Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-17
With Medal for Reaching
''Farthest North"
Presentation Made by President
Roosevelt at Washington.
Nigh Tribute Paid Explorer at Geo.
graphic Society's Dinner.

Wa:hinGt0u. Dec. 16.--At the annual
dinner last night Of the National Geo.
graphic Society, Commander Robert E.
Pcary was presented Il gold medal for
having reached "Farthest north" Pres
ideEt Roosevelt was the guest of hon.
or and made the presentation. He ar
rived shortly before II o'clock and his
entrance into the banquet hall was the
signal for general outburst of APP
plauSe.
The President. in n brief address.
paid tribute to Commander Peary, and
took occasion to remark that he was
proud of the fact that an American. an
officer of The American navy. had
reached "Farthest north"
III his response. Commander Pcary
referred to the feats of Abruzzi and
unhounGcd admiration and respect for
those who devoted their time. their
abilities and their money to adding to
the sum of human Knowledge.
The President spoke as follows:
81 count myself fortunate in having
been asked to be present this evening
at such a gathering and on behalf of
such Il society to pay tribute of honor
10 an AMERICAN WIZ ut-
serves well Of the commonwealth. Civ
ilizcd people usually live under condi-
tons of life so easy that there is a GER
tain tendency to atrophy of the harder
virtue. And it is Il relief to pay signal
honor to a man like Commander Peary.
Il emphatically believe in peace and
all tie kindred virtues. But think that
they are only worth having if they come
as a consequence of possessing the COM
bined virtues of courage and hardihoOd.
So l feel that in an age which naturally
and properly eNcels, as it should excel,
in the milder and softer qualities. there
is reed that we should not forget that
in the last analysis the safe basis of a
successful national character must rest
upon the great fighting virtues. and those
great fighting virtues can be shown quite
as we'll in peace as in war.
They can be shown in the work of the
phlanthropist; in the work of the scient-
ist and est cmphatically of all in the
work of the explorer. who faces and
cvercomes perils and nardshps which
the average soldier never i'll his life
knows. ~
"In war. after all. it IS only the man
a the very head who is ever lonely. All
the others. from the subordinate gener-
ais down through the pr1vates, are cheer
ed and sustained by the sense of COM
partnership and by the sense of divided
responsibility.
You Cunning to Commander Peary)'
the man whom We join to honor today.
You who for months in and months out,
year in and year out, had to face perils
and overcome the greatest risks and diff
iicultics. with resting On your shoulders
the undivided responsibility which meant
life or death to you AMI your followers
YOU mad to show in addition what the
modern commander with his great re-
sponsiblity does not have to show You
had to show all the moral qualities in
war. together with other qualities. You
did a great deed. a deed that counted for
all mankind, a decd which reflected cred
ii upon yon and upon your country, and
on behalf Of those present, speaking also
for the millions of your cuuntryrncn, |
take pleasure in handing you this Hub
bard medal. ard in welcoming You homo
from the great feats which you havo
performed. Commander Peary," Pro-
ionged apnlausc)