Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-04-12
Saturday, April II, 1902.

the other Is an extract from the history
Of the Rough Riders, in which you
commanded Major Jenkins.
"Mr. President, the men and women
Of South Carolina who greet you today,
have come to testify by their presence
their esteem for your character, their
admiration for your achievements
and their respect for the office which
you fill-the highest in human gift.
They will be animated by sentiments of
pride and patriotism as they see one
native Of their soil who Is honored by
the chief magistrate. These sentiments
know will stir the breast of Major
Jenkins; but he will be inspired to an
other sentiment, not less noble. which
none can share with him-a sentiment
Of gratitude that he receives this sabre
from the hands Of his beloved COM
mander, under whose eyes he fought
and whose warm commentator he won
for efficiency, for soldiership and fol
gallantry in action.
Permit me, Mr.. President, to hand
this sabre, with the request that you
present it to Major Jenkins"
In handing the sword to Major Jenk-
ins, the president said:
Major Jenkins, nothing could give
Iu6 SEGdlGE plSdSulC llldll W yOo
my old friend and comrade, whose cour.
age saw again and again, and whose
courage was Of a temper that made II
Indifferent what the trial was, to hand
you this sabre. I am glad to do 1t, a:
guest of South Carolina, as the pres
ident of the United States. but gladdel
to do 1t as your old friend and com
rade."
Then stepping back, President Roose
welt. swinging his right arm above hi!
head, yelled: Three cheers for Micaf
Jenkins" and led in the yells that made
the great building tremble.
| Major Jenkins, who Is slender. sol
dierly man, who may yet be called
young, was smiling modestly as he wa
being addressed by the president. HI
was dressed In the uniform Of ma
jor in the volunteer cavalry Of tn
United States army and handled tn
sword as If he had been accustomed t
using a sabre. In accepting the blad
he said:
"Mr. President: In the Spanish
American war had the honor Of being
the only representative from Soutl
Carolina in that peerless volunteer reg
iment, the Rough Riders My state
with her gentle, soft-voiced, glorious
women, and her sons, almost withou
exception of soldier extraction, has al
ways demanded of her representative
a-field that they come back with the1
shields or be brought back on them
With these reflections to start with
and later on the privilege of serving
with that thousand, picked from tel
thousand gallant fellows who strove t
form what was to be the Rough Rid
ers,' and brigaded and divisioned witt
the flower of the American army-th
United States cavalry-it might wei
have been expected that the singl
South Carolinian would do his duty. l
I have measured up in any manne
to the standard Of these high privileges
| 1t Is to me a matter Of lifelong thank
fulness. Your prompt and generou
recognition Of the little that fell to m,
lot to accomplish-a recognition tina
was as quickly extended to the soldie
from Arkansas as to the soldier from
New York-has now been followed Of
the part Of my fellow citizens by tn
gift of this beautiful sword. From tim
immemorial this form Of testimonial
has always been especially gratifying
to it's recipient. 1t is to me. Gratefu
to me as Is this beautiful offering, m,
fellow citizens have added much t
their gift by their graceful thoughtful
ness in reauestti9e " te you' my late colonel
I'm aGcefting this sword, sir. wis
to expreSs 70 my felleY ettizens througl
you, ny deep appreciation Of the higl
honor they, haye This day conferred up
ON me, ,anh to assure them that thi
sword from now on, whether, In m.
hand or that Of my sons son. will b
consecrated to the service Of Soutl
Carolina and the. United States; fol
thank God! that service in the even
of war is evermore the same. I hav
fought with the sons Of Hood an
Wheeler, with the men in blue, an
again I say thank God for our reunite
country: the greatest, most magnifi
cent. best beloved country on the fac
Of Gods green earth-'the home Of tn
free, the land Of the brave'-the Unite
States"