefore TO you belongs the
proud privilege of bearing that load OF RESPONSE
bility we'll
DUTIES OF CIVILIANS.
This audience is composed largely of veterans
OF the Civil War. largely of men who have
served in or are serving in the army and the navy
of the United States. They are concerned not
only with the duties OF the soldier and the
sailor, but with the duties Of the civilian. with
all matters affecting the plain. everyday citizen
as he does his everyday duties. For we must
always remember that in our country our army
and navy an army and navy made up Of
volunteers; all our forces are volunteers: our
regulars. afoat and ashore. are merely our fell
low citizens who of their free will have
taken nm this particular task The task once
through they return 10 the body of our citizen
shin. and exactly as the efficiency of our mill
tary service depends chiefly upon the efficiency
of the average enlisted man, so the efficiency OF
the nation whole depends chiefly upon the
way in which the average man performs his
plain everyday duties.
This does not mean that the leader. whether
in military or civil life. can escape bearing
peculiar burden OF responsibility. To him has
been given much and from him much VIII be de-
manded. II Is right and proper that the man
in a high position. whether his position be that
of high civilian official in time OF peace or
OF a high military naval officer in time Of
war. should receive marked degree OF credit
II he performs his difficult. delicate and response
bic task we'll, and should. on the other hand.
be held 10 an especially sharp accountability
for any shortcomings In any time of crisis the
man in high office in civil life. the man in high
command in military naval life. can. IL he
be weak or incompetent. paralyZe the actions OF
a multitude Of brave and able men who are
under him. On the other hand II in intellect.
and above all. In character. he Is able to rise
level TO the need OF the moment. he may so
combine and direct the actions of the many
under him 10 make their joint effort ire
sistible The first duty OF leader. civil or mill
tary. Is % lead and he must lead we'll Exactly
as the people must demand the highest grade
Of integrity and efficiency from their leaders in
civil affairs. so In military affairs they must
insist upon every officer devoting all the best
that there is In him TO fitting himself in the
duties OF his profession TO caring for and drill