The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-05-23
ROOSEVELT'S SPEECH
TO SONS OF THE AMERICAN
REVOLUTION.
Defends the Army and Navy and
Says the Flag Has Gone to the
Philippines to Stay.

+ At the banquet which closed the con-
Press OF the Sons Of the American Rev
olution in Washington May 2, at which
/ /. G. Jones and W. II. Castle were del
egates from Honolulu, President Roose-
Welt made the following address:
! Mr.. Toastmaster, Mr.. President,
Ccmpatriots ana Fellow-Americans
| H. is a pleasure to take part IN greeting
| you this evening. Societies that culti-
vate patriotism in re present by keep
ing alive the memory of what we owe
/ to the patriotism of the past fill an in
Indispensable function in this republic.
You come here tonight from every
quarter-from every State of the re-
public and from the islands of the
Eastern seas. The republic has put W
its flag in those islands, and the flag
! will stay there. Enthusiastic APP
pause, long continuedJ.
/ Il am glad to meet you here tonight
you, the descendants of the states
men ana soldiers who fought to estab-
/ lIsh this country in 1776, some Of the
older among when, and the fathers of
the others, fought with no less YalOr
wearing the blue or the gray in the
civil war. May we now show our feal-
ty to the great men who did the great
deeds Of the past not alone by word,
but by deed May we prove ourselves
true to them not merely by paying
homage to their memory but by so
shaping the policy of this great repub-
lie as 20 make it evident that we are
rot unworthy of our sires. They did
Justice, and we will do justice. They
cid justice as strong men, not as weak
hngs and we will show ourselves
strong men and not weaklings
Il see before me men who lived in
iron times, men who did great deeds.
see here a delegate from Kentucky
who served under Farragut in the
great days of the civil war. l see
descendant of man from Connecticut
who was called Brother Jonathan.
daughter and applause) All around
these tables are gathered men the
names Of whose ancestors stand not
only for righteousness but also for
strength-for both qualities, gentlemen
Righteousness finds weakness but
poor yoke-fellow. With righteousness
must go strength to make that right
eousness of avail. And in the names
Of the mighty men of the past l ask
each man here TO do his part in seeing
that this nation remains true in deed
las well as in word to the ideals of the
past (crieS of I'VE WILL and APP
plause); to remember that we can no
more afford tC show weakness than we
has been done by any one the wrong
doer shall be punished; but we shall
not halt in our great work because
some man has happened to do wrong.
Honor to the statesmen of the past
and may the statesmen of the present
strive to live up to the example they
set; Honor to the army any navy of
the past! And honor to those gallant
Americans wearing the uniform of the
American republic who in the army
and the navy of the present day up
hold gloriously the most glorious tradi-
lions of the past
Another thing, compatriots of the
Society of the Sons of the American
| Revolution, We are Americans, and
| that means that we treat American
ism primarily as a matter of spirit
and purpose, and in the broadcast
sense we regard every man as a good
American, whatever his crieed, what
ever his birthplace, if he is true to the
| ideals of this republic.
To-day | have been down to An
napolis to see the graduating class Of
the Naval Academy; and it would
have done your hearts good to nave
seen those fine, manly outstanding
young fellows that looked every man
straight in the face without flinching.
| We may be sure that the honor of the
republic is safe in their hands. l was
glad to meet those young fellows to-
day. l am glad to meet representa-
| tives of the navy, like you, Admiral
Watson; and of the army, like you,
Gen. Breckenridge. l am glad that
we as Americans have cause to be
proud of the army and the navy of
the United States. l ask you now to
! join me in drinking to the health of
the men who in the past have upheld
| the honor of the flag, and of their sue
cessors, the soldiers and sailors Of the
present day, who, during the last three
years, have done such splendid work
| il the incOnceivably dangerous and
karassing warfare of the Eastern
tropics l thank you, fellOw-Ameri-
cans. l think you make it evident
that you intend that the flag shall
stay up!'"
Enthusiastic and long-continued APP
ulause followed the speech and toast.
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