The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-26
REUNITED.
Colonel Roosevelt With His Men
In Las Vegas.
CROUCH Riders" Took Their
Chief In Their Arms.
SPEAKS TO COMRADES.
DenOunces the Men Who Oppose
Philippine Policy.
Is There as a Soldier and Not
as Governor
SPEAKS TO COMRADES.

Las Vegas, N. NJ, June Ex-Governor
Roosevelt of New York arrived here at
1:3O o'clock Saturday afternoon and was
greeted as he stepped off the platform
of the rear car with tremendous cheer
ing from 5000 people massed around
the depot.
The noted New Yorker was clad in his
rough rider uniform and was readlly
recognized by the crowd. He was al
most lifted bodily from his feet by the
press of persons anxious to grasp ms
hand, and as he and his party mace
their way slowly to the Castaneda no.
tel the crowd Surged after hlfn- ne
looked in excellent health and seemed
to appreciate the hearty enthusiasm Oh
the people who greeted MN AS ,, ne
walked down the depot sidewalk, a line
of rough rider veterans saluted ana
Joined in the general ovation.
When Colonel Roosevelt came oppo-
site the line of rough riders, he com
menced shaking hands with the troop
ers and gave them a most cordial greet
ing He remarked: Il am mighty Slad
to see YOU boys and to be able to be
with YOU I would not have missed this
for anything. If the reunion had been
held in Alaska 1 would have gone there
to see you
The rough riders cheered him contin-
uously and were apparently equally
pleased to greet him.
The business meeting of the Rough
Riders Regimental association was
held in the Duncan opera house ana
owing to the absence of Secretary car
ter of Prescott, Lieutenant William E.
Dame of Santa Fe was chosen secretary
protein.
An address Of welcome on behalf of
the citizens of Las Vegas was made by
A A. Jones, a prominent attorney OF
this place. He said in conclusion:
I'VE are more than grateful to have
assembled here from the various states
and territories this happy throng who
join us in tending to you our hospltaIl-
ty love and affection"
Colonel Roosevelt responded as tol-
lows, his remarks at times being en-
Enthusiastically applauded:
Just at this time I would not have
left New York state for any purpose
save to attend the reunion Of my old
regiment and for that purpose I would
have gone to Alaska, or anywhere else,
for the bond that unites us to one an
other is as close as any bond OF human
friends can be. 1t was our good fortune
to be among those accepted when the
country called to arms year ago last
spring, and when ten men volunteered
for every one that could be CHOSEN L
think I may say without bOaSting that
the regiment did its duty in every way
and that its record is subject for honor
able pride, not only as regards the
members themselves, but the country
at large. 1 am proud of you because
you never complained and never finch
ed When yo-z went to war you knew
expected to encounter hardShfps, and
you took them without murmur. You
were all readiness to learn that prompt
obedience which make 1t possible TO
turn the American volunteer so soon
into a first class type of fighting man:
"Of those who landed for the brief
campaign in the tropical midsummer
against Santiago One-fOurth were killed
or wounded and three-fOurths of the re-
rnainder were at one time or another
stricken down by fever. Many died, but
there is not one among you so poor in
spirit that he does not count feVer-
wounds and death itself as nothing
compared with the honor of having been
able to serve with the regiment under
the flag of the United States in one of
the most righteous wars which this
country has seen.
This was a typical American regf-
ment. The majority of its members
came from the southwest. but not all.
We had in our ranks fasteners, CathO-
lies, Professionals, Jews, Gentiles-men
whose parents were born in Germany
or ireland, and men whose parents were
born on the banks of the James, the
Hudson, and at Plymouth Rock nearly
three centuries ago; and all were Amer
leans in heart and soul, in spirit and
purpOSe-Amer1canS. and nothing else
We knew no distinction of creed, birth
place or residence. All we cared for
was that a man should do his duty.
should show himself alert, patient and
enduring, good in camp and on the
march, and valiant in battle.
my comrades, the regiment was but
microcosm of our great country and the
principles which enabled US to make so
much out of it are those upon when
we must act in the nation itself If we
are to stand level to the needs of our
mighty destiny. In administering this
great country we must know no north,
south east or west; we must pay no
heed to a mans creed; we must be IN
different as to whether he is rich or poor
provided only he is indeed good man,
a good citizen a good American. In our
political and social life alike, in order to
permanently succeed we must base our
conduct on the Decalogue and the
Golden Rule. We must put IN practlce
those hOmely virtues, for the lack OF
which no intellectual brilliancy, no ma
terial prosperity, can ever atone 1t IS
q good thing for a nation to be rich, but
it is a better thing for nation to be the
mother of men who possess the qualities
of honesty, of courage and Of common
sense.
I'VE may have great problems ahead
of US, we Americans, as we stride along
the road to national greatness-prob-
lens of home administration, and prob
lens that effect our dealings with the
outside world. We can not solve them if
we approach them in the spirit OF leV1ty
or vainglorious boatfulness; still less
if we approach them in spirit of timid-
ity, and least of all if in dealing with
| them we do not insist upon honesty
and righteousness, upon that upright
ness of character which is the keystone
in the arch of true national greatness.
| The problems that rise from year to
year differ widely and must be met in
widely different ways, and not one OF
them can be properly solved unless we
approach it with resolute fearlessness
and with a sincere purpose to do justice
| to all men, exacting it from others, and
! ;.xacting it no less from ourselves.
Il am proud of the way in which you
! have taken up the broken threads of
your lives-in which you have gone back
| to the farm at the ranch, the mine, the