The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-04-26
REVIEW OF WAR
VESSELS IN THE
HAMPTON ROADS
Made by President from Deck Of
the Yacht Mayaower Incl
dent to Opening
700 VOICES IN A
GRAND CHORUS
Growth Of the American Nation
Commented on by the Chief
Executive

AT the outset l wish to say word
OF special greeting to the representa-
ives OF the foreign governments here
present. They have come to assist
us in celebrating what was in very
truth the birthday of this nation, for
it was here that the colonists first
settled, whose incoming, whose growth
from their own loins and by the ad-
dition of newcomers from broad. was
to make the people which one hum
dred and sixty-nine years later as
Sumed the solemn responsibilities and
weighty duties of complete independ-
ence.
In welcoming all of you must say
special word, first to the representa-
tive of the people of Great Britain
and Ireland. The fact that so .H.:a...:::.-
OF our people. of whom as it happens
l myself am one, have but a very
small portion of English blood in our
veins, in no way alters the other fact
that this nation was founded by Eng
lishmen, by the Cavalier and the Puri-
tan. Their tongue. law, literatu"n.
the fund OF their common thought,
made All Inheritance which all ct US
share, and marked deep the lines
along which we have developed 1t
was the men of English stock who did
most in casting the mold into which
our national character was run.
Let ME furthermore greet all of
YOU. the representatives of the people
of continental Europe. From almost
every nation of Europe we have drawn
some part of our blood, some part of
our traits. This mixture of blood has
gone on from the beginning, and with
it has gone on a kind of development
unexampled among peoples of the
stocks from which we spring; and
hence today we differ sharply from,
and yet in some ways are fundament-
ally akin to, all of the nations of
Europe.
Again. let me bid you welcome. rep
resentatives of our sister republics of
this continent. In the large aspect,
your interests and ours are identical.
Your problems and ours are in large
part the same; and as We strive to
settle them, l pledge you herewith on
the part of this nation the heartiest
friendship and good will.
Finally. let me say special word
of greeting to those representatives
Of the Astiatic nationas who make up
that newest east which is yet the most
ancient east, the east of time immem-
orial. In particular, let me express a
word of hearty welcome to the repre-
sentative of the mighty island empire
Of Japan: that empire, which, in
learning from the west. has shown
that it had so much, so very much. to
team the west in return.
T0 oil ne x,o,, have
press my thanks for your coming, and
1 extend to you my earnest wishes
for the welfare of your several ma
tions. The world has moved so far
that it is no longer necessary to. be-
lieve that one nation can rise only by
thrusting another down. All farsight-
ed statesmen. all true patriots, now
earnestly wish that the leading ma
tions of mankind, as in their several
ways they struggle constantly toward
higher civilization, a higher llumani-
ty, may advance hand in hand. united
only in generous rivalry to see
which can best do its allotted work
in the world. I believe that there is
rising tide in human thought which
tends for righteous International
peace; tide which it behooves us
to guide through rational channels to
sane conclusions; and all of us here
present can we'll afford to take to
heart St. Pau's counsel: "If it be
possible. as much as heth in you, live
peaceably with all men"
We have met today to celebrate the
opening of the exposition which itself
commemmorates the first permanent
settlement of men of our stock in