New-York tribune., 1908-12-28
THE PRESIDENTS"
MR. KENNEDY ON TOAST.
Head of Brooklyn Ne1c England So
ciefy Explains It's Custom.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.


Sir: No disrespect for Theodore Roosevelt nor
I dislike for that peerless dsapproval OF MS
policies suggested inspired the substitution at
the New England dinner in Brooklyn Of another
sentiment for the customary toast 10 The Presl-
dent" The substitution first made in 1905,
when 1t excited unfavorable comment Last
year. The New York Times discovered 4. and pub
iished editorial based complete misap-
prehension. wrote THE Times correcting It's
and explaining the for the change but
THE Times failed to print my letter and SO many
journals were misled
In monarchcal countries toast TO the sovereign
usual banquets. A toast Of patriotism TO pre-
cede the day we celebrate or the hero o. the
occasion seems be desired also in the United
States but it appears TO me the toast has oeen
badly chosen. Patriotism is not love Of the Chiel
Magistrate In 1860 after war against the un'on
hat virtually begun, a might have been goou
ratriot land vet have refused to drink toast 10
The President who still kept Floyd ano CoOo III
his Cabinet. After John Tyler had oeserteu a'i'
BETRAYED the Whie party it would have been iaIcF
cal 20 propose to E dinner of Wings toast 10 Inc
President who had arrived at his once o"His |"
the death of General Harrison Suppose nunlper
of Senators VINO conscentiously believer Anore"
Johnson had committed high crimes and were gong
TO vote on Wednesday to depose him had attended
q New England dinner the Tuesday evening pre-
ceding could they possibly have drunk 10 rue
Presd4nte'' Or suppose that Samuel j. I1idep a"u
partv of his friends had accepted an invitation 10
the New England dinner in Brooklyn in 1871 atter
General Haves had held office several months
would it not have been fagrant aHront 10 uis
tfnEllished guests have proposed that t1eg ul'h
10 The President? They would have oeeh i's''
fed IN leaving the l have seen gent'enhe"
turn their glasses upside down and decline 10 JON
in the tribute of respect when this toas' 80 80
drunk. 1t is obvious. then. that the TOAST - -
President is at times unsuited TO the pun ip0
evokirg a unanimous expression of loyalty OF even
of respect. -. IN
indeed nc loyalty due 10 Fresloen''l ~
a monarchy the allegiance (Which is ou'Sl
the loyalty (Which is sentmenp or every go -
| are due the sovereign. Every man VIZ - -
oa4ca civil or military takes oath 10 pedl - ~
allegiance 10 the sovereign. Ana, Wheulei -
| office or not every subject Is asSulheu ~ " -
that Is loyal to his sovereign. There Il "o So
| relation between president and peop'e -.sa. "
,,hro Opr President is constitutional counlailoeI
in chief of the army and navy tWhlch io'Se -,
| seldom or never Commands). ana ne Hd' p" -.
authority over the Civil Service put even i"
,oos +b.re ie no oath of fealty. no personal 10y
altv not even a duty due from either party u ~
other-except provided by law OF mite t.a-
I+;-. md ae for the rest of US. nothing Whatever
- 5,enor even respect-to The Presldeit u'iOT
! ~ 1;s character and his conduct he oeserNes .,
| earns it: as sometimes he does not mus a
| he occa sions when expression OF Iesto' -
| ,ira+ton of LOYALTY is not due Tine ffeSu7i1'
| and the toast is inappropriate lhoPP'i It
| ,ro,er IF Won wish TO pay respect 10 uhe .
| dercy; if such toast arouses enthusiasm. -.
| tho snirts of the diners, why. give ~ -. 20
orfo,,nd the office the branch Of the soVeI
! the office. ,5 5inner in
! noticed that at the New Engiah1 49, toos+
| Manhattan the toastmaster annouhceu III. ::
| - ..TbA President distinctly alludiuS u ~
- - r,toee health I would drink at any tl1ne'
80 5,,ira him greatly, and justifylng lne pr
! nosal on the ground that 'Ihe fLeeiue ,no-
| ranresentattve of the people men VIZ -
! ~ ra,resentative when the people tlieins ~
NIGHT as appropriately and as easl! iie -,
a+od7 Are duty respect, honor, allegiance 10y
| altv more due 10 the represehtauVe- ' tha,,
| ,,ats or at any time-than TO the pevpl7 -
| Ias performing all the duties or cl'lzelsHip "
time of peace and in time OF war chee ny 80
/ - .,-o,r lives for their country / SUSPECT 'A
! theodore Roosevelt would answer ethp s +ho
Rut is the President the Teprese~'a 20 tbs
| Io.,2 raniel Webster. whose views VI ~
PeoP. - ,,-ere of our government are gen
| - ~, ,,e,+ed al least in the North tnougll "o''
! In a sreech on The Presidential Fro'es' -. 80
| Vol IyI he speaks of the members OF ti'0 ~
| r,orseentatives as the representatives
rNep :, -. denies the right of the President 10
- - rank This is not the language VI t"o
Cors+it,,tion' SAYS Mr. Webster ne C ~,
tion nowhere calls him the represen'a a., =, ,s+
...,o.- ,eon1e II could not do so with 'he iea9'
/ proprety.' - ~, barring
| TT r,,shnau has something to say OeiiLl'e
| -, this matter 1.-THE doctrine OF IoSal's
| Grand old doctor refers to the way III "I'eH Wiz, =
| altv takes hold of king, autocra'' -
| car: he never thinks OF the Presioeh' Go -
90 90 49, ,ob relation as these. but he sus-
| costs If we must have a symbol upon "nlch o
! LOYALTY may gather that we take our nag anu am,
| remarks: The symbol our loyalty mas 'u :. = ~,
| the more perfect that we are distracted py l
arsonal ir,becilitfes and vices claiming homage
| in part. TO themselves. <,,,o
| on the whole, 1 think our Brooklyn lo''nuio ~
pretty good. needing no representative hoI ang
| symbol: The sovereign people of the Onteu
| C+o+ee to whom the duty and allegiance and 10y
| atty of every citizen are due
| " ELIJAH r. KENNEDY.
| President Of the New England Society In Brooklyn
Brooklyn. Dec 26, 1903
SENECA AND MIND HEALING.