The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-17
ROOSEVELT TO VETERANS.
SPEAKs IN BKOOELYN AT INTIETIM
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.

Splendid Tribute to the Bravery of the
Soldiers Who Fought in tho Civil War
Fifteen Thousand Persons Gather in
Prospect Park to Hear tho Governor.
The anniversary OF the battle OF Antietam
was celebrated in Prospect Park yesterday
afternoon. under the direction OF the Brooklyn
War Veterans Sons Association, and Gov.
Roosevelt made the principal address. There
were fully $4,000 persons In and around the
music stand. when a detachment OF the Third
Battery \. g. N. Y. fired the Governors salute
from the meadow near by. Detachments OF
boys from the Hebrew Orphan Asylum and st.
Johns Homo occupied seats directly in front OF
tho speakers stand. while fifty young girls,
dressed in white and wearing tho American
colors. were seated behind them.
Gov. Roosevelt had lunch at the Union
League Club in Manhattan and was escorted to
Brooklyn by Park Commissioner George V.
Brewer. former Senator George w. Brush and
Major Waiter Thorne. The party arrived at
the park at $40 O'Clock. and Gov. Roosevelt
was loudly cheered while he passed through
the ranks OF the veterans The exercises be-
gan with an invocation delivered by the Rev.
II. G. Bowen. Park Commissioner Brewer. who
presided, introduced the Governor. As the
latter arose the crowd cheered and cheered
until he begged them to be quiet He said:
For no other audience than this would
have come over here to-day. To speak freely.
/ wanted to 60 home. 1 am more than re-
warded by being here and am grateful to the
women for coming and wearing such beautiful
hats and dresses am particularly pleased to
see the little boys OF the orphan homes. but
the prettiest feature OF all is the girls there
with the American flags. 1t Is thlrty-seven
years ago that you. the members OF the Grand
Army went into bivouac on the eve OF one OF
the greatest battles OF the Civil War-one OF the
greatest battles OF the century. in fact. OF all
time. You saw the sun go down that was to
rise on Antietam Day
Those were the great heroic days OF the Re-
public-the days when we called for mighty
men to be equal to the necessities OF the times
Not more than once In generation is the need
met as you met it, len OF the Civil War. We
have had In this country two generationsi the
generation for which Washington fought and
founded the Union and the one for which Abe
Lincoln fought and preserved tho Union which
now stand In the front Of the nations OF man
kind. You left us not only the deeds that have
been done. but the memory OF that day You
not only left us the country sound, but the
standard on which it was founded and pre-
served You not only set the standard for us
in military life. but also In civic life. When the
war was ended, it was said that the men who
had fought SO we'll and who had been vic
torious. would fight each other but you proved
that a fslsehood. by each man returning homo
four years before. and America sprang to the
fore helmeted queen among nations. 1t Is
not given to US to have terrible responsible
ties as you had. who were confronted with
danger. or doing the deeds that you did. 1t Is
given to u.s. however. to preserve in times OF
peace all that these men won In tho time Of
war. and to perpetuate this Government In
civic and social life alike. The qualities you
showed on the field OF battle the same
,n1i hat ha oh In nd
public life. II this nation shall live. You showed
patriotism. love OF country and disinterested-
ness.
MY countrymen. In civic life We must also
show the same spirit 1t can't be done by sit
ting in the easy chair in the evening. That
don't make you patriotic. You must try and
do your work as a man among men. You
didn't win the battles in that way. You needed
tho hardihood OF true men In civic life II
men don't try to make Righteousness triumph.
they have themselves to blame il they don't 60
right.
You have got to have courage to strive, or
your virtue will be OF very little account You
must not only have courage and patriotism but
must have the courage to work. You must take
tho rough with the smooth. You feel extreme
pride in looking back. not at the days OF ease
and rest, but at the years OF strain. patience.
and privations. You know what 1t was to suf-
night In the frozen mud OF the Virginia winter.
You saw the fever beds in the hospitals. You
saw regiments lose four-fltths Of their men.
either by being wounded or killed. You
struggled and were defeated. and after defeat
you clenched your teeth and went at 1t again.
and came out victorious. Did you regret iti"
NO." exclaimed the veteran.
Hardy" continued the Governor. DO you
think that every person feels pity for you? No
la, h,,f Ipoira tan for
work. Aud then at Antietam; to see the tri-
ulnphant attack and repulse until the mighty
hammers Of the North smote down the swords
OF the South. 1t was given to you to win. and
no men in this country have to their credit
what you have to yours. We OF to-day have no
such credit. but we can learn to so conduct this
Government that it may stand as worthy
monument to the valor and patriotism OF the
men OF the Civil War. War was pretty practi-
GAL. Civil life Is protected. but you must have
enthusiasm for the work.
You did good deal moro than S13 worth
month OF fighting, but you won glory in the
work and realize tho responsibilities for the
work itself We have got to encourage that
spirit. We have got to put into civil life what
these men did when the country called for
them for tho war We have got to show disin-
tarestedness, with n lofty resolution to dare
and to do In order to bring about success.
But Jet us not only do our duty within the
borders OF our nation. We must never let the
nation shirk from doing its duty. no difference
what 1t 10. so long called upon among the
nations OF the world. Our flag has been placed
In the Arctic regions and the tropical islands
Ali these things make a duty that not only a
great nation can perform. but what great
ton must perform. Applause / appeal to
Fou. every fellowctizen. to stand shoulder to
shoulder to do your duly within the bordersas
did the men of the Civil War. and carry our flag
until It Is as triumphant as it was at Appo-
matto1."
When Gov. Roosevelt finished three hearty
cheers were given for him He remained
on the platform until Borje's Forty-sev-
enth Regiment Band had rendered u selec-
ton entitled Charge OF the Rough Riders at
San Juan HILL" Gov Roosevelt listened at
tentIvey and kept time with the ifes and
drnma by sMinRing his head from side TO side.