The Indianapolis journal., 1899-05-31
COL. ROOSEVELT At NEW YORK
HIS SPEECH AT THE EXERCISES
NEAR U. S. GRANTS TOMB.
Seventh Regiment Kissed, and the
fist Cheered-President Mckinley
at the Arlington Cemetery Services.

BOSTON. Mass, May 3o-For the first
time an ex-officer of the Confederacy to-
day delivered the Memorial day address be-
fore a New England Grand Army post.
Gen. Joseph Wheeler. the cavalry leader.
who led the boys in gray at the famous
charge of Shiloh. and nearly thirty-seven
years later, beneath the stars and stripes.
cheered on the volunteers at Santiago. was
the guest of honor at the Memorial day
services OF kinsley Post, No. lS3. at Boston
Theater- The immense auditorium
h.led TO its utmost capacity. The singing
of THE Battle Hymn of the Republic" by
Comrade Myron w. Whitney and a chorus,
and the presenta ton to the audience of its
author Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, called forth
tremendous burst of applause. Rev. John
Lindsey Withrow offered prayer. and ad-
dresses were delivered by Ira B. Goodrich
of Post 49, and others. President Lncoln's
address at Gettysburg was read by COM
rade James d. Weatherbee and the post
chaplain's address was made by Rev. A. Z.
Horton. When General Wheeler arose to
speak the applause was tumultuous, cheer
upon cheer arose from thousands and it
was nearly fifteen minutes before the gen-
eral could make himself heard.
General Wheeler opened his speech with
an eloquent tribute to the part played by
Massachusetts IN the history of the Ameri-
can commonwealth. whose soldiers had
played conspicuous parts in all it's wars and
whose statesmen had ever been famous In
the halls OF Congress. He alluded to the
phophecy of Gen. Horace Binney Dargent.
who died thirty years ago, on Memorial day,
in the city OF Boston. predicting that the
day would come when this anniversary
would be celebrated "after some day Of
glory when the sons OF rebels and sons
shall have fallen side by side in some COM
mon cause OF foreign war our sires and
their sires fell side by side under the eye
Of the great rebel, the virginian. Washing
ton"
Already" said General Wheeler, 'the
words Of this prophecy have been fulfilled.
for the warriors who fell side by side at La
Guasimas. San Juan and FL Caney, men
from the North and South, among them
some of your brave boys from the Second
Massachusetts. were buried together In the
great National cemetery at Arlington, while
brave federal officer who took part in
| the great struggle of our civil war and
now the chief executive OF the Nation, by
his presence conferred honor upon their
| funeral obsequies.
Continuing, General Wheeler said: THE
enjoyment OF peace is a blessed boon TO hu-
manity, but the history Of the world from
its earliest period teaches that the only Sc
crrity for peace Is to be always prepared
and ready to engage in war. That nation
whose people are ready to respond to a call
| to arms with men and resources for any
emergency, is the one that shall most GER
tainly be able to avoid the desolation ana
| horrors of war. So long as the dominant
| spirit which controls any country Is one OF
| honor. chivalry, glory and patriotism. so
long will that nation continue to achieve
| power and greatness. The spirit OF true
! nobility taught by American mothers has
made our country the pride and fear OF
| the world
Declaring that 1t was the duty OF every
American to uphold the President and his
| Cabinet when 1t has become thoroughly
| committed TO defined policy. General
| Wheeler said Patriotic devotion car be
exercised by volunteering to serve in the
| field. but 1t may also be most profitably ex-
| erted at home by encouraging confidence
| among our people at home. Certainly no
| good and only evil can come from words
| and acts which tell rival nations that even
| portion OF our people. however few, are
| not in full sympathy nth our government.
| or what is worse. that any Americans act
| ually do sympathize with our country's ene-
| mics Such a course cannot fail to weaken
| confidence and embarrass the executive
/ power Those who insist that the power OF
| the United States is so great that IL must
| always triumph will admit difficulties or OBJ
| stacles created by some OF own people
will have the effect of retarding. at least In
| some degree. the prompt and happy resto-
| ration TO perfect and lasting peace.
| II am one OF those who firmly believe
| that whatever is is right. and / cannot
| doubt but when conditions are thrust upon
| country by a course OF events follow
| ing a well-judged and righteous action on
| the part Of the people and the government
! the consequences could not be other than
beneficial. not only TO the people Of our own
country. but to the world at large. There
| Is one sentiment which should be impressed
on every mind and instilled into every heart:
| My country. may she always be right. but
| right or wrong. my country"