New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-25
ROUGH RIDERS REUNION.
ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME TO GOVERN
OR ROOSEVELT AT LAS VEGAS.
Ew-MEXICo TO GIVE HIM MEDAL OF
HONOR-HIs SPEECH TO THE MEN
OF HIS OLD COMMAND.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNE.l ]

HONOR-HIS SPEECH TO THE MEN
OF HIS OLD COMMAND.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Las Vegas. y. NJ, June 24-Colone Theodore
Roosevelt, the crowning attraction Of the Rough
Riders reunion. arrived this afternoon. escorted
by a committee that had met him far up the
Santa Fe Railroad.
I'D have been at this reunion II had been
obliged walk and the meeting had been
in Alaska" he announced. In Las Vegas he
was met by Governor Otero Of New Mexico and
Governor Murphy Of Arizona, both Of whom ex-
tended to him warmes, greetings from the South
west. As escort to the Colonel came Lieutenants
Ferguson and Goodrich and Sergeant c. E.
Knoblauch. Of New-York. and Captain Day, Of
Indian Territory. The Governor Of New-York
especially delighted by the greeting extend
ed at Wagon Mound n. NJ. where several score
OF children. all Of Mexican blood waved Amerl-
can flags as they sang in curiously pitched
voices the hymn America In Las vegas
the popular air sounded by half dozen pands
was "A Hot Time In the Old Town Tonight
The soldiers OF the regiment were derious
in their enthusiasm over their old commander
and could scarcely be stilled long enough to
allow the regular business Of the association
to proceed at the opera House. The Cooners
speech was in his happiest mood He especla'ly
congratulated his men on the way in which they
had so uniformly settled down to the vocatIons
Of peace.
The address OF welcome on behaf OF the
citizens Of Las Vegas was made by A. A. Jones.
Colonel Roosevelt responded as follows Ms
remarks at times being enthusiastically APP
plauded:
GOVERNOR ROOSEVELTS SPEECH.
Colonel Roosevelt said in part;
Just at this time would not have lei, arjon
State for any purpose save 10 at'emp pnose 5 would
have gone Alaska or anyWhere else' cIose as
o9Rd hnd that " qn bnan Is e1dshp RI 9s can be- It was
good fortune to be those accepted "ie , r'ao
s2d Sa1 ten men volunteered for every one that
could be chosen. I think may say ~llnouL "1 80,
and that its record is subject for honorable price
not only the members themselyes @ Dut @ IT vnr
complained and never finched When you a Went
Won expected TO encounter hardships. and you took
10 learn and TO show that prompt obedience which
makes II possible 10 turn the American volunteer
80 soon into frst-class type Of fighting man VI
those OF our number who landed for the brief cam
paign In the tropical midsummer against santiago
one-fourth were killed wounded. and three
fourths OF the remainder were at one time or an an,
there is not one among you so poor IN sp,I ,tIf
he does not count fever, wounds ana death IsfI ISL
as nothing compared with the honor OF having oeeR
able with the regiment under the mas VI
the United States in one Of the most righteous
wars which this country has seen. ,r,o ma
jority Of its members came from the Southwest
but not all We had In our ranks ESsterners ,hdrs
Protestants Jews. Gentiles-men whose parents
were born in Germany or Ireland, and men whose
Hudson. and at Plymouth Rock nearly three cent
uries ago. and ali were Americans in heart and
e.se. We knew no distinction OF creec. birthplace
or residence. All cared FOR was that a man
40 Htfty ghO
patient ana enduring good in camp and on the
march and valiant In battle
THE PRINCIPLES THAT MUST RULE.
Ny comrades. the regiment was but microcosm
Of our great coHntry and the priHGples Whlcn hnsn
upon which we must act In the Nation Itself II
We are TO stand level 10 the needs OF our Destiny
In administering this great country we must Know
no North south. East or West; We must pay no
heed to mans creed; W. mus must be inqi1e no i1,i
ent as TO whether he Is rich or poor provided onIy
he Is indeed a good man. a good citizen, a GOOD
American In our political ana social NE aIlHe lr
order permanently 10 succeed We must Dase our
conduct the Decalogue and the Golden Rule
the lack OF which no intellectual brlIiancy, no
material prosperity. can ever atone. 1t IS good
thing for nation be rich. but IL is better thing
FOR a nation 10 be the mother OF men who possess
the qualities OF honesty OF courage and OF common
sense
We have many great problems ahead OF US. we
Americans. stride along the road 10 national
problems that aIect our dcallngs WIN Ille yu.sue
world. We cannot solve them II We approach them
st less II we approach them In a spirit Of tnidity.
and least Of all II in dealing with them We do not
uprishtness Of character which is the keystone in
the arch OF true national greatness The problems
that arise from year differ widely and must
be met ir wde.y different ways and not one or
them can be properly solved unless We 9pproacn IL
pose 10 90 jus.'ce 10 all men. eXacting II from
others and eXa sting It no less from ourselves.
am proud OF the way In which YOU have taken
bev ,'' go9e hack 70 the farm the ranch the mine
he tory NJ he m.
show yourselves 10 be typical American citizens,
FOR it has always been the pride Of our country that
an American. while most earnestly desirous OF
peEce. was every ready 10 sho" himself naId ana
on the other hand. when once the need had passed
he could prove that war had not hur0 him for the
work OF peace and that he was all the litter TO do
this work for having done the other too.
THE DUTIES OF PEACE.
We may be called to war but once in a genera
ton and / most earnestly hope that We shall not
have 10 face war again for many years The duties
OF peace are always with us and these must
perform all lives long. from years end 70 years
end II We are prove ourselves in very fact good
citizens OF the commonwealth We must work
hard for the sake OF those dependent upon us; We
must that our children are brought up In way
ance which We. their fathers. nave ourselves re-
ceived from those that went before us We must
do our duty by the State. We must frown upon
dishonesty and corruption. and war for honesty and
am proud Of You. my comrades. not only be-
cause you were very brave In battle, out because
when once the battle was over YOU showed your
selves always merclful 20 the weak. coward In
your ranks would have received short shrift IN
deed. but when the battle was on never knew
one OF you 70 perform an act OF cruelty. shall
keep IN mind the valOr you showed as you
fought In the iungles Of Las Guasmas as you
charged up the slopes OF San Juan Hill. and shall
keep in mind no less the way In which YOU shared
your scanty rations with the miserable refugees az
Fl Caney the way IN which YOU tried 20 help the
women and children upon whom war had laid its
heavy hand In our regiment the who hinched
from armed foe and the man who wronEed a wom-
an or a child would have met with equally quick
and grim Justice.
Tprpr.Tr To LIVING AND DEAD
Let me say a word Of those 20 whom our thoughts