Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1905-04-14
TALKS OF .lUARADES.
President Roosevelt Says Much OF
the Men He Commanded.
PLEASED WITH TEXAS
Considered Hlmc slf Good American
Before Entering the Lone Star
State, but Says Visit Has
Made Him Better One.

San Antonio. April s.--Betwecn 75.-
900 ana 100000 persons greeted Presi-
dent Roosevelt here. The people felt
that they had as their guest, not only
the president of the United States. but
the magneic Teddy" oward whom the
people of San Antonio feel a peculiar
sense CT the proprietorship on account
OF the fact that It was here that the
regiment wac organized which started
him on his way to the white house.
The president was delighted with
the reception accorded him. He was
kept busy bowling right and left ac-
knowledging outbursts OF enthusiasm.
1t is seven years, approximately, since
he left San Antonio with his Rough
Riders. mo human being dreame1
that after that I would return as pres
ident of the United States" he said in
short address at the depot.
The Alamo Plaza within the shadow
Of the old Alamo, which the president,
In his speech said seven years ago,
filled him with a determination to do
nothing to reflect on the heroes who
died there, he was greeted in a man
ner which touched the deepest springs
OF his nature. His arrival was the sig
nal for a burst of cheering which last
ed until after he had taken his seat
on the stand. and which was renewed
when he arose to respond to the address
OF welcome bv City Alderman Kirkpat-
rick. The Jidents speech was fire.
quently puncCuated by uproarious APP
plause. He made a characteristic ad-
dress. He was pleased that San An
tonic agreed with him in ihs ideas on
race suicide. He noted with satisfac-
ton the attention Texans are paying
to education The law of the worthy
life, the effort in a cause worth striving
for was his theme. His reception
throughout Texah has pleased him.
while 1 thought was a good Ameri
can when l came to Texas" he said,
the magnetic Teddy" toward whom the
II am going away from Texas a much
better man"
In his speech the chief executive said,
among other things:
II thank you for the way in which 1
have been greeted to-day. You can
hardly imagine how much it means to
me to come back to San Antonio In this
way and 10 be received as you have
received me. (Applause.) l know that
the rest of you will not grudge my
saying a special word of acknowledge
ment 10 two sets among your citizens.
First, to the men of the great war, to
the men who wore the blue or wore the
gray in the day that tried mems souls.
My fellow citizens, infinitely more inn
portant than any president, infinitely
more important than any person. is
what is symbollzed by seeing the men
who fought in the Union army and the
man who fought in the Confederate
army standing mingled together, fellow
Americans. one in devotion and honor
and loyalty to the country, shoulder to
shoulder as fellow citizens of the
mightiest republic upon which the sun
has ever shone. Indeed. the man would
have q poor heart. a poor spirit who
would not be thrilled by such Il meet
ing IS this by such a sight as you ac-
cord me to-day, you OF the gray and
you of the blue. all one under the flag
of this reunited country (Applause)
Il suppose you must know II, but I
want to tell you that 1t was the course
the memory OF the valor, the self-sac-
riflce, the endurance you displayed in
the great war that made us of the
younger ge2erat, n feel that when the
lesser war came we wished to emulate
your course. The regiment whicn had
the honor tocomnani, aud which was