The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-24
BLESSED IS THE PEACIsSIAKER.' .
Inscribed on a Banner at Mobiles Re
ception to Roosevelt

Mobile, Ala, Oct. 24.-That peace
hath her victories no less renowned
than war" was never better exemplifed
/ than in the reception Of President Theo-
dore Roosevelt, president of the United
states. during his two hours stay in
Mobile Monday evening. There was
general closing of all business houses
and along the route of the procession
from the union depot to the stand on
Hlenvllle square, where the reception
ceremonies took place. the residences
and stores were covered with decorations
Of lights and bunting in the national
colors.
The stand was erected on Bienville
street, facing the square, which. long
before the president arrived, was filled
with a struggling crowd of citizens. 1t
was brilliant with electric lights and
! overhead the magnificent grove of live
oaks formed a canopy of green. It is
estimated that by the time the presi-
/ dent began his address there was a
crowd numbering 10000 people, within
the sound &C his voice. The president
reached the stand at O'clock where
he was received by reception commit
tee of 500 representative citizens. He
appeared to be overwhelmed with pleas
ure at the spontaneity Of his welcome.
His seat was on an elevated dais in a
chair which was built by the students
of technical school in Japan. Back
of the chair was an enormous stuffed
bear. eight feet tail, bearing in its
mouth a floral independence bell and
above its head white dove holding
streamer on which was the inscription,
| Blessed Is the Peacemaker'
The bear was killed in a hunting eX-
petition by his majesty. Alexander II.
of Russia, in 1857, according to the in
scription of a bronze plate on the base
of the mounting. and presented by Car
{ A L. f7.-. Of Cer7-
Comte 1Ynfantando, Duke de Buenevito
and fArcOs Prince d Ebodie." The house
of Ebodie became extinct in the sos.
and the effects in the palace of the.
prince were disposed of by public sale.
| The historic bear was purchased at this
sale by Hannis Taylor. then minister
plenipotentiary and ambassador of the
Madrid
oliver J. Semmes. son Of the great
confederate admiral, Raphael Semmes,
then presented to the president and
pinned upon the laoel Of his coat
| handsome souvenir badge as the gift of
the people of Mobile
/ In delivering the badge, Judge
( Semmes said:
Mr. President: I ask your attention
/ for a moment. 1 have been delegated
I by the people of Mobile to present to
you this token, a symbol Of their fealty
! as citizens of the United States. Though
! itself of little intrinsic value, yet in
/ sentiment 1t represents the loyalty, the
worth and the honor of as brave, chival-
/ ric and noble a people as is found on
the face of Gods green earth We,
proud citizens of a proud republic. feel
| and believe that you, as the head of
( that republic, will, by your broad views
and iudiciOuS actions, so unite in bonds
| of friendship all sections of our lovely
country that Americans will advance
/ till they are foremost of nations and
! may, without a misgiving defy a world
in arms. Should this awful necessity
ever arise, then the sons of the south
will be found mighty armed camp.
Take this little reminder and when you
look upon it amid your ardious and
muItffarious duties. feel and know that
the people of Mobile have buried the
past and look without fear to the fu-
ture, recognizing that you, as is shown
by your late utterances, are the preSi-
dent of the north and the south, our
whole country"
Judge Afford, chairman of the COM
tmittee on arrangements, then introduce
ed the president, who was warmly well
coined by Mayor Lyons, who paid high
tribute to him, as man, a statesman
and patriot. The formal welcome was
then delivered by Colonel Edward La
fayette Russell. one of the foremost cit
liens of Mobile and Alabama.
President Roosevelt was cheered as
he arose to speak. He thanked the peo-
pie for their magnificent reception and
spoke special words of greeting to the
Confederate veterans. who formed q
portion of his escort He referred tC
the fact that one of his uncles was II
Alabama during the civil war. Refer
: ring to the Panama canal the president
/ said he did his best to bring about its
completion for the benefit of the whole
: people, but particularly for the benefit
of the gulf states. ORIGINALLY, he said
! he favored the Nicaragua route, bu
when it was demonstrated that it mus
be the Panama canal or nothing, he IA.
vored the Panama route, as he wanted
/ to see a canal built. and one viii bs
built Notwithstanding the efforts o.
certain people who are striving by theii
Z circulation of false rumors or othe1
/ methods to delay or defeat the con
. struction of the canal, the president sale
1 they will be disappointed, for there j.
1 going to be a canal. Health conditions
on the isthmus, he said, are better nov
than ever before. The president said:
IF We build the canal We must pro
Z | tect it and police it ourselves. We mus
! therefore bring up and keep up on
navy to the highest point of efficiency
In the event of war the American
I people must rely mainly upon its volun
teer soldiers. While it is Comparatively
a simple act to turn q man into quit
3 q good soldier you can neither irnpro
I wise a battleship or the crew of q bat
tleship. It is not necessary that W
should have d particularly large navy
/ but it is necessary that ship for shiu
it should be a little the best in tn
! world
/ The president concluded his speech b
/ / referring to his pleasure at seeing tn
+ children. the future citizens Of tIi
( country.
THE fathers and mothers must see t
it that the children are properly traine
| in order to keep up the standard Of gu
> i country