Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-04
VETERANS At BANQUET
Annual Function of Potomac
Department, G. A. R.
PRESIDENT A ITEM DIS
DELIVERS ADDRESS, CoMPLI-
MENTING THE OLD SOLDIERS.
Secretary Of War Speaks of His De-
partment as a Peacemaker-
The Relief Corps.

The President of the United states ant
one of the most distinguished members o.
his cabinet joined the Union veterans o
the Department of the Potomac in doing
honor to the COMMANDMENT chief OF the
Grand Army at the banquet given at the
New Willard last night. More than 2t
men, members of the order and theil
guests. were assembled about the hall
dozen tables in the great banquet hall OF
the hotel when the chaplain pronounced the
Invocation. The hall was bright with flags
Along the walls, behind the guest table anc
from the ratings of the balconies overlook
ing the hall the American colors were
draped singly and in festoons.
The first ceremony of the evening was the
presentation of the colors by the color
guard and the last thing was the playing
of the Star Spangled Banner" by the Or
chestra as the colors were escorted IRON
the hall. The whole scene was suggestive
of intense patriotism and loyalty. The ia
bles formed A gridiron, with the guest Ia
BILE as the connecting bar. Over the tables
were strewn American Beauty roses by the
score. twined with smilax and brilliant car
nations.
most distinguished company was gath
cred about these tables. The President and
his Secretary of War, the commander-ln
chief of the Grand Army and his stair. hall
4
guests from out of town were there. In
addition to the older men, the gray haired
veterans, there were numerous young men
veterans, too, some of them, in that little
war; the President referred to with some
feeling but each of his auditors felt, as he
did So that while it was a little war, 1t
was all the war there was, and they had
lone what they could to emulate the exam
pie of the men who did battle in the greater
war of the sixties. The menu was excellent
served
The speechmaking.
When the last waiter had disappeared
from the long hall Judge Ivory G. kimball,
~etiring commender of the Department OF the
Potomac, made a short address. He spoke
Of the work that had been done by the
veterans and of what it was expected
would be done in the future. He paid high
tribute to the character and work OF the
present COMMUNICATIVE chief, Gen. John c..
Black At the end of his address Judge
Kimball introduced as POSTMASTER, Mr..
Thomas 8. Hopkins. past department COM
mander. Mr.. Hopkins made a brief address
in announcing the first toast, The Pres
dent" which was drunk standing. Col.
John P Irish. naval officer of the port of
San Francisco responded to this toast.
Ambassador Bayard, during dinner In
Edinburgh. told his hearers that the Amer
lean people were so self-willed as to be I'M
governable by any other power but them
selves Col Irish said. This is the key
note of American character and Is what
nroduces men of action. There are no men
of action who have not, at times subjected
themselves to the criticism Of their fellows
All the Presidents of the United States,
from the very beginning. have shown quail
tiles of self-relance and self-respect and
self-will, which we are pleased to cali
An1ericanisnl. Since the organization an"
division of the country into political pr ries
there have been Presidents whose ~pgujay
experiences and plan of actie-, have nro.
yoked great criticism. these man were
men of action who guided the ship of state
according TO ,reir best judgment, and as
men OF Lotion their works were criticised
F'rom jefferson until today the actions OF
our executives have inspired criticism
Jefferson for making the Louisiana pur-
chase: Madison for the embargo and foI
causing the war of 1872; Jackson for his
financial policies; Polk for the Mexican
war; Lincoln who had been one of those
to criticise Polk, was himself the target
for abuse, and so on to Mckinley and
Roosevelt. The saving grace of Americ an
ism is that when a strong-hearted and
strong headed President has taken the bit
in his teeth and has established policies Of
his own making, the effect OF which could
bt seen and appreciated by all. the tive
dominant political parties have quarreled
as to which should have the credit f;r
originating these policies. No man today
would consent to give up Louisiana, which
Jefferson acquired: no man would part with
the traditions of the war of 1872; no man
wants to give up California, New Mexico
or Arizona acquired in Folks Mexican
war. and SO on down TO our present day. In
the future our sons will look back on this
time and it's turmoils and with us they will
feel that no man In the country would do
away with American law, peace and pro-
gress on the Isthmus of Panama, which we
are now endeavoring to establish"
Col. Irish then paid a high tribute to the
President and his work.
The President of the United States.
When Col. Irish had finished speaking
President Roosevelt and Secretary Loeb en-
tered the room They were received with
vociferous cheers. THE commandments
chief" the next toast, was responded to by
Gen. Black. The speaker reviewed the
work of the G. A. r. and told what it
meant to the veteran. He spoke of the
value of the organization and it's influence
on public affairs. He referred to President
Roosevelt as one of the best friends the
veteran ever had in the White House. and
assured the veteran he would receive fair
treatment there. When Gen. Black had fin
ished speaking the POSTMASTER introduced
the President
AS President Roosevelt rose to speak the
veterans jumped to their feet and cheered
him to the echo. Cheers and laughter
greeted every strong point in his address,
but at no time was the applause great
as when he leaned over the table and with
his hand outstretched, said, In greeting the
diners, land you, whom l am honored in
being allowed to call comrades" The
President said:
President Roosevelt's Address.
"Mr. Chairman, the Commander-in- Chief
of the Grand Army. and you whom I es-
TEEN myself thrice over fortunate In being
able to call comrades: 1t is indeed a pleas
ure to be with you tonight. / have been
obliged this winter to make a rule, all but
invariable, that would not attend any din
ners or social gatherings of any kind. But
when 1t comes to dinner given by the
Grand Army of the Republic with as their
guests of honor the commander-in-chiefO of
the Grand Army, why, then you must take
the consequences. And among the things
j have counted myself very fortunate In be-
ing able to do, L have been peculiarly
pleased at the task OF in some sort recog-
niZing-I won't say recogniZing-but show
ing my appreciation of the great services,
in war and in peace, as a soldier and as a
citizen, and as an administrative officer of
that gallant and loyal member of your
body. whom you have made the chief over
your body Gen. Black.
II remember quite number Of years ago
speaking to certain members of the Grand
Army and saying that while i thought envy
was, as a rule, an exceedingly bad feeling
perhaps, yet / was perfectly frank to adj