Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-09
THE PRESIDENT
CONTINUED from page ~

ter which the party was escorted to the
st. Johns hotel and brief rest taken,
preparatory TO attending the banquet
at the Charleston hotel.
Mrs. Roosevelt's reception at the St.
johns motel, tonight, was a brilliant af-
far. Inc pail room was eXquisitely
decorated and the reception was at
tended by 500 ladies'. Mrs. Roosevelt
and her party received the guests, who
We're introduced by Mrs. Andrew
Simonds, IT., of this city.
The banquet rendered to President
Roosevelt. tonight, at the Charleston
HOTEL was a fitting close to a day full
Of Incidents, and served to gather to-
Sether men prominent in the affairs of
the state. having solely in mind a greet
ing to the President over 500 guests
We're present. Mayor Smythe welcomed
President Roosevelt to Charleston and
the President responded. He was fire.
quently interrupted by applause. The
President said:
Mr.. Mayor and You, My Hosts and
My Fellow American Citizens:
II should indeed be but a poor Amer
icar myself were l not deeply touched
an! gratified by the way you have
greeted me, today, in this, your beauti-
full city: and, of course, l feel at home
here. (Applause). 1 think that an
American who is worth his salt has
of the United States. (Applause).
Around this table I see many men
who took part in the great war. The
war in which the younger among us
here took part was very little enc,
because it did not have to be any big
ger. (Applause). But it had one thor
oughly good effect it put the cap on
the structure which had been build
ing while we were almost unconscious
of it and it taught US how thoroughly
one we were. When we got through
that war it did not make a bit of diff
ference to us whether it was an admiral
who came from Vermont or a lieuten-
ant who came from Alabama, Zap
plause), if the man had. done his duty
in such shape as to make us each feel
an even more generous thrill Of pride
in our common nationality. The debt
that we owed him had little to do with
the section from which he came. CAP
plause).
Just IL years ago when 1 first went
to Washington, 1 was Immediately
thrown into singularly close contact
and intimacy, with a South Carolina
man. 1t was my good fortune to work
with him for three years, and for the
nine years since, and for as long as 1
shall continue to be in public life it
Will be to me ever spur to try to 90
decent duty for the republic, because
have been thrown intimately into con-
tact with as fearless and as fair mind
ed a public servant as, this country has
ever had, my old friend, your former
Governor. Hugh Thompson. Great
applause).
And from what I have known of
you and your representatives it was in
no sense a surprise, but it was a keen
pleasure to be greeted with the hearty
and general hospitality, the more than
hearty and generous hospitality which
you have shown me, today Applause).
South Carolina seems, during the
last two decades, to have definitely en-
tered upon the steady progress in
things material as we'll as in other
things.
And gentlemen, l was very glad that
in arranging for your Exposition you
not only took in the Southern states,
but that you especially included the
islands lying south of the United States,
those islands with which the events of
the last few years have made it evident
that we are bound in future to have
closer relations (applause), closer rela-
tions for our advantage and our adj
vantage can only be secured by making
it for their advantage also Cloud ap-
plause).
and ask that in our. trade relations
with Cuba we give her a marked and
substantial advantage, not merely be-
cause it will rebound to our interest to
do so, although that is true, but 1 ask