The Savannah morning news., 1903-09-18
MONUMENT DEDICATED
ON ANTIETAM FIELD
Commentaries the Federal Dead Of New Jersey
President Roosevelt Spoke in the Rain.

but for all mankind The great
American Republic would have become
a memory of derision; and the failure
of the experiment of government
! by a great people on a great scale
would have delighted the heart of
every foe of republican institutions.
Our country, now so great and so Won
derful, would have been split into lit
| tie jangling rival nationalities, each
with a history both bloody and con-
temptible 1t was because you, the men
who wear the button of the Grand
Army, triumphed in those dark years
that every American now holds his
head high, proud in the knowledge that
he belongs to a nation whose glorious
past and great present will be sue
ceeded by an even mightier future;
whereas had you failed we would all
of us, North and South, East and West,
be now treated by other nations at
the best with contemptuous tolerance
at the worst with overbearing inso-
lence.
There was no patent device for Sc
curing victory by force of arms for
! ty years ago; and there is no patent
device for securing victory for the
forces of righteousness in civil life
| now. In each case the all-impOrtant
factor was and is the character OF
the individual man. Good laws in the
state, like a good organization in an
army, are the expressions of national
character. Leaders will be developed
in military and in civil life alike;
and weapons and tactics change from
| generation to generation, as methods
of achieving good government change
in civic affairs; but the fundamental
qualities which make for good citizen
ship do not change any more than
the fundamental qualities which make
good soldiers. In the long run in the
Civil War the thing that counted for
more than aught else was the fact that
the average American had the fight
ing edge; had within him the spirit
which spurred him on through toll
and danger, fatigue 'and hardship, to
the goal of the splendid ultimate
triumph. So in achieving good govern
ment the fundamental factor must be
the character of the average citizen;
that average citizens power of hatred
for what is mean and base and I'M
lovely; his fearless scorn of cowardice
and his determination to war unyield-
ingly against the dark and sordid forces
of evil.
There are many qualities which we
need alike in private citizen and in
public man, but three above all
three for the lack of which no bril-
lfancy and no genius can atone-and
InOSe three are courage, honesty, ana
common sense.
While President Roosevelt was
speaking rain began to fall in torrents.
The stand had a canvas cover, but
the water went through it as if it
were a sieve. When a by-stander offer
ed to hold over him an umbrella, the
President waved it aside, remarl1ing,
Il don't care for it. If Indicating the
assemblage) they can stand it. 1 can"
Turning to the crowd he said, laugh
ingly: Il don't feel sorry for you Did
veterans. You will not melt. 1 do
feel sorry for the ladies'"
When he had nearly concluded his
address the President, who expressed
concern at the drenching his auditors
were getting, said: 'I'll not keep you
long now"
"Oh! Go on" cried a voice Keep
it up until tomorrow"
After the benediction had been pro-
nounced, the President held an infor-
NAL reception in the rain, shaking
hands with several hundred ex-soldiers.
The President, Governor Murphy and
their party returned to their train i'm
mediately after the ceremonies.