Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-10-27
WATERBURY EVENING DEMOCRAT, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2 1905

was scarcely less exuberant. When the president entered the superbIy dec orated dining hall the 625 banqueters rose and gave way to frantic cheering. Every reference of Governor Blanch- ard, Mayor Behrman and President Sanders of the Progressive union to the guests brought forth perfect storm of cheers, and when the president rose he had great difficulty in speaking. Every thought he uttered was the sig nal for an extraordinary exhibition of enthusiasm. and as his speech dealt almost entirely with local subjects and had special reference to the fight against yellow fever the banquet devel- oped into unceasing laudation of the president while he was on his feet. President Roosevelt said:
 Let me at the outset express through my profound gratitude my deep appre- citation of the way in which the people of New Orleans and Louisiana have greeted me today. Gentlemen, no pres ident of the United States could be greeted as have been greeted today and not go back to take up the duties i of his office with stronger and more earnest purpose to try to represent all the splendid people whom he serves. And, governor, as you have so well said, when a man is president, when he holds any public office, questions of merely partisan character sink into ab- solute insignihcance compared with the mighty questions upon which all good Americans are united.
 l And now, gentlemen, as you have greeted me so well you have given me the opportunity to indulge myself in a luxury. There have been moments in the past when I was afraid of saying how we'll I thought of the senators and representatives in the national con gress from Louisiana for fear I might damage them. did not know but that maybe the best services I could do them was to keep still. Now am em- boldened by your generous kindness and confidence to say that it has been indeed a pleasure to deal with Louisi- ana's representatives in the senate and in the lower house of congress, because whenever I had to do with great question of national importance could go to them convinced that if I could show them it was really for the good of the nation they would stand for it. .'' GA voice, MT. President, you're a brick")
 Now, that's all ask. Sometimes 1 could not make them look at things my way That was my misfortune. But all I had to do was to be able to show them that any measure was for the country's good, and knew they would stand for it. 1 don't want any senator or any congressman to vote for any thing I favor just because I favor it, but don't want him to vote against it just because favor it.
 "One thing that as president of this country I won't do is to make bluff that can't make good. I don't intend on behalf of the nation to take any position until I have carefully thought out whether that position will be ad
 vantageods to the nation, but if I talk
 1t am going to keep 1t.
 T am sure that you, gentlemen, knoN
 1t has been an utter mistake to thin
 of me as a man desirous of seeing thi
 nation quarrelsome; this nation cage
 to get into trouble have no respec
 either for the nation or for the ir
 dividual that brawls: that invites trou
 ble, and I want to see this nation d
 as the individual men in the natio
 who would respect themselves shoul
 do, scrupulously regardful of the right
 of others and honestly endeavoring t
 avoid all cause of difficulty. But
 want, on behalf of this nation, tn
 peace that comes not to the cowar
 who cringes for 1t, but the peace of tn
 just man armed who asks 1t as right q came down to see this body c
 men with heart full of gratitude t
 them for having displayed through th
 trials of the hard summer that ha
 passed those qualities of heroism whic we like to think of as distinctly Amer can.
 T know that you understand, ger
 tIemen, that the governor and mayo at any time during the past summe had but to request my presence and would have come down here at onc' at any time when could have been O the slightest assistance to you in tn magnificent struggle you were waginl And I wish to express the profound aI preciation and gratitude of all Amer cans toward you, our fellow Americani who have borne the heat and burden c the contest during the long day tha has been passing.
 And I want to say that In actus war there can be no greater and nor i effective heroIsm than was shown b those who stayed here at their post
 and by those who. being away, cam
 back to aid in the fight of their fellow
 in distress. You have had your maj
 tyrs, among them my dear lamentc
 friend, Archbishop Chapelle. but 70
 have your proud memories of servic
 rendered and the thrill that comes wit
 the victory you have won"
 At the end of nine strenuous hou
 of varied entertainment fin New Oi
 leans, closing a pleasant trip throug