The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-18
RoOSEVELrs FINAL WELCOME.
Comes From sons OF Revolution Who
Present 20 Him = Badge.

Comes From sons OF Revolution Who
Present 20 Him = Badge.
President Roosevelt was the guest last
n,eht Of the Empire State Society Of the
Sons OF the American Revolution At its
annual banquet in the big ballroom Of the
Hotel Astor. Mr.. Roosevelt was not among
strangers. He IL himself a member Of the
society, and when he left tho banquet room
huryinR 10 catch his train on the return
trip 10 Washington he wore the insignia
of the society, presented TO him by the
diners.
Il was 1880 O'Clock when the President
entered the ballroom. II was crowded 10
the doors, more than a thousand persons,
about as many women a. men, rubbing
elbows at the closely arranged tables.
Each diner long before the President APP
peared had been supplied with 'Presi-
dent hag,' a blue field with an eagle and
the national coat OF arms on II, and Mr..
Roosevelt and his party, as they made their
way up through the narrow aisle that had
been opened to the speakers table. were
actually hidden by the Tutoring pennants.
The President was greeted by the society's
president and toastInaster, Walter 3. Logan,
and escorted 10 his seat on Mr.. Logan'S
right.
Loeb, Commissioner McAdoo, Dr.. Stokes,
the Presidents physician. and Mike Dono-
van, Mr.. Roosevet's boxing instructor.
Mike, II was said was having the time OF
his life. He had been to the 81. Patrick's
day dinner with the Presidential party at
Delmonico's.
Commissioner McAdoo. IL was said, had
made him a detective sergeant for the day
and assigned him to duty on the stan which
guarded Mr.. Roosevelt. Mike had a seat
az the dinner near the speakers table.
The President before he took his seat
greeted his uncle Robert B. Roosevelt
warmly. The senior Roosevelt sat on the
Presidents right.
Gen. Logan In introducing Mr.. Roosevelt
sMr. President: During the earlier
exercises Of the evening / said that you
had gone TO the dinner Of the st. Patrtok's
Society first because when you came here
you were coming home. We are proud
OF the fact that the President OF the United
States Is a member Of the society and pays
his dues regularly once q year.
I'VE are very proud Of the fact that We
have as a hostage for his Continuance In
the society his grand old unols. We would
emphasize the fact that he Ia q member Of
the society, and i now have the honor to
present to him badge which will be a sign
wherever he goes that he is a son Of the
American Revolution
The President said In part:
Il am glad 70 greet not only the Sons
but the Daughters Of the American Revofu-
ton. II Is indeed a pleasure to be with
you and say words partly Of greeting 70
you and partly in reference TO what feel
should be asked Of society like this.
The Society Of the Sons Of the American
Revolution ought TO fulfil more than one
function In the first place, it should, OF
course, keep up sense OF continuity with
the past. Il is a good thing, prominently
good thing, for the nation never to lose al ght
Of what has been done by those who founded
and those who preserved the Republic.
1T IL eminently fitting that there should
be associations banded together Tor the
especial purpose Of keeping fresh In our
memory the men Of the past and what they
did But II these associations are intended
merely as a relaxation or mental exercise,
then they come amentably short Of what
they ought TO be
'fhe way to pay effective homage to the
mighty men Of the past Is to live decently
and effectively in the present.
Now, we have the right to expect every
society like this TO be a nucleus for patriotic
endeavor inthe affairs Of the day. In studying
the past societies like this should pay heed
not only 10 what Is pleasant to read about
but also TO what Is unpleasant. don't
think a diet OF all bread is good for anybody.
1T is no more beneficial TO a BODY ike
this than 1t Is 70 an individual Admiral
Coghan (pointng to the Rear Admiral
on his leftl will tell you that and don't
know better type Of the American fighting
man.
The first step in bringing the navy into
It's present degree Of mar ksmAnship was
the realization that it wasn't what 1t ought
I'VE ought not 70 permit ourselves TO be
led away in blindness by failure TO ap-
preciate whatever was wrong in the past.
Read what Washington said about the aver
age militia regiment in the Revolutionary
War and you won't find that he used COM
plimentary language.
1T is because our people declined to
accept Wsshington's judgment on the
militia that the first two years Of the War
Of 1912 resulted not only disastrously but
fatally. We didn't begin to win on land
until we had evolved through mighty hard
knocks n small army on the northern from
tire which, when evolved, proved capable
Of doing what no army OF Continental
Il ask a society like this 10 teach the
truth. the truth that helps even IL Il bnrtH
In the helping. Don't be afraid Of pointing
out the defects and don't commit the orirni-
nal folly Of speaking Of the mistakes just AZ
you would speak Of the acts Of Wisdom.
Tor II you do il will be impossible 20 learn
anything from you.
President Roosevelt turned then 10 the
admiral Coghan.' said he, saw the
United States at the close OF the OWL var
one Of the great naval powers Of the earth.
He saw US in 1882 reduced 10 a power OF
fifth rate Then he saw US begin 10 build
up again until, taking into account the
ships that are being built and those that
are authorized, and above all things IA ling
into account the way In which they are
handled, we rank as one Of the big naval
powers Of the earth.
Il say we rank as such. We are a rover
potent for peace because we deliberately
faced the fact that we didn't have A navy
worth anything In 1882 The navy haS
always been my special hobby, for Il Il the
one thing above al others on which the
nation must depend 10 uphold its honor.
Eve had to educate people slowly up 10
the need Of a navy We had to overooms
the arguments OF excellent people who
said Yes, We must have fighting ahlps.
but only for defence.
THAT Is, we must have ships not for
lighting. but for parryinF. No hEht Wa
ever won by parTyinR. II that had han
pened Admiral Coghlan and hls oficers
would have been cooped up behind the
and the war never would have 0ndSd'