Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-08

of rulers, not to say hereditary monarchs
Washington the founder and Lincoln the
savior are without a peer. And each of
the others of fine American type,
worthy of respect and regard
In personal character, as In personal
manners, our Presidents, we proudly
say, have expressed the national life. All
of them except George Washington who
founded it and loved it. have done their
work In the national capital All of them
took a friendly interest in 1t, although JEFF
ferson who was President of our board of
education, is the only one who held a mu-
nicipal office. The capital though a sep
arate municipal corporation and not part
of the national executive government, has
always had peculiar feeling for the chief
magistrate.
"Of all the Presidents since WASHINGTON.
none has cared more for the capital, or
had more of its affectionate admiration,
than Theodore Roosevelt, the President OF
the expanded republic with its new mower
opportunity and responsibility. The uniaue
and universal devotion Of the country to
MIN is well reflected here, where he is
pest known as man. Long may It be
before history shall appraise his finished
services and achievements, now SO great
and yet apparently but begun
we may not see the imnortals while
they are with US. But, meanwhile we can
see the statesman now best known and hon.
ored around the earth, honored most as a
peacemaker. the one whom we would pre-
Ter to have taken as the typical American
truly representing the best of all sections
ana possessed, like no one since Washing
ton or the hearts Of his countrymen An
American gentleman of the twentieth CEN
tury. strong, wise, Just, kind. living at
once the strenuous and the simple life.
ieading the forces of righteousness
holding US to our ideals inspiring us 10
new patriotism, chief minister as we'll as
chlef magistrate, and loving to serve the
people whom he loves, the President OF fine
United States exalts our Just pride and
strengthens every noble endeavor."
Our Country and Our Flag.
MT w. d. Mcfarland then gave a tune
ful turn to the occasion by singing Sweet
Alice Ben Bolt" after which the presiding
o1hcer proposed toast to Our Country
ana "a IN, our fiag,' and called upon Gen. John
NJ. Wilson to reply to it. General Wilson
was fully equal to the occasion and paid
a splendid tribute to his country and to rho
flag to which his services have been ever
devoted He expressed his pleasure in be-
ing able to gather with the men of this
city who were here in its younger davs and
10 see about him many of those he had
known Is long as sixty years
They are men whose thought and life
have been full of integrity" he declared
Their lives have been Allied with Industry
and the welfare Of our beloved city
L rise, he continued, mot as an orator
or public speaker, but as a soldier de-
voted to his country, devoted to the grand
city in which he was born and in which
his father was born before him and de-
voted to the flag which he has followed for
| half century"
General Wilson gave a picturesque de.
| scription Of an incident of the night of the
| election when President Mckinley was
! chosen as President. He was passing
| through Lafayette square when search
| lights were playing on flags flown from the
| tops OF some of the prominent hotels, and
the scene was made the subject of beau.
| tiful tribute too the Inspiring effect of a
| view of the flag, to the perpetuation OF
which the general had given the better part
| OF his life. He told a pleasing story of a
] child who wanted to take the American
| flag to bed because he had heard his father
! say that wherever an American citizen may
| beat home or abroad-the flag would pro-
| tect him.
| 1T has been my fortune" said Genera
] Wilson. ITO know fifteen Presidents Of the
/ United States. ! remember while borne or
| my fathers shoulder Of seeing the inau
gural procession Of William Henry Harri-
son. I remember especially well the log
| cabin that was carried In the parade
/ Nearly sixty@four years after that 1t was
| my pleasure and fortune to serve as chair
| man of the inaugural committee that hat
| charge OF the ceremonies attending the in
| auguration OF our present President
| He told an amusing story of how Pres
| dent Roosevelt had received q letter from
an old friend of his who rad served in tn,
| Rough Rider regiment saying he was IL
| trouble and needed his assistance. The OK
comrade OF Rough Rider days stated thai
! he was under arrest for the killing OF hi!
| sister-tn-law, but he excused himself say
] ing that he did not mean to kill his sister
/ in-lawSlas he was shooting at his wife wher
the fatal bullet missed its mark.
Speaking of the President General Wilson
| declared:
| II think we can trust him In anything
and everything, I care not what it is
| Paying a glowing tribute to the flag, h,
( related an incident of the south, In which
confederate after the war was over. hat
| declared that Lincoln was the greatest O.
Americans. and with all of those who hat
| fought with him under the stars and bari
| was ready to defend the old flag as stead
| lastly as any one In the country
Gen. Wilson's popularity In the associa
| ton was well attested by the warmth o
| the reception that was given him.
The National Capital.
Mr.. Walter Humphries added greatly t,