Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1910-06-18
TumuH GreefS Former Pres
idenf on His Return This
Morning---FormallY
Welcomed by May
or Gaynor
CITY ARRAYED IN
HOLIDAY GARB

BY United Press Leased Special Wire.
NEW YORK, June B Theodore Roose-
velt returned TO America to-day after an
absence Of fifteen months during which
time he hunted big game in African jun
g.es, hob-nobbed with kings and royalty
in Europe and acted as American Ambas-
ssdor at the funeral of King Edward VII.
He went away on March %, 1903. shortly
after his retirement from the highest Of
fee in the gift Of the American people. He
came back to-day a private citizen, but
one to whom was rendered the most en-
thusiastic greeting ever given returning
countryman.
With all the acclaim that would be be-
slowed upon conauering hero was Roose-
Welt greeted by thousands and thousands
OF persons after he arrived here. Buildings
we're draped with bunting. flags were
waved. the air was rent with cheers, and
Roosevelt was formally received amid
tumult of applause.
Mayor Gaynor, a Democrat, formally
welcomed Colonel Roosevelt, saying:
Ladies and Gentlemen. we are here 10
welcome Mr. Roosevelt home to New
York We have watched his progress
through Europe with delight. Wherever he
has been he has been honored as a man
and as an exponent of the principles Of
governor of this country. He was hon
ored in Europe as no man or this country
was ever honored. 1t only remains for me
to say to Mr.. Roosevelt that we welcome
hinn home most heartily, most heartily"
Replying to Mayor Gaynor's speech OF
welcome, Colonel Roosevelt said:
Il wish to thank you, Mr.. Mayor;
through you I thank your committee and
through them I wish to thank the Ameri-
can people for their greetings. / need
hardly saw that 1 am most deeply moved
by the reception given to me. No man
could receive such a greeting without be-
ing made to feel both very proud and very
humble.
Il have been away a year and a quarter
from America: and I have seen strange
and interesting things alike in the heart
Of the frovning wilderness and in the
capitols Of the mightiest and most highly
tpollshed- of civilized nations. have thor
oughly enjoyed myself; and now / am
more glad than I can say to get home
TO be back in my own country. back
among the people I love and ready and
eager to do my part so far as ! am able
IN helping solve the problems that must
ibe solved If we OF this the greatest DEM
ocratic republic on which the sun has ever
shone, are to see its destinies rise te
the highest level of our hopes and its up
portunities.
This is the duty Of every citizen; but
II Is particularly the duty for any mar
who has ever been honored by being made
President of the United States is thereby
forever after rendered the dbtor of Amr
scan people and Is bound throughout his
life to remember this as his prime obl
cation. and. in pwrivate life as we'll as il
public life. so to carry himself that thu
American people may never have caus'
10 feel regret that once thew placed hin
at their head
The reception TO Colonel Roosevelt
started at daybreak this morning whei
the Hamburg American liner Kaiserh
Auguste Victoria came abreast Of Fir
Island. down the Long Island coast. s
miles out Of New YORK harbor. II con
tinued at Quarantine and in nava
pageant up the Hudson river; it reache'
a climax in Battery Park where the of