River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-02-02
ROOSEVELT PARTICIPATES IN
GRADUATING EXERCISES AT
ANNAPOLIS ACADEMY.
SAYS YOUNG MEN OWE
DEBT TO THE NATION
Cry About "Militarism" Declared to
Be Foolish and Baseless - Says
Country Must Prepare for War to
Preserve Peace.


bers of the first class at the naval
academy Monday completed their -four
years course and received their diplo
mas at the hands OF President Roose-
welt. The president and his party
from Washington arrived shortly after
ten o'clock and after a short stop at
the house Of superintendent Brown
son, of the academy, went 1T once &c
the new armory, where the exercises
were held.
President Addresses Cadets.
After being introduced by Capt
Brownson the president made an adj
dress. Although speaking directly &c
the graduating class of the naval
academy the president spoke to the
nation as we'll as to the midshipmen
Addressing them as fellow midship-
men" the president began by saying
that he was unable to see how gooC
American could tail to be a better Amer
lean after coming to Annapolis and see.
ing what the navy was and what il
was soon to be. More than any Other
people in the country" he said, lex
cept the men of your sister service, you
owe peculiar debt to the nation. But
We have right to expect peculiar
care for your interests on the part o
the representatives of the people
Derides Cry of "MAlitarism."
or all the "baseless alarms" in the
country, the president said that the
cry about militarism was the most
foolish and most baseless. mo nation
is as free from the danger of growth
of militarism as are We" he said
| The danger is lest we do not take
sufficient thought to prepare our men
and material. "If this country intends
to do it's duty on the side of law and
order then it must see to it that it i.
able to make good, should the neces-
sity arise"
Says Americans Love Justice.
Referring to the arbitration treaties
now pending before the senate the
president said every friend of peace
will join heartily in seeing that these
! treaties become a part of the supreme
law Of the land. He said this nation
seeks peace not because we are afraid
of war, but because the American peo-
pie love the eternal and immutable
laws of justice and right living. so
much" he said, .lor the general pub
! lie"
He then talked to the members Of
the graduating class, reminding them
that one of their great duties was ito
see that your shot hits" In the naval
| on fc nf
| president said, the defeated belligor
ents were defeated through no lack of
bravery but through lack of prepare
ton nv defective material. In con-
clusiC. he said: IF you will but rise
! to the level of your opportunities you
will keep and maintain the proud fame
of the American naval officer"
! At the conclusion of his address the
president presented TO the seven sue
cessful middies the sword and medals
won for proficiency in theoretical and
practical gunnary. After going to the
residence of Superintendent w. II.
! Brownson, where luncheon was served,
| the president and his immediate party
left for Philadelphia. Besides Secre-
tary Morton, his wife and daughter
and Secretary and Mrs. Taft, there
were in the party the following naval
| attaches from the foreign legations at
! Washington: Commander Takeshita,
of the Japanese legation Commander
| Hebbinghause, of the German navy,
and Capt Bautokoss, of the Russian
embassy.