The commonwealth., 1905-11-03
In NEW ORLEANS.

IN NEW ORLEANS.
No president ever received more
tumultous reception in a city than
President Roosevelt received In New
Orleans. Thousands OF people packed
the streets. The people were cheering
Theodore Roosevelt the man, as well
as their president They remembered
not only that the president had acted
with characteristic promptness when
asked 10 send federal surgeons to take
charge Of the fever struggle. but
throughout the fight had sustained the
people Of the stricken city with ex-
pressions Of unfailing sympathy, and.
when a large share Of the public opin-
ion Of the country opposed his Tentur-
ing into New Orleans with the fever
sun prevailing. he refused to consider
the element Of personal danger, and
declared his purpose TO keep the prom
ise he made when he accepted the
original invitation to come.
When the president appeared on the
stand the thousands set up roar that
was heard for blocks. Fellow Country
men"-Again cheers. They would not
be still. The president stood viewing
that sea of cheering. frantic humanity.
The minutes passed, and there is lull
In the applause. The president said:
My coantrymen, give me chance.
After vain effort to be heard he said:
Now all of gou so home and be good. "
He stepped from the platform into
The mayors office, declaring that he
was worn out and needed rest.
The ovation given the president
throughout the parade surpassed any
thing Of the kind ever seen In New Or
leans. There was scarcely moment
when the president maintained his seat
in the carriage. For two miles he
stood bowing on either side to the
cheering throng-
At the banquet the president re-
eeived q tremendous ovation The 600
guests arose and cheered as he entered.
Gov. Blanchard extended welcome on
behalf of the state The president
thanked the people for their kind re-
csption, spoke well of Louisiana's rep
resentatiyes in the senate and house
Il came down 10 see this body Of men
with heart full OF gratitude TO them
for having displayed through the trials
OF the hard summer that has passed.
those qualities of heroism which we
like to think OF as distinctly American,
and. gentlemen. in coming among you,
have the feeling Of man who, hav-
ing been at headquarters, but not in
action, goes TO see a regiment that has
been in action.
Il know that you understand, gen.
tlemcn, that the governor and mayor,
at any time during the past summer,
had hut to request my presence and
would have come down here at once,
at any time, when / could have been
of the slightest assistance 10 you in the
magnificent struggle You were wag-
ing"
Speaking Of the Panama canal he
promised that the work would be done.
II is big task but this is q big ma
lion.
Speaking Of the canal and the navy,
he said: and, mind you, gentlemen,
the two questions go together. One
thing that, as president Of this country.
| won't do, is to make bluf that
can't make good.
Il don't intend, on behalf of the ma
ton, to take any position until | have
carefully thought out whether that
position will be advantageous to the
nation, but if take it, l am going to
keep it.
But want, on behalf Of this nation.
not the peace that comes to the cow
ard and cringes for it, but the peace
Of the just man, armed, who asks it as
a right"
The president boarded lighthouse
boat and was conveyed to the armored
cruiser West Virginia, at the mouth of
the river, and started on his voyage to
Hampton Roads. He will be on the sea
four days, but win be in communica-
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