The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-21
Continued from page One.

Continued from page one
The ceremonies incident to the laying OF
Ifha corner stone were impressive. Inc
tton was pronounced by tho Right
|Rcv. Henry Y. Satterlee. bishop OF wash
|lnxton. the assemblage standing uncov-
|sred during the prayer. After music oy
1.-The band President Roosevelt was intro
|duced by Gen. q. L. Giilespie, chiel oI
|rnrineers u. 8. A The president was
|xiven a cordial ovation.
| PRESIDENTS REMARKS.
President Roosevelt spoke as follows;
II should be a matter OF pride and
to every American citizen
interested In the welfare Of his country
that today we lay the foundation stone
|of a building, the erection OF which sig
|nalizes a long stride forward In securing
|the efficiency OF the United States army
= step less important than that marked
.by the enactment OF the law TO create
- general staff. but a step experimenting
the passage OF the act. rounding IL out
and rendering II Of a far wider and FAR
deeper usefulness.
One word first TO the nation and then
|another word TO the army. To the ma
|tion first II has been well said that
the surest way 10 invite national disaster
1 a. for a nation to be opulent aggressive
and unarmed. The nation that Is rich,
that In so high spirited as to be some
what careless Of giving offense and that
.yet refrains from that preparedness which
| 5s absolutely necessary II efficiency In
war Is ever to be shown--such nation
| A laying deep the foundation for humil-
.iation and disaster.
MUST PLAY A GREAT PART.
A a people. whether we will or not, we
| have reached the stage when We must
play a great part In the world. IL IL not
open TO us 20 decide whether or not we
shall play IT, All we have TO decide 10
whether or not we shall play II. All we
have TO decide is whether we shall play
| Il well or ill. The part IS before us. We
have TO play Il. All that IL rests for us 10
DO IS to say that we will play IL wei.
This nation has by the mere trend OF
events been forced into a position or a
world Power during the past few years.
IL has responsibilities resting upon IL
here I'm the Occident and I'm the Orient as
we'll. II cannot bear these responsibilities
Alright unles its voice is potent for peace
and Justice and It's voice can be potent
/ for peace and justice only on condition
OF it's being thoroughly understood that
we ask peace. not in the spirit OF the
weakiing and the craven, but with the
assured self-conhdence OF the just man
armed
So much for the Lesson 20 be learned by
our people from the movement In whicf
the erection OF this building il a part.
OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE ARMY
Now a word to the officers and enlisted
men OF the army. The last two or three
years have Witnessed a notable awaken
Ing In our people 20 the well being OF tn
army. Our people are understanding a
never before the fact that the army, lik
The navy, viii do we'll in war mainly Il
proportion an it has been prepared we
In peace: that after war has begun IL 1
too late for w 20 prepare for the victory
Defeat VII come inevitably and surel
war begins and victory will come n
has been prepared for I'm time OF peac
ard on no other terms.
During the session of congress that
now closing we have seen the flrst strid
taken I'm putting the national guard. IN
militia Of tho country, on q footing :
efficiency, the first long stride taken d
the lines marked ont by Washington hin
self the first successful EFFORT made
put into effect Washington's plea, whic
Tor 11o years was disregarded by OF
people.
And again the FIRST long stride h,
been taken toward the modernizatio
toward increasing the deficiency Of u
army I'm accordance with modern metl
ods as devised by Gen. Sherman over
quarter OF a century ago.
TIME. THOUGHT AND CARE.
II takes time and thought and care
work out necessary reforms. They don
some I'm a jump. An kinds Of obstru
eions Of deliberate purpose. obstruction
~ mere inertia. distractions OF careless