The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-08-23
Gov. Roosevelt, the Man of Destiny.

CHAUTAUQUA, N. Y, Aug. 90
Chautauqua and Chautauqua county
We'd with each other to-day 10 do honor
to Governor Roosevelt. The one pro-
vided the chief executive with enter
tainment, and the other emptied al
most its entire population on the
grounds. Not since the day, twenty
four years ago, when President Grant,
visited this famous summer school, has
there been such vast outpouring of
sasm AS was shown this afternoon in
honor of Theodore Roosevelt.
Normally Chautauqua contains about
$4,000 people; to-day the population
was trebed. Old soldiers of the civil
war gathered on the grounds to meet
and greet a fighter like themselves.
To them the Governor devoted much of
his attention. For them he reserved
his choicest compliments. "Comrade,"
he would say, 81 am more glad to meet
you than l can tell. l am, indeed"
The individual addressed, generally a
grizzled granger with Grand Army
badge, would respond with "God
bless you, Governor"
These greetings were not always con-
ventional but they were intensely
hearty and full of the real spirit of good
comradeship.
"We're going to give you boost by
and by, "shouted veteran in the storm
of complimentary things the old SOL
ders were firing at the Governor.
More emphatic and direct was the
brief Introductory speech by Bishop
Vincent, when the party assembled on
the platform of the amphitheatre. "We
have with u.s." said the Bishop, "a man
who has been hero on the battlefield,
who is now the Governor of this State,
and if / have the gift of prophecy, and
think ! have, who will in good time
be elevated to the presidency of the
United States"
The shout that greeted this predic-
ton was ample evidence of the senti-
ment of the audience. For nearly five
minutes tumult of cheers drowned
out every minor sound. Through the
din could finally be heard the words,
"He will, he willV'
AS the Governor entered he received
the Chautauqua salute and was greeted
by the Chautauqua yell. When he
arose to speak the Chautauqua choir,
comprising 500 trained voices, struck up,
"There'll be hot time in the old town
to. night" and the audience of 10000
people that was packed away in the
seats and aisles, and even slowed among
the rafters, joined in the chorus with a
vim and vigor that must have recalled
to the mind of the Governor the old
time in camp.
The Governor made a strong speech,
preaching the gospel of work and our
duty in the Philippines. Coming down
to the great question OF the times, and
referring to the States dealing with the
Iroquois he said:
CHOW from our dealings with those
Indians | regret TO say we've more to
learn what we have to avoid rather
than to do. We were bound to elevate
the Indian, but if you start to make
him travel in four or five years the
same ground it took our own race 5000
years to go over, you have put too big
a strain upon his powers. The Fllipi-
no is perhaps further advanced than
the American Indian, but the idea that
he is fit for governing nation is an
idle dream. If the American flag is
taken out OF those islands, its place
will be supplied by the flag of a more
masterful race that isn't afraid, and we
will bear the ignominy. Cheers.
"We have got to stay there. A voice:
Right you arel] We want speedy sue
cess, but speedy or not, we want to re-
tain control. l ask the support of all
Americans in the policy to keep the flag
in the Philippines until such time as
the inhabitants can stand alone, and
the sooner that time comes the more
glad shall be-"
There was no mistaking the senti.
ment of the old soldiers. They hearth
ly endorsed the Governors policy and
several times during his speech inter.
rn nted him IN tell him 40