The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-31
TWO SPEECHES BY ROOSgVrt-
~ 1ISf F0R fHF tRVf avn -
tWE IeR fHF VFNRO


One was made ~ Portsmouth, ~ ihr in.
vsliua ~ ,he monument ererieI IN ma
Naval Cemetery there Nv 'br kf'v snd
Navy Union ~ the memory ~ ~
comrades
This sfcsch va, Il Memorial uny o%ra,irni
tho other and the more notable saa 40.
llversd Al Iiamp,ou institute brforc l,op
nesro students
pre.iden, Roosevell off Washington ysa.
ter,iay sttarnoon m che Naynowet, accom-.
painted by Mrs Rooarvclt Mas Carew. Miss
Ethel Roosevelt aud Master Quentin lie
reached the Portsmouth Navy Yard early
this morning. and when tho vessel came Ia
sight n salute Of u guns was fred in HE
honor.
Rear Admiral Harrington, tho com-
mandant Of the yard. and his aides came
aboard the vessel aud remained with the
President until o 10. when no went ashore.
As the President walked down the gang
plank several battalions Of marines were
drawn up In line TO escort him through the
city 10 tho Naval Hospital. where the un.
yelling Of the Army and Navy Union monu-
ment took place.
A the President was about 20 enter his
carriage an eight-year-old lad, the son Of
an old sailor, Ia the uniform of q jackie,
stepped up and handed him a bouquet Of
flowers.
The President leaned over and thanked
the little fellow, telling him that he looked
like a real sailor and that he hoped he would
grow UP to be a good citizen.
Portsmouth Is an old town. II had some
Revolutionary history, and the buildings
indicate it's age. But to-day they were
gaily decorated with flags and bunting and
the people of the three cities, Portsmouth.
welcome the President.
1t was the first time since 1854, when
James Buchanan came down to Ports
mouth, that a President had paid the city a
visit. Here and there amid the decorations
was displayed a Confederate flag. 1t was
generally grouped with the American
banner.
Portsmouth had nothing especially to
show the President except it's old navy yard
and so 1t exhibited it's children. At inter
walls along the line of parade were stands
filed with hundreds Of children, white
and black, who sang patriotic songs and
waved banners as the President passed.
He graciously returned their salutes. Near
the intersection OF the two main streets
there was erected a huge banner which bore
the words Portsmouth has 1000 school
children" Above this was placed a baby
carriage and a baby huttering a flag.
When the Confederate monument was
reached a group Of grizzled veterans Of the
gray greeted the President and gave him
a rousing cheer. They were members OF
Stonewall jackson Camp and they carried
both Confederate and Union flags. The
commander approached the President and
handed him a big magnolia blossom, and
when he returned his thanks the old boys
gave the old rebel yell
Awreath was placed upon the Confederate
monumen while the Presidents carriage
halted, and then the old soldiers fell in line
and followed the procession to the scene
of the unwilling.
When the President reached the platform;
in the midst Of a grove Of giant pine trees,
four Confederates in their gray coats were
part Of his escort. Nor was this all. One
old veteran in his eagerness sought to pre-
sent a petition to the President. He was
permitted to reach the President, but
to one of those who accompanied Mr.. Roose-
welt he handed a note which read:
An old Confederate veteran wishes you
much pleasure. L have supported the
cause ever since the read
juster party came into power. / wish to
speak to you but will desist now OF this
occasion. l hope you will be some help
to me. II. A. LACY.
1921 Washington street, Portsmouth, Va
The old fellow was satisfied when told
that the note would be handed to the Presi-
dent.
The President was greeted with loud
applause when he arose to speak. He
said:
This day is hallowed and sacred in our
history. for on this day throughout the land
we meet to pay homage to the memory OF
the valiant dead who fell in the great civil
war. No other men desarve 50 well of this
country as those TO whom we owe II that
now have a country. Moreover. the men
TO whose valor We owe 1t that the Union
was preserved have left us a country reunited
in fact as well as in name. They have left
us the memory of the great deeds and the
self devotion alike Of the men who wore the
blue and Of the men who wore the gray in
the contest where brother fought brother
With equal courage. with equal sincerity OF
conviction, with equal fidelity to a high ideal.
as it was given to each to see that ideal.
Moreover. II Is & peculiar pleasure to speak
to-day under the auspices OF the Army and
Navy Union, OF the union which is meant
to include the officers and enlisted men Of
the regular forces OF the United States.
Exactly as there Ia no other body Of men
to whom In the past We have owed so much
as to the veterans Of the civil war, so there
is no other body Of men among all Of our
citizens of to-day who as a whole deserve
quite as well OF the country as the officers
and enlisted men Of the army and the navy
OF the United States. Every man who has
served we'll and faithfully. ahoat or ashore.
In the service OF the United States has shown
he possesses certain qualities which
entitle him In a peculiar degree to the respect
OF all his fellow citizens. while every man who
is now in the service cannot but feel himself
uplifted by the thought that at any time OF
future crisis II may be that the honor Of the
whole nation will depend upon his bearing,
There rests upon each Of you d tremendous
burden of responsibility, and therefore to
You belongs the proud privilege of bearing
that load OF responsibility we'll.
This audience is composed largely OF vet
Grams Of the civil war, largely OF men VINO
h ave served In or are serving In the army