Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-30
Changing an Old Toast.

Fioi' lIic very IlTSl udyS OIL the re-
public the first toast at any formal
banque. in this country has been 1.-THE
Prt sident Of the United States" II
was so when George Washington was
Dresiden: in the 18th century; it was So
through the 18th century and into tn
Goth The custom was borrowed from
other lands where the health of the
king or queen WAS always drum.
OH such formal occasions. but it
mas been Sd well established II this
country that nobody has uues-
toned, even in the height of
partisan strife, the honor 20 the presi-
dent or if you please, to his great Of
flee.
This year, in New York city. the GUS
tom has been broken. The toast given
and drunk At a great public dinner in
dent and Courts of the United States -
The toast given and drunk at q grea
public dinner in Brooklyn was THE
Sovereign People of the United States. "
We notice that some Of our matropOlI-
tan contemporaries do not find these
novelties pleasing. The New York
Times remarks:-
You might as We'll toast the bino-
mial thtorein, or drink to the health Of
EAn - ia ft,n
SOY ereier people of the United States.
.. The immemorial custom OF
drinking the health of the President OF
the United States at public dinners is
one that should be Faithfully honored in
the observance. Theodore Roosevelt is
a statesman of distinction, man of
great intellectual and moral worth,
and he IS President. There could be no
dinner audience In this city, there could
be no representative dinner audience in
any part of the country. that would not
with enthusiasm respond to the chair
mans invitation to drink his health
These breaches OF the ancient custom
SAVIOR Of politics or personal opposition
or some other motive homogeneous with
the occasion. and out of place at any
banquet tuble. We hope we Shall hear
no more of this nonsense OF substitu-
ton in tOastS.
The New York Mail takes the same
view OF the matter. 1t says
1t was never intended that the toast
should be merely personal one. to be
withheld or altered if the President Of
the moment were not momentarily in
favor with the banqueters. Respect for
the Office. goodwill for its incumbent
ard recognition that he embodies the
Sovereignty of the sovereign people"
are supposed to be expressed in the
toast. Our patriotic societies should
not belle their name.
The EIooltiyn Eagle tells the innova-
tors what it thinks Of them, and Of
their innovations, in a leading editorial
article nearly a column long. We
quote
TO differer tate the President from
the Presidency or the Presidency from
the President is to carry differentiation
to ahSurdity. The American people
are never absurd or unjust for q long
period The new method is absurd
and unjust. 1t can. therefore. be in
dulged in only a few instances and can
nowhere be made permanent. There
are men who do not like President
Roosevelt. There are men he does not
like. There are no men who can ignore
the fact that he is the President of the
United States. To think of the office
apart from the man or the man apart
from the office is impossible. To affect
to do SO is hypocrisy or nonsense.
There are a good many captains of
finance. stockholders and lawyers in
New York city; also several politicians
In the number are many who do not
love Theodore Roosevelt. Spite of the
petty kind is never a pretty spectacle
We do not hear that the President finds
his health any the worse because of the
failure 10 drink it at the two Deem
Der dinners in New York city.