The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-18

We are mere 10 NsiCpHle soh
Howdy, Teddy! Howdy do:
this country. He was honored in
Europe a. no man OF this country
MAS ever honored 1t only remains
I tor me to say to MIR. Roosevelt that
we weicme him home most heartily,
most heartily"
Replies to Mayor.
Replying to Mayor Gaynor's speech
of welcome Col. Roosevelt said
Il wish to thank you, MIR. Mayor,
through you thank your committee,
and through them ! wish TO thank the
American people for their greetings. |
need hardly say that / am most deep
ly moved by the reception given to
me No man could receive such
greeting without being made to feel
both very proud and very humble.
II have been away n year and
quarter from America; and l have seen
strange and interesting things alike
in the heart OF the frowning wilder
ness and In the capitals OF the might
est and most highly polished of civ
I iiized nations. | have thoroughly en-
/ joyed myself, and now ! am more
glad than | can say to get home. to be
back In my own country, back among
the people l love, and ready and eager
To do my part. 80 far as ! am able, In
helping solve the problems that must
be solved II we OF this, the greatest
democratic republic upon which the sun
has ever shone, are to see it's destinies
rise to the highest level OF our hopes
and It's opportunities.
'This 10 the duty of every citizen:
but 1t is particularly my duty, for any
man who has ever been honored by
being made president of the United
State liz thereby forever after rendered
the debtor OF the American people and
Is bound throughout his life 10 remem-
Der this as his prime obligation. and,
In private life as well as In public life,
SO carry himself that the American
may never have cause to feel regret
that once they placed him at their
head"
Land Parade.
Immediately following the speeches.
tho police formed q Gordon about Col
onel Roosevelt and the reception
committee and had literally to hGht
land procession was formed, The pa
rade was small one. First came a
company of mounted policemen. pick
ed officers who rode magnificent
horse and rode them like centaurs.
They were followed by the mounted
bank of Troop e of Brooklyn. Then
came 100 OF the Roosevelt Rough
Riders. clad in the uniforms they wore
at San Juan Hill. They were mount
ceived continuous ovation as they
rode past In the cavalcade. Behind
the Rough Riders came $500 mem
bers of the Spanish War veterans or
sanisation. of which Colonel Roose-
| Welt Is member Following came
the Seventh regiment band on foot
preceding the open carriage in which
sat Colonel Roosevelt Mayor Gaynor
Chairman Cornelius Vanderbilt. Be-
hind came the fifty open carriages
containing the members of the recep-
ton committee.
Broadway seemed solid mass Of
people as the little parade drove up.
New York was never great on decorat-
ing, but every building along the street
was decked In bunting, while every
man, woman and child in the vast
multitude seemed to be waving
an American flag. The reception was
spontaneous, people eheered them
selves hoarse. Colonel Roosevelt
smiling broadly bowed continually to
right and left and tipped his hat con-
stantly.
. Fifth avenue from Washington
: Square to Fifty-ninth street, had been
, assigned to various clubs and organi-
|, cations, which lined the sidewalks and
acted as a human wall TO hold back
|. the massed thousands. Behind the
, uniformed organizations were damned
, living sea of people, while every
window along Broadway and Fifth
avenue was filled to overlooking with
people who desired to get a better
glimpse of the former president.
Up Broadway
From the Battery. the little cavalade
passed up Broadway. In which every
ONCE building was damned with
spectators to Fourth street, 1t turned
over Fourth street to Washington
Square. wound through the square be.
meath the massive granite arch erect.
ed to the memory of the first presi-
dent of the United States and paassed
into Fifth avenue,
The vista up the avenue that greet
ed the former presidents eye brought
him to his feet, hat In hand. The
Roosevelt smile broadening almost
into q laugh of delight Tor miles
ahead, as far as the eye could see
was packed such a gathering as never
assembled on New York streets Uni
formed organizations. with bands
blaring. stood at attention. Here and
there flowers were thrown into the
street as the president passed Thous-
ands OF men and women waved 1ags
and cheered This hearty ovation
continued the whole length OF the
drive up Fifth avenue. 1t was notice
able that the homes OF the predatory
rich" along society's boulevards were
all thrown open, every window fran
ing a crowd that gathered to witness
the triumphant procession.
At Fiftieth street and Fifth ave-
nue.. the procession halted and dis
banded. and America had, for the day.
completed it's welcome to it's foremost
private citizen
Among the organizations in line on
Fifth avenue were the Roosevelt
Rooters" the Army and Navy Union,
the Brooklyn Republican League. the
United Hungarian Societies. the Taft
Societies. the delegations from Omaha
and Pittsburg, the West Side Repub-
lican Club. the Red Men. the North
side Chamber of Commerce, the
Hamilton Club OF Chicago, the re-
publican club OF New York. the Bill
kin Club OF Los Angeles. the Roose-
Welt Enthusiasts OF Houston. Tex
delegations of Red Men from Hous-
ton and Philadelphia. and countless
republican and Roosevelt clubs from
various portions OF the country
1t liz estimated that 10000 per-
sons had packed into Ratterv PARK