The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-10
SWORD PRESENTATION.
Ex-Governor Thompson's Address
Presidents Tribute to jenkins.

At the conclusion of the Presidents
speech President Wagner announced that
the friends and admirers of Major Jenkins
in South Carolina wished TO present a
sword to him this occasion and intro
duced Ex-Governor Thompson to the audi
ence. The former Governor was greeted
with enthusiastic applause as he stepped
forward. Governor Thompson said
MIR. President-On behalf of South Caro-
lima friends of Major Micah Jenkins i have
the honor to offer you their greetings and
ask that you will present a testimonial of
their regard and esteem to your gallant
cOmrade-in-armS in the war with Spain.
blood Snd treas sure If for no other reason
than IT, il aroused a spirit of patriotism
which cemented anew the bonds of union
among our once divided people. When the
smoke of battle cleared away and hOnors
and awards were distributed. the people OF
South Carolina saw with just pride that
hlcah jenkins mad won the laurel leaf, ana
that, in recognition of his services, he had
been promoted, your recommendation,
from a junior captain to ma or. His gal
lantry recalled wildly memories of his
heroic father. Brigadier General Micah
Jenkins, whose name and fame are dear
to South CarOlinians. 1t was the son OF
this sire Of whom you said that he was
gentle and courteous South Carolnian, up
on whom danger acted like wine In action
he was a perfect game cock, and he won
his majority for gallantry in battle. In
have had made this field officers cavalry
saber, which has been fashioned with rare
skill and taste. Upon one side the scab-
bard bears a palmetto tree and an tnscrip-
ton showing by whom and why 1t is given
and that it is presented by you; upon the
other is an extract from the history of the
Rough Riders, in which you commenced
jor Jenkins.
Mr.. President. the men and women of
South Carolina who greet you to-day nave
come to testify by their presence their es
character.
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 to their soil thus honored
by their chief magistrate. These senti-
ments l know, will also stir the breast OF
Major Jenkins: but he will be inspired by
another 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 commander, under
whose eyes he fought, and whose warm
commentator he won for efficiency, for
soldiership and for gallantry In action
Permit me- Mr.. President. TO hand you this
sabre, with the request that you present 1t
to Major Jenkins"
THE PRESIDENTS TRIBUTE.
Renewed applause marked the close of the
former Governors address. and this swelled
to an overwhelming greeting the Presi-
dent came forward with evident delight,
and, taking the sword from the hands of
Ex-Governor Thompson, turned to Major
Jenkins, who was in the undress uniform
of a major of Rough Riders. Facing Major
Jenkins, the President in ringing tones
said:
Major Jenkins. nothing could give me
greater pleasure than to hand you, my old
friend and comrade, whose courage I
again and again, and whose courage was
of temper that made IL Indifferent what
the trial was. this sabre, l am glad
n n a n Carolina
the President of the United States, but
gladder to do it as your old friend and COM
rade.'
In accepting the sword Major Jenkins
said:
Mr. President-In the Spanish-American
war L had the honor Of being the only
representative from South Carolina in that
peerless volunteer regiment-the Rough
Riders. My State, with her gentle, soft
voiced, glorious women, and her sons al
most without exception of soldier extraction.
has always demanded of her representatives
atield that they come back with their
shields or be brought back on them. With
these reflections TO start with, and later on
the proud privilege Of serving with that
thousand picked from ten thousand gallant
fellows who strove to form what was TO be
the Rough Riders and brigaded and di-
visioned with the flower of the American
army-the United States cavalry-it might
well have been expected that the single
South CarOlinian would do his duty. II /
measured up in any manner to the standard
o. these high privileges, IL is TO me mat
ter of lifelong thankfulness. Your prompt
and generous recognition of the little that
fell TO my lot to accomplish a recognition
as quickly extended 10 the soldier from
Arkansas as TO the soldier from New York
has now been followed the part my
fellOw-statesmen by the gift Of this beauti-
full sword From time immemOrial this
form of testimonial has been especially
gratifying TO its recipients. IL is as gratify-
ing TO me as this beautiful Offering by
which. Mr.. President, my fellow statesmen
have added much to their gift by their
graceful thOughtfulness IN requesting you,
my late colonel, TO present II.
In accepting this sword. sir. / wish TO
express TO my fellOw-statesmen, through
you. my deep appreciation Of the high
honor they have this day conferred upon
me and TO assure them that this sword
from now on, whether In my hand or in
that OF my son. will be consecrated TO the
common service of South Carolina and the
United States; for, thank God. that service
in the event Of war is evermore the same.
I have fought with the sons OF Hood and
Wheeler, and with the men in blue. and
again | say thank God for our reunited
best beloved country on the face OF Gods
green earth-the home OF the free, the land
of the brave-the United States
DESCRIPTION OF SWORD.
TIE sword is a beautiful weapon. on the
cover is a gold plate on which is engraved,
Major Micah Jenkins. Rough Riders"
The blade is an imported one. inlaid In
gold arabesque designs by system known
only in France. and showing also the
United States monogram and coat OF arms
and the American eagle. The hilt Is OF ex-