The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-11

us, and that it's honor and its triumphs are as dear to the heart of true Amer iean who dwells anywhere inland as to a true American who dwells anywhere on the seacoast. The navy is our surest guaranty for peace, and if. war should ever come it will be the greatest safe guard for our honor and our interest. As is likewise true of our army, 1t Is manned by volunteer force; for it must never be forgotten that all our soldiers and sailors, whether regular or not, are vol unteers.
 "This lesson of preparedness does not relate merely to war it is just as true of uor ordinary civic affairs. It is as true of the nation as of the individual. Each of us does any given piece of work well or i'll, largely according to how he has previously trained himself to do it. The nation, which is but the aggregate of the individuals composing 1t, will rise or fail to rise in any great crisis according to the ideals and standards that if has kept in mind in ordinary days, and according to the way in which it hsa practically trained itself to realize these ideals and come up to these standards. We must insist upon justice and fair dealing as between man and man. We must strive each of Us to treat his fellow with an eve single to what his conduct warrants, We mrlt work hard and bear ourselves cheerfully and valiantly. We must be kindly and considerate, and yet show that at need we have iron in our blood. If we live our ordinary everyday lives after this fashion, we need have no fear that the priceless gift of free government will wither In our hands"
 Editors from all sections of the United States were assembled in the Auditorium building at the Jamestown exposition to- I..r .Ixnr1 s.f WatI zaI Editorial association, which Is holding its annual convention here..- The chief feature today will be the address of President Roosevelt at the afternoon ses- sion, followed by reception.
 The sessions of the convention opened with several addresses among which was that of w. s. Copeland, president of the Virginia Editorial association.
 large number of papers and ad- dresses are to be presented during the week and various committee reports sub mtted Among those who are on the programme 10 contribute papers are Jacob Riis of New York, Joseph Medell Mccormick of Chicago. Gov. R. B. Glenn of North Carolina Barton Meyers, gov ernor of the exploitation of the James, town exposition; John Temple Graves of Georgia and Crosby R. Moves of Wash ington. D. c. The address of the pres ident of the convention by John E. Jun kin of Sterling, Kas will be delivered tomorrow.
 President Roosevelt said in part:
 It is of course a mere trusm to say that other body of our eountrymen wield as extensive an influence as those who write for the daily press and for the periodicals. It is also a truism to say that such power implies the gravest responsibility and the man exercising it should hold himself accountable, and
 
 precisely as if he occupied any other po- siton of public trust. 1 do not intend to dwell upon your duties today, however save that 1 shall permit myself to point out one matter where it seems to be that the need of our people is vital 1t Is es- sential that the man in public life and man who writes In the public press shall both of them. if they are really good servants of the people, be prompt to as- sail wrongdoing and wickedness But in thus assaillng wrongdong. and wicked , ness, there are two conditions to be full filled, because aif unfulflled, harm and not good will result.
 Be Sure of Facts.
 "In the first place. be sure of your facts and avoid everything like hysterla or exaggeration; for to assail decent man for something of which he Is inno- cent is to give aid and comfort to every scoundrel. while indulgence in hysterical exaggeration serves to weaken, not strengthen.st stlfe statement of truth In the second place. be sure that you base your T. .i<.,