The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-22

enormous spread of the activity of tho national government in the care of our waterways; ultimately I believe that the national government, for instance, can do an immense amount of irrigation through certain portions of the southern states not affected by the project for the deep ening of the Mississippi, of which I am now speaking. I am confident that In most of the southern states, the loss to the farmer by the washing away of the soil of his farm, by the fact that the streams are at one period destructive to railroad interests and at another period dry and that the loss caused by that condition is infinitely the most heavy tax the farmer has to pay and believe that through the cooperation of the national government much can be done in the way or irrigation In certain of the south- ern states just as much as has already been done by irrigation In the far west and so I believe that ultimately we shall be able to canalize, to deepen a very large number of streams and water ways in the nation, but take the big rivers first, take the Mississippi and It's most prominent tributaries first. Now, my friends, I have spoken to you so far only of things affecting our material well being. They are of the utmost im- portance. It is important for a nation that there shall be a foundation of ma
 
 such foundation. I distrust the man in private life who Is filled with enthusiasm to reform mankind but who cannot SUD- port his wife and family. Let the man f1rst support his own weight, let him support himself and those dependent on him.
 Laying Foundation.
 He will find it at times a good deal of Jon, but let him do that. and if he does that he has then laid the foundation for permitting himself to become a use- full citizen in broader aspects. Now. with a nation 1t is the same thing We have q basis of material prosperity on which to build, but woe to the nation that never rears on that foundation the superstruc- ture of higher life.
 Gentlemen, you and those who fought beside you, and those who fought against you are enshrined imperishably in tho hearts of people of the entire nation, be- cause when the time came which called Tor you to risk all that you had, property. life and all for fealty to your ideal. won gladly spurned every other consideration. treating all else as n'aught compared to the chance to show your manhood on ths field of battle. (Applause)
 We honor you and those who fought under you, we honor those who fought against you because they had that fine capacity to ignore everything else, life included, when honor called. (Applause) But we need to have that spirit shown .n civil life just as much as in military life, E If ever our people become so sordid as to feel that all that counts is money, property, ignoble well being, ease and comfort, then this nation will perish as it deserves to perish from the face of the earth.
 ''In our highly complex industrial civ- ilization of today we are confronted with
 
 and overcome, not by indifference, not by a foolish optimism which is but one de- gree more foolish than a foolish pes- smism, but by resoute purpose to face the evil, to recognize 1t and to overcome it. It has been well said that in the long run the veritable truth is a safer com- panion than the safest falsehood, but we must not blind ourselves to the tendencies which tend for every evil in our modern life and there are plenty of them."
 The President said he agreed heartily that the constitution of the United States represents a fixed series of principles. Yet he held that in the interest of the people it must be interpreted, not as a straight jacket, not laying the hand of death upon all developments. but as an in- stnlment designed for the life and health, and growth of the nation.
 If it is in New York I want to see the judge that knows and feels for tho East Slde as well as tl1tn avenue, ho said.
 "I take this instance because I am &C., quainted with it in my own home and 1t applies only with a change in name every where in the country"
 Greater Navy Urged.
 The President said he wanted to see the United States deal justly with every na- tion, but he hoped that we would be in such shape that we can always rely on it's own might to protect it from the in- justice in return. He wanted all citizens to see to it that the work of building up Uncle Sans navy goes on.
 He said he would ask the legislative branch to provide enough money to keep the navy built up and provide all the coal and powder necessary for the navy to use
 The President concluded as follows:
 'Gentlemen. our nation has a wonder full future. We are seated upon a conti- nent; we front two great oceans; we can realize our future only upon condition that we do what I know what we will do; that we conduct our policy, as among ourselves In accordance with immutable righteousness; trying to get for each man and exact from each man justice, no more and no less giving to each indi- vidual the largest possible liberty of in- dividual action that is consistent with reason; that he does not wrong other individuals, and, in external affairs we will proceed upon the principle of SO bearing ourselves that 1t shall be to tho interest of all other nations to avoid forcing an unjust quarrel on us."
 
 Cut flowers for theatre parties. we'd