The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-10-27

favor just because l favor it. but l | dwon't want him to vote against 1t Just | because l favor it. And there were cer-
 tain very worthy men in both houses of | congress, among the colleagues of Louisi- ana representatives who insistently went ' against the realization of their most cherished objects ift the past, as soon as ! took them up. Now. from the represen- | tatives of Louisiana,I was sure of support | whether it was question of building up and keeping at a high point or efficiency | the United States navy or whether 1t | was a question of building the Panama Canal. Great applause.) And mind you, gentlemen, the two questions go together | One thing that, as President of this coun- l try, l won't do, is to make a bluff that l can't make good. Tremendous ap- plause.) I don't intend, on behalf of the l nation. to take any position until I have carefully thought out whether that posi- tion will be advantageous to the nation but if l take 1t l am going to keep 1t, and l am going to keep 1t, no matter what outsider goes the other way. (Applause) ) And I am sure that you gentlemen know | 1t has been an utter mistake to think of me a man desirous of seeing this nation quarrelsome; this nation eager to get into trouble. I have no respect either for the nation or for the individual that brawls; that invites trouble. and I want to see this nation do as the individual men in the nation, who would respect themselves, should do, scrupulousy re- gardful of the rights of others and hon estly endeavoring to avoid all cause of difficulty. Applause) But I want. on be- | half of this nation, the peace that comes not to the coward who cringes for it, but l the peace of the just man, armed. who l asks for 1t as a right. Tremendous ap- | plause.) And now, friends, listening to the greeting of the governor and the mayor | this afternoon I felt at once very proud | and very humble I have been greeted with words far above my worth; far | above what is merited by what I have | done. Applause and cries of mo, no.") I l didn't say that for the purpose of asking | your dissent from it. I don't say any thing unless I mean it. Now wait a min ute-I don't say anything unless I mean | it. and don't say anything to fiatter my
 audience or speak well of them unless think well of them and would speak well | of them anywhere.
 l The Summers Fight.
 l "I came down to see this body of men | this afternoon with heart full of grati- l tude to them for having displayed through | the trials of the haru summer that has |! passed those qualities of heroism which | we like to think of as distinctly Amer- can. And. gentlemen, in coming among | you this afternoon I have the feeling of | a man who, having been at headquarters, | but not in action goes to sec a regiment ! that has been in action. (Applause.) 1 ! know that you understand, gentlemen. | that the governor and mayor, at any time 1 during tho past summer, had but to re- | quest my presence and would have come down here at once, at any time when 1 | could have been of the slightest assist | ance to you in the magnificent struggle | you were waging. Tremendous applause ) | And l wish to express the profound ap- | precation and gratitude of all Americans | toward you, our fellow Americans whe l have borne the heat and burden of the | contest during the long day that has l been passing. And 1 want to say that in actual war there can be no greater and more effective heroism than was shown l by those who stayed here at their posts | by those who. being away, came back. and by those who, having planned to go
 away, instantly gave up going away and | stayed here to aid in the fight of their
 ! fellows in distress. You have had your martyrs. among them my dead lamented
 | friend. Archbishop Chapelle, but you have
 | your proud memories of service rendered
 | and the thrill that comes with the vic
 tory you have already won, and l have
 been both amused and irritated at the
 comments sometimes made by people who
 l live in other communities that were no:
 ] in danger. (Applause)
 Made Gallant Efforts.
 AS to your shortcomings-among the
 | younger men here are some who, when
 younger still. have played football, and
 they will remember how very much cas-
 fer it was to play the game from the
 side lines than on the field. Great laugh | ter and applause) Now, Louisiana and
 New Orleans. this summer, did what, so
 far as I remember, has never before been
 done in the case of similar epidemic
 of yellow fever in the United States