Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-08

which is daily working for its development
Mr.. Warner further spoke of the interest
the President and his cabinet had taken In
welcoming the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie and the aid they have given the citizens
executive committes to entertain the guests
THE President and his1advisers," he con-
tinued, have placed more than $200,ooo,ooo
of property at your disposal. Our gates are
open to you. Enter our hearts and our
homes. You can makes,more money else
where, but you cannot get more happiness
and diversion In any other quarter OF the
globe than you can find in this capital city,
OF which you are justly proud.
Mr.. Commander-in-Chief. representing,
as you do, the great army whose ranks are
being thinned, we welcome you. Your or,
ganlzatlon is emblematic of patriotism ana
Christian character. Heroes will never die:
They may pass away, but their sons Will
have heritage that will grow as times go
on. In behalf of the citizens executive
committee we welcome you You nave
come here because you are proud OF Amerl-
can institutions. There is one man who re-
grets he cannot be here, and that man Is
Theodore Roosevelt"
Great applause followed the mention OF
the PRESIDENTS name.
He Is young and vigorous and strenuous
and he had hoped to be here to meet you
whom he loves. I have just come from his
home, and he has sent to you message.
The Presidents Letter.
The Presidents letter, which was read by
Mr.. Warner, was as follows:
Let me through you extend most hearty
greetings to the members of the Grand
Army. I have regretted greatly that my
inability to leave my room hitherto has
prevented my joining personally in the
greeting. If the weather Is good tomorrow
l shall for the first time leave the house so
that 1 may drive along the line of the pa
rade and see the men to whom this country
owes more than to any others within its
borders"
The Presidents letter was vigorously
cheered. Mr. Warner read a number OF
kilograms and letters. Fitzhugh Lee wired:
Regret other engagements will prevent
my oelns with you at great welcome meet
issues OF the civil war. We are all reunited
"a complete union of states, one flag, one
glorious country-a common heritage for
our country
Gen. r. A. Alger sent regrets that he
could not be present
Glory to the American soldier and sailor,
heroic In war, dignified and honorable in
peace he wired. You cannot do too much
for them
Regret exceedingly I cannot meet my
brothers OF the G. A. r. at your great well
come meeting" General Joseph Wheeler
telegraphed. I'VE are no longer soldiers in
war, out comrades in peace. The develop
ment or our magnificent territory requires
the services of every patriotic American. A
royal greeting to you, comrades"
Rear Admiral Schley wired from Bar Har-
Dor his regrets at not being able to greet
his comrades Of the G. A. R.
NO other place on earth has such mag
nihcent memories for them as the national;
capital, he said. GLORY to those who
Prosperity and happiness to those who
worked for the upbuilding of our country"
A letter was read from Hilary A. Her
peri, former Secretary Of the Navy, ex-
~
ment Of the Grand Army of the Republic
as well as the Confederate Veterans Assoc
citation, might tend to bring closer together
the veterans of the two great armies of the
civil war.
All the communications were cheered nar
ticularly those of Fitzhugh Lee and Flight
ing joe Wheeler
In Behalf Of the District.
When he had finished reading them Chair
B. F. Macfarland who welcomed the Grand
Army Of the Republic on the part of the
District Of Columbia
you are already at home In the capital
Of the nation. It 1t your, home by the pur-
chase of blood The grateful government
Of the District Of Columbia would gladly
welcome you If that were needed, but you
are not like other guests, for this place, of
all places, belongs to you.
I'VE cannot even offer you the freedom of
the city of Washington, for you took that
long ago when you came hurrying from
many states to the defense Of Washington
You were invested then with citizenship in
the national capital, and 1t could no more
be taken from you than the work which YOU
did in defending 1t could be undone For
four years, whether you and those who
marched with you, and who now answer to
the roll In heaven, were actually In these
streets or in the Notifications that were a
wall of fire along the hills of the District.
or I'm the farther lines Of the battle and
the bivouac, even to the Mississippi, the
gulf or the sea, you were always defending
Washington and fighting even unto wounds
and death that 1t might forever remain the
capital of the indestructible Union of in
destructible states.
You are all, therefore, Washingtonians
by the most perfect title You have am in
terest here SURPRISING that Of any who do
not actually live here, and that Of many
who are residents Of the District. Most
Of you have not been here since the national
encampment Of ten years ago. But all Of
you have followed, with affection and sym
pathy, the development and progress of the
national capital You rejoice in the beauty
Of the present, contrasting with the ugli-
ness of the war time. You want to see 1t
made the most beautiful capital on earth,
for 1t Is precious to you with all the men,
cries of the mighty struggle Of the last
century, the noblest war of history. 1t
represents In symbol all that you fought
for 1t stands for the unity, the majesty
the grandeur Of the nation, which is ma
ton and greater more powerful and more
benefcent than ever because of what was
done by the boys in blue four decades ago"
Secretary Roots Address.
Mr. Macfarlands earnest words were well
received by the big audience. Secretary
Root who had been an attentive listener to
the proceedings, was then introduced. He
spoke slowly and forcefully. The veterans
craned their necks to catch every word.
The Secretary said:
"It Is in a feeble voice that 1 will try to
express the welcome of the people to the
veterans The federal government well
comes you-aye. you are the federal govern
ment Eighty millions Of people gladly say
that you are their representatives. There
is no danger of telling you, veterans, too
often that you are welcome here, or that
rhetoric will Guido itself In telling you how
welcome you are, telling again and again
the deeds you wrought-deeds that make
your children kindle with pride and whole
ration pulsate in gratitude to you. 1t is be-
cause Of these that you have gained and so
abundantly deserve the honor, esteem,
gratitude and the immortal need Of praise
of an entire nation You are happy for
having done them, and Still live to revive
the memory of those hardships and to see
the structure you helped TO form. govern
ment in which not only are there better
opportunities for the humble to rise to