The Washington times., 1902-06-05
Presentation SpeechMade
by Representative
blackburn.
Mr.. R0OSEVELT'S RESPONSE
Uniquely Carved Walking Stick Cut
From Near Las Guasinas, Where the
Rough Riders Fought Spaniards-
Presented by United Order of Ameri-
can Mechanics.


distance from the battle field of Las
Guasimas, Cuba, in which the Rough
Riders participated. was presented TO
President Roosevelt yesterday by dele
CATION of twenty-five members of Mount
Vernon Council, No. 10. Of the United
Order of American Mechanics.
The cane is hand-carved. and bears
representation of the cavalry insignia,
the crossed sabers, with the proper
designation of the First United States
Volunteer Cavalry. Beneath this on
streamer winding about the body Of the
cane is the record of the Presidents
various offices.
The ferrule is made from the brass
which formed part of gun carriage on
the Maine, and was worked over at the
Washington Navy Yard. 1t bears a short
description, explaining its historic in
tercst
Mr.. Blackburn's Presentation Speech.
Representative Spencer Blackburn of
North Carolina, in presenting the cane
on behalf of the committee, addressed the
President as follows:
Mr.. President: The highest ideal of
the worlds civilization is exemplified in
American citizenship. The accumulated
wisdom of sixty centuries eliminates in
the construction OF cur Republic. The
citizen is a sovereign-the sovereign can
be no more than a citizen. Mores
Utopian dream may never be realized, but
the consummate genius of the ages has
erected no monument TO the progress of
civilization as proud as the American
Republic.
'Ccnceding to all nationalities the
right to think first Of their own nat on,
We exult in the fact that the child ma
ton is the envy OF the world. There are
no monuments as lasting and impeTish-
able as the monument of individual
freedom and liberty erected in the heart
of every son of the American nation.
Our past is replete with deeds of chivalry
and patriotism upon the part of individ-
ual citizens, and each step in our ma
tional progress leaves blood stains from
the feet CT weary soldiers who gave their
lives for our country's sake; and its his
tory is written with the fadeless blood
OF heroes.
At IS my pleasure and distinguished
honor to present to you upon this &C.
casion a stick wrought by the hand of
an. American citizen from wood taken
IRON San Juan Hill, which is already
prominent in the recent history of our
Z country Upon the part of the council
OF the Junior Order OF United American
Mechanics, who makes this presenta-
ton. | beg to voice the sentiment of
100000 members of fraternal orsaniza-
tion, simply and entirely American. in
saying that the same pride was mani
tested by the members of this organ
:zation, in the dashing gallantry of
Colonel Roosevelt upon San Juan Hill
at the head of the Rough Riders, as is
felt for the successful termination of
the Administration of President Roose-
Welt
The wood from which is carved this
plain stick. b. the hand of a plain
American citizen, Mr.. Nicholson, is TAX
en- from the field upon which history re-
cords the proudest charge in the annals
OF recen; warfare, and the organization
to which the members who make this
presentation belong glories in the
progress of the civilization which it adj
vanced, the maintenance of law and
order, and the support of our flag.
The President of our country has
the answering support of every mem
Ter of this organization and where il
exists disloyalty finds no comfort, sedi-
tion no habitstion. treason no abiding
place. The red-handed son of anarchy,
trailing in the path of law and order,
seeking the life of our chief executive,
or others in high positions. finds in this
order Z living foe and the seeds which
he sows can never grow in the atmos-
phere of their presence.
Composed of the great common
masses of stalwart citizenship OF our
proud land, the Junior Order brooks no
insult to our flag. Dissertation OF our
institutions, reflection upon our re-
;igion or diminution OF our liberty. We
ere with the flag, whether floating in
the free breeze upon our own shores,
assaulted In the jungles of the Philip
pines, or guarding an open gateway to
the Orient. With one accord, we voice
the sentiment. so tersely expressed in
your own words, when as the President
of our country you said:
LET not the effortless and the
interrupted rail overmuch at strong
men. who with blood and sweat. face
years Of toll and DAYS and nights of
agony. and who lay down their lives
In remote tropic jungles to bring
the light of civilization into the
worlds dark places. The warfare
that has extended the boundaries of
civilization at the expense of bar
barism and savagery has been for
centuries one OF the most potent |
factors IN the progress Of human
fly
1.-The effort OF our country today In |
the advancement OF civilization and the |
extension of Christianity cannot be |
dwa-fed by the few open quasi support
ers of the enemy of our flag. | hope |
this evidence OF the friendship and |
kindly feeling OF the greatest patriotic !
organization in this land may In the |
future be a source of pleasure TO our |
Chief Executive, and an assurance of |
the fullest sympathy and approval OF |
genuine American citizens. in his efforts |
10 maintain the dignity Of our young
republic, improve its usefulness, expand |
its interests and extend its influence" |
The President Responds.
In accepting the gift. the President
replied:
Mr.. Blackburn, and you, my fellow
Americans-and surely no man can de-
sire to address another or be addressed
by another by prouder title than that;
Il thank you heartily. | appreciate
the gift. ! appreciate even more the
spirit that Hes behind the gift, and
shall do all that within me lies TO
make you feel that the cause of our