The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-03
OLORADO'SCELEBRATION
ADDRESS BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT
AT COLORADO SPRINGS.
Tribute to the Liberty-Loving Pio-
neers of the Far West-Futu
of the United states.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Col, Aug. 1.-The
principal feature. of the Colorado quarto-
centennial celebration in this city to-day
was an address by Theodore Roosevelt.
Vice President of the United States, on
THE Growth of the West During the Last
Quarter of a Century On his arrival this
morning Colonel Roosevelt was welcomed
by the Governor and staff, veterans, Rough
Riders, school children and many others.
At 10 o'clock he was escorted TO North
Park, where he spoke In the open air TO
an ~assemblage of 10000 people, VINO gave
him an enthusiastic reception and frequent
ly interrupted his remarks with applause.
In opening his address he declared that,
with the exception of the admission to
statehood of California, no other event en-
phasized in such dramatic fashion the full
meaning of the growth of our country as
did the incoming of Colorado. He sketched
the system Of colonial government that eX-
listed prior to the settlement and growth OF
America, pointing out that up to that time
no scheme had been devised under which
it was possible 10 preserve both national
unity and individual freedom.
Continuing, Mr.. Roosevelt said: Some
did better than others-England, for in
stance, did far better than S~pain-but in no
case were the colonists treated as citizens
of equal right in a common country. Our
ancestors, who were at once the strongest
and most liberty-loVing among all the peo-
piles who had been thrust out into new con-
tinents, were the first TO revolt against this
SYSTEM; and the lesson taught by their sue
cess has been thoroughly learned.
I'm applying the new principles 10 our
condition we have found the Federal Con-
stitution a nearly perfect instrument. The
system of a closely-knit and indestructibie
union of free commemorative has enabled
us TO do what neither Greek nor Roman
in their greatest days could do. We have
preserved the complete unity of an ex-
panding race without impairing i'm the
slightest degree the liberty Of the indi-
vidual. When, in a given locality, the set
tiers became sufficiently numerous. they
were admitted To statehood. and thencefor-
ward shared all the rights ana duties Of the
citizens OF the oldest States. As with Column
bus and the egg. the expedient seems obvious
enough nowadays; but then il was SO novel
that a couple OF generations had TO pass
before We ourselves grasped all its features.
At last we grew to accept as automatic the
two facts OF national union and local and
personal freedom. AS whatever is anxiOm-
attic seems commonplace, we now attempt
to accept what has been accomplished as
a mere matter of course. The very COM
pleteness with which the vitality important
task has been done almost blinds ns to the
extraordinary nature of the achievement. -
Mr.. Roosevelt paid "A strong tribute 70
the men who greatly dared and greatly
did. and declared the winning OF the Vest
was THE great epic feat in the history of
our race In conclusion he said: For the
sake. not only of ourselves, but of our
children and our chlldren's children. we
must see that this big Nation stands for
strength and honesty, both at home and
abroad. In our internal policy We cannot
afford 70 rest satisfied until all that the
government can do has been done TO secure
fair dealing and equal justice as between
man and man. In the great part which
hereafter. whether we will or not. We
must play in the world at large. let US see
10 ii that we neither do wrong nor shrink
from doing right because the right is diff
fcult; thar. on tho one hand we inhict no
due regard for the honor and interest OF
our mighty Nation, and that we keep un-
suilied the renOwn OF the nag which. DC
yond all others OF the present time. OF OF
the ages of the past. stands for confident
faith in the future welfare and greatness
OF mankind"