The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-06-29
Mr.. Roosevelt's Remarkable Speech

IL
The most remarkable and unexpect-
ed feature connected with Mr.. Roose-
velt's reception in New York on
Saturday was his speech. It was
brief. in perfect good taste and i'm
bued with the spirit Of broad and en-
lightened patriotism. 1t was devoid of
boasting, Of vaingloriousness, of vehe-
mence. 1t was not the speech of
narrow and violent partisan address,
ed to a gathering Of partisans, but
message to the people of the Uni
ted States. Mr.. Roosevelt spoke
from the standpoint Of a man who is
under tremendous obligations to his
countrymen and realizes the respon-
sibilities which rest upon him. Amy
man." he said, "who has ever been
honored by being made President Of
the United States Is thereby forever
after rendered the debtor of the Amer
lean people. He Is bound through
his life to remember this as his prime
obligation. and in private life as in
public life so to carry himself that
the American people may never have
cause to regret that once they placed
him at their head"
Mr.. Roosevelt served the people as
President for nearly seven and q
half years. In that period he sent
many messages to Congress and made
many public addresses. In none Of
his speeches or his messages Is there
as fine or as impressive a sentiment
as that which we have quoted in the
foregoing from his New York address.
1t is perhaps we'll within the bounds
OF accuracy to say that in all his
public utterances he has never before
expressed so clearly and so unreserv-
edly the obligations which a man
honored with election to the ;Presi-
dency owes to the people. 1t Is a
continuing obligation, which is not
Cancelled by retirement from public
office. but is binding throughout the
life, public and private, of the man
| who has been honored supremelv by
his fellow-citizens. Mr.. Roosevelt
pledged himself in his New York
speech to do his part, so far as he
IS able. in helping solve the prob
lens which must be solved eff we of
this greatest democratic republic up
| on which the sun has ever ,hone are
to see its destinies rise to the high
level Of our hopes and it's opportuni-
ties"
Now, what is the part which Mr..
! Roosevelt will play in the solution of
those problems-the part which he
says he is ready and eager to do?"
His New York speech shows that he
! has due sense Of his Responsibilities,
that he realizes 1t is his duty to serve
the people. He considers himself "the
debtor of the American people"-not
the debtor of 4 party alone But
parties are the instrumentalities
through which the will Of the people
Is expressed and in his own time Mr..
Roosevelt will probably resume his
political activities in the ranks of
the party which has heaped honors
upon him. 1t remains to be seen
whether his lot will be cast with the
progressive wing of that party. What
ever may be his place in the Repub-
lican party, Mr.. Roosevelt may rest
assured that his career will be watch
ed with intense interest and subject
ed to closest scrutnity by his fellow
Americans. He will be Judged by the
rule which he laid own in his New
York speech, that any man who has
ever been hOnored by being made
President is bound $50 to carry HIM
self that the American people may
never have cause to regret that once
they placed him at their head" Mr..
Roosevelt first speech after his re-
in point Of breadth of spirit and eX-
allied sentiment, as the best of his
public dclivcranccs. If he lives up to
1t I'm his future political activities, he
may become an even more command
ing influence in American politics
than when ne was frankly and often
boastfIlly narrow and uncompro-
missing partisan.-Baltimorc Sun.
The Aiken County Fair Association