The Washington herald., 1907-05-03

Gen. Dwight introduced President
Roosevelt to the gathered thousands
when he arose TO make his speech. The
cheering was general and prolonged, and
those who did not cheer applauded or
waved hat or handkerchief.
Even the little groups at the windows
Of the Wyoming and Highlands partiei-
pated IN the greeting to the Chief Exeeu-
tive as he stepped forward 10 address the
assembiage.
The President said:
Men OF the Army Of the Potomac. ana
you. my friends and fellow -citizens;
1T is with profound pleasure that as
President of the United States l to-day
take part In the unveiling Of monu-
ment to one Of the leading soldiers Of
the civil war, Naturally, on behalf of the
nation, I greet with peculiar pleasure
Mrs. Mcclellan and her con on this oc-
easion. Next only to them. take special
pleasure Ia greeting the comrades of Gen.
McClellan-you. the generals, the officers.
and the enlisted men who fought under
him in the mighty days.
Let me here. Gen. King, express my
peculiar appreciation Of the honor con-
ferred upon me IN electing me 10 honor
airy membership in the Society Of the
Army Of the Potomac-an honor previous
ly conferred upon Iny Iamented predeces-
sor, President Mckinley. The war that
took part IN was little war. but It was
all the war there was; and We tried q
show that We at least had the desire q
act as you men Of the mighty days would
wish those who came after you TO act
McCIeIIan's Lot In War.
I desire also 10 say a special word Of
greeting TO the governor Of New Jersey
and to the troops OF New Jersey. who
have come here TO pay homage 10 The
memory Of their revered fellow-citizen.
TO Gen. Mcclellan IL was given Il
command In some Of the hardest fought
battles and most important campaigns IN
the great war Of this hemisphere, so thai
his name will be forever linked with the
mighty memories that arise when vi
speak Of Antietam and South Mountain
Fair Oaks and Malvern; SO that we nevei
| can speak Of the great Army Of the Poto-
mac without having rise before us Tbs
figure Of Gen Mcclellan, the man whg
organized and first led it. There was
also given to him the peculiar gift, on'
/ that Is possessed by but very few men
10 combine the qualities that won him the
enthusiastic love and admiration Of tht
soldiers who fought with and under him
and the qualities that In civil life en-
deared him peculiarly 10 all who came II
/ contact with him.
Let me say a word Of acknowledgment
/ Of a special kind 10 the committee WIN,
/ are responsible for the statue. Il hal
/ been said Of some modern slatuary tina
/ Il added a new terror 10 death. But
1 wish, on behalf OF those who 1--we IN th'
/ Capital Of the nation. 10 express my very
profound acknowledgements TO those Wit
/ had the good taste 10 choose a grea
/ sculptor 70 do this work. ] thank then
/ for having erected here in 50 weli-ch0sel
/ a site a statue which. not only because @
/ the man il commentaries. but becaus
/ OF Hs own intrinsic worth. adds 10 IN
nobility and beauty of the Capital City o
/ the country.
Country Itself Their Monument.
''As has been already well said to-day
you men Of the great war. YOU veteran
here, need no statue, need 70 shaft. 20 re
call you TO the memory of your fellow
lcountrymen You have as your perpetua
monument the country itself. We have 10
day "a country, government a nationa
capital. a flag. only because of what yo
and your comrades did in the civil wal
Above all, you left as not merely the her
litage left by all good soldiers 20 thei
lcountry-the heritage Of the right 10 tax
glory in your own achieyemeHts-but yo
have the peculiar honor, the peculiar goo
fortune to leave TO your countrymen th
right 10 take pride also Ia the achieve
iments OF their feIOW-cOuntrymen VIII
were at the time your gallant fOes-th
tmen who are now your brothers, knit
the events Of that war with you, and the
descendants with yours, In a real unioi
forever indissoluble. We have become az
lcustomed to accepting as matter {
IcouTse certain things which would be wei
|nigh impossible in any country save our;
so that Il seems most natural that N
President of the United States. when
drives down to take part in a celebratio
like this should have as his personal aid
both the sons of the men who wore I'll
blue and the sons Of the men who woi