Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-10-24
ROOSEVELT'S
PEACE BADGE.
President Receives A Token Of
Fealty from the South Ira
Yelling in Alabama.
COTTON STATE WELCOME
Son of Admiral Semmes Said Mo
bile Has Buried the Past, Looks
to the Future"

lent itself 10 the reception of President
Theodore Roosevelt during his stay in
the capital. There was general decora.
ton of all the streets along the route of
the procession from the Union station
to the stand on Bienville square, where
the reception ceremonies took place.
The square when the president ar
rived was filed with 10000 citizens.
The area was brilliant with electric
lights, while live oaks formed canopy
OF green.
The presidents seat was on an ele-
waited das in Il chair which was built
by the students of IL technical school in
Japan. Back of the chair was an enor-
nous stuffed bear eight feet tall, bear
ing in its mouth lloral independence
bell and above its head Il white dove
holding Il strenmer, on which was the
inscription BLESSED is the peacemak.
err
Oliver ]. Semmes, son of Confederate
Admiral Raphael Semmes. then pre-
sented to the president and pinned on
the lapel of his coat handsome SOU
venh' badge as the gift of the people of
Mobile. In delivering the badge Judge
Semmes said:
Mr. President, | ask your attention
for Il moment. I'have been delegated
by the people of Mobile to present to
you this token, Il symbol of their fealty
as citizens of the United States. Though
itself of little intrinsic value. yet in
sentiment it represents the loyalty, the
worth and the honor Of as brave, chiy-
alric and noble Il people as is to be
found on the face of Gods green earth.
Judge Afford. chairman of the com
mittee on arrangements, then intro
duced the president, who was briefly
and warmly welcomed by Mayor =. ].
Lyons. who paid high tribute to him
as man. statesman and patriot. The
formal welcome was then delivered by
Colonel Edward Lafayette Russell, who
said
"Your coming among lis has been a
source of inspiration to our people,
who are familiar with your record as
a soldier and Il citizen. Your wise
craftsmanship, coupled with your pub
lie acts and public declarations, have
given them confidence in your sincerity
of purpose and patriotism. Such is the
faith of our people in you as a patriot
that they believe you would cheerfully
surrender your life rather than en-
danger the sacred trust that has been
conflded to your patriotic keeping"
President Roosevelt was cheered as
he arose to speak. He thanked the
people for their magnificent reception
and spoke Il special word of greeting
to the Confederate veterans, who form
ed a portion of his escort. He referred
to the fact that one Of his uncles was
in Alabama during the civil war; The
last time he came through Alabama he
said he was going with his own reg-
ment to the Spanish war and in that
regiment were more men whose fa-
wore the blue They displayed but one
spirit, the spirit of seeing who could
do most for our flag.
Referring 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. Origi-
nally, he said. he favored the Nicaragua
route. but when it was demonstrated
that it must be the Panama canal or
nothing he favored the Panama route
as he wanted TO see canal built and
one will be built. notwithstanding
the efforts of certain people who are
striving by their circulation of false
rumors or other methods to delay or
defeat the construction of the canal,
the president said they will be dlsap-
pointed for there is going to be a
canal I1ealth conditions on the 18TH
mus. he said, are better now than ever
before. The president said:
"If we build the canal we must pro-
tect it and police it ourselves. We
must therefore bring up and keep up
our navy to the highest point of eff
ticiency.
I'm the event of war the American
people must rely mainly upon its vol
unteer soldiers. While it is compare
lively simple act to turn Il man INTO
quite good soldier, you can neither
improvise battleship or the crew~Of
battleship. 1t is not necessary that
we should have a particularly large
navy, but it is necessary that ship for
ship it should be little the best in the
world"
The president concluded his speech
by referring to his pleasure at seeing
the children, the future citizens of this
country.
"The fathers and mothers must see
to it that the children are properly
trained in order to keep up the stand
ard of our country.
II know that the rest of you will not
grudge my saying that most of all am
touched by the sight of men who wore
the gray in the great parading here to-
day.
Il have just been presented by Judge
Eemmes with beautiful badge.
passed BY the statue Of Admiral
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