Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1910-06-19
TAFT WELCOMES
 HIS PREDECESSOR
He Declares That People of America Welcome Ex.President for HimseH for the Affection They Have
 for Him.


 Roosevelt which are printed below:
 From the President.
 The return of MT. Roosevelt rom Africa and Europe ought to arouse and will arouse as great demon stration of welcome from his country men as any American ever receiyed. i After the heavy cares of the presi dential office for nearly eight stfen uous years, he sought rest by con- 1rast in the depths of the Aferlcan forests and in great physical exer- tion in the hunting of large game and the procuring of valuable spec!' mems of the fauna of the Dark Con- tinent.
 No one who knows MT. Roosevelt, and no one who understands tEe character the African climate and the kind of hunting in which ne vas engaged, can minimize the dangers from disease and actual combat With wild beasts to which he was expos ed. 1t goes WltHoue sdSino wherever there was danger he wei comed it's excitement and del1ghtei to observe the record of it's effect up- on his own emotions. His trip to Africa was planned with the thor oughness of a military campaign, ami his plans were executed with the vim and energy that might be ex- pected.
 In view of what happened when ne reached civilization, however, those of us who had the privilege Of talk ing with him before he went can ai- ford to have some fun at his ex- pense in his frequently avowed deter mination to avoid all public functions and entertainments He expected to call on the persons in authority h each place which he visited to have balf an hours conversation with the ruler if he would receive him, and then go on his way like prlvate citizen, seeing the things of lntsress, and hurrying home. Instead Of that his path from the time he landed Ill Europe until he sailed has been royal progress and the courtesy and attention and profound respect shown him. not only by kings and the lead ing men of every country, but also oy the people, have not been equalled since Grant made his tour about the world. This is the more remarkable because Grant had the deserved rep utation of being great military leader who had commanded mll- lion men and won war of gigantic extent, while MT. Roosevelt,s achieve ments which have given him the standing before the world have been almost wholly in peaceful times, and in war against civil wrong and cor ruption, which ordinarily is not spec tacular and does not command WoflG- wide attention. The remarkable char acter of the reception that lie hes had in Europe shows the deep i'm press that his personality, hls char acter, his aims, and his methods as civil and social reformer have made upon the world at large. He was always, of course, man Of great breadth of vision and catholicity of view; but he comes back to us noy with his experience enriched by oo- servation of each country of Europe from point somewhere behind tEe scenes With his notable power Of quick acquisition of the circumstan. ces of a situation, his close and more or less intimate association with the rulers of the leading countries of Ell rope and with their prominent states men has given him an insight into world politics that will make him still more valuable to his country as a statesman.
 The people of this country will give him welcome from their hearts, first. because of their affection for him and the fact that he has return- ed ii them safe and sound from a perlious expedition; second, because since he left them they have seen the people and the great men and the monarchs of other countries tender their profound respect to the same qualities in the man that his oTn people had previously noted and loved and third, because of his per- sonal touch, the sincerity and strength of his deliverances, he has increased the prestige of Americans throughout the world.
 WILLIAM H. TAFT.
 From the Governor of New York.
 My Dear Colonel Roosevelt: On my own behalf and on behalf of your fellow citizens Of the State of New York, whose cordial sentiment it gives me pleasure to express, ex-