The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-25
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
Importance of the National Guard in
Times of Peace and War.

After the demonstration which followed
had subsidized President Roosevelt spoke
In opening his address, he complimented
the National Guardsmen Of New Jersey
upon their soldierly bearing and profcien-
cy and continued:
"a man is of use as a nationf, guards
man for just exactly the same reasons as
he is of use as a citizen. and that is if he
sets to work with his whole heart to do his
duty for the time being. to make himself
thoroughly proficient in the line of the bust
ness he has taken up. A national guards
man who joins only to have a. good time
pretty generally does not have a good time
and certainly makes poor hand at being
Il earnestly hope and believe" continued
the President, you never will get into bat
tie, but II you do IL is going TO be mighty
important to hit the other fellow, and you
are going TO be able TO do 1t largely in con-
sequence of the way you have put in your
time, knowing your rifle until il is just part
of yourself; until you can handle II, take
care of it and use 1t. 1t has been the pride
of the American army in the past that our
troops always have used their rifles eff
GENTLY. We have prided ourselves upon
having an army OF marksCen. Our army
has given US Just pride IN II, because the
constant and Jealous effort has been to
take care of itself In the field and In all
that pertains 10 the duties OF a soldier.
~ think. gentlemen that much help can
be given 10 the National Guards OF the
States by the action of the United States
government. | want 10 see the National
Guard armed with the best and most mod
ern weapon. IApplausel I want to see the
infantry with the Krag-Jorgenson and
want TO see the artillery with the 80 gun
of the regular army. | am happy 10 say
that a bill has been passed through the
lower house which viii enable the national
government materially TO aid the National
Guard OF the different States. At the next
session l firmly believe that We Will get il
through the United States Senate, and then
l can guarantee the signature of the Pres
ident.
II think that our people have not al
ways appreciated the debt they were under
TO the National Guard A man who goes
into the National Guard and does his duty
fairly and squarely there puts the whole
country under obligation TO him Al
ways In our history il has been the case.
as TX Will be In the future, that, II war
should arise, Ii IS 10 be met mainly by the
citizen soidiers-the volunteer soldiers. We
have, IN the regular army Differed as il is
and filed with the type of enlisted men. We
have in IL an army which / firmly believe
Tor its size, IS uneQualed I'm the civilized
world; and am sure that ! can challenge
the most generous support from the Ma
uonal Guard for the regular army OF the
United States But that army is and OF
event or serious trOu le In the future the
great bulk OF our troops must come as I'm
the past they have come. from the ranks
or the people themselves. and I'm forming
those regiments the good done by the
presence IN them OF men who have served
faithfully IN the National Guard cannot
be OYerestimated. These men are ready
They know what Is expected OF them They
train others TO do the work that is needed.
Another thing, ladies and gentlemen, the
same qualities that make & man success
that make him Go his duty decently and