The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-08-18
Roosevelt Sends Letter t0 | Commander.
PRAISES THE OLD SOLDIERS
Says Filipinos Find American
 Flag Necessary.
General mack Dsasvsr. His A.n~ns Aaarsss ana Takes the oues- tic. ss Pe.sis.s for tAs
 Veteran.

Boston. Aug. 17.--The Grand Army of the Republic encampment was opened today by prayer by the chaplain-in- chief. Winfield Scott of Scottsdaie. Arizona. following which Commanders in-Chief John c. Black, delivered his annual address.
 On the subject of pensions, the commander -in-chief favored the pen- sioning of veterans who have passed the age of 62, who shall be considered disabled one-half in ability to perform manual labor and shall be entitled to pension from 90 to sig a month. He pointed out that names of 47.373 new pensioners were placed on the roll dur ing the year. while 4s,156 were drop~ cost of maintaining the pension eys- tenn for the year was $144,942,e3z. In the previous year 1t was $141.752.S7O.
 The following letter from President Roosevelt to Commander Black was read:
 White House.
 Washington, August IT. 1904.
 My Dear General Black:--I have most carefully considered the invita- tion l received through you and your associates of the committee to attend the encampment of the c. A. R. con- vention at Boston. It is impossible for me to accept
 "Cme of the memories which I shall always cherish is the occasion two years ago when 1t was my good for- tune to drive along the line of the G. A. R. and afterwards from the stand to greet it as 1t passed In view. It is no disrespect to any other body of our citizens to say that the men who fought for the union In the great Civil War have a claim upon all Americans such as no other men in the country can have. It Is to you we owe the fact that we have q country at all, and every American today is under debt of personal obligation to you and your comrades. who In their youth and carly manhood. in the supreme hour of the nations need rallied to the call of Ab- raham Lincoln and after four years saw the triumph of the armies com- handed by Ulysses s. Grant
 The One Great Moment.
 There have been other crises in the history of this Government, but not since it's foundation has there been any other in which the existence of tha Government itself was at stake. There fore 1t fell to the lot of you and of those who stood with you from 1861 to 1865 to render the one service which was vital, not only to the we'll being. but to the very life of the nation.
 Four years ago, when your former comrade, my revered predecessor, Pres ident Mckinley. being unable to att tend your encampment sent his greet fngs, he used these words:
 Your patriotic spirit still inspires the people. It led the volunteer arr mics which enlisted in the Spanish war to valiant service in Cuba. Porto Rico and the Philippines and impeiled the brave men who under your comrade. MacArthur, are now maintaining Amer ican authority in the Philippines, and those under your other comrade, Chaf- fee. who have carried to our legation and to our citizens in China the pro- tection of the flag
 Winning of Philippines.
 What President Mckinley said then Is true now. Under the lead of our comrades, the Philippine Islands were won for the canse of civilization, of civ- il liberty and peace and justice. At this time 1t is only under the Amerf- can flag that the people of the Islands can preserve the public order, the in- dividual freedom and the material we'll being which have come to the mas the direct consequence of the deeds of your brothers in arms of a younger gener- ation. The work which has thus beep done will not be und one for the nation remains true to the memory of your own great deeds.
 "As the representative of all our peo- ple I bid you God-speed and send you this expression of honor and esteem in which the nation holds the members of the encampment and their comrades throughout the country.
 Sincerely yours.
 'sTheOdore R0OseveIS.~