The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-31
Roosevelt at Gettysburg

 Gettysburg, Pa May 30.--On a mound from which Union battery hurled their shells half century ago, Colonel Roose- welt today spoke in commemoration of the soldiers who gave their lives at Gettys- burg and urged the men of today to meet the nations problems with the spirit Of the men of '61. It was policies. rather than politics. which he discussed, all though he made an occasional reference to subjects which have been brought up in the campaign.
 Before Colonel Roosevelt made his ad- dress. which was delivered In the Na- tlonal cemetery he looked on as the cere- monials of the day were observed. Vet erans of the war, marching haiti ly be- hind their torn flags, scattered flowers over the graves of the dead Their task was frightened by scores of children who walked among the graves from the oppo- site direction until the lines met A salute was fired, the bugle sounded taps and the band played an old hymn which the soldiers used to sing in battle. No man can help being profoundly moved" said Colonel Roosevelt. when he sees the veterans of the great war and their children's children strew flowers on the graves of those who died that we might live. If there be southerners here, know that they can join with the north orners in paying homage to the yalor of the victor well as to the vanqushed."
 Saying that the soldiers of the war be- tween the states had distinguished them selves not only by the way in which they fought, but in their conduct after the war, Colonel Roosevelt continued
 No Danger of Imperialism
 Tn those days just after the war there were foolish people who talked of in- pesialism and of a dictatorship. They said that the soldiers would tyrannize our country One of the great lessons taught was that in six months after the war sol diers could bo back to the farm and tl-e shop and be absorbed in the common life of the people
 The talk of imperialism was no more foolish than 1t Is now. I have too much respect for you to tell you that you are
 in no danger of dictatorship. When any man tells you that. get him a nurse and a perambulator for if he really be- lieves 1t he is not quite fit to be at large
 Before going to the cemetery. Colonel Roosevelt ate lunch with the aid of lin cup and paper plate in a tent, in com pany with the delegates to the conven- ton of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, who have been meeting at Harrisburg, Pa, and came to Gettysburg fer the day It was on the invitation of the engineers that Colonel Roosevelt came to Gettysburg.
 As he rose to speak after the lunch con, a man called out, 'Is your hat still in the ring?"
 T think the ring is in the hat now" the colonel responded.
 | On finishing his address at the ceme- tery, Colonel Roosevelt started at once for New York. He said he expected to remain over night in New York and so to Oyster Bay tomorrow afternoon. The colonel was asked about his plans for the summer and said that now that his campaign for the nomination was ended he expected to remain at home with an occasional trip to New York.
 Leaves Politics for Day The speaker spoke earnestly, but as a preacher rather than as a political leader The throng which heard him listened in grave attention with occasional out bursts of applause.
 Colonel Rcosevelt's speech was deliv- cred in the National cemetery in dedica- tion of which Lincoln made his address. "1'he veterans of the civil war; said
 the speaker in his address at the celne- tcry, not only left us reunited coun- | try-united forever--and not only left us the priceless heritage of the memories of valorous self sacrifice shown in the civil war, but also by their careers and their whole attitude in the war, and after the war have taught us lessons which we should apply to ourselves in civil life. | During the war they showed that mix ture of intense and lofty idealism with
 sound, practical common sense, which is | as essential to a nations success in peace | as in war.
 ''So in civil life at this moment the prime | necessities of this nation are that our | people shall show both a lofty idealism | in insisting the rule of justice and 1 hardheaded. practical common sense in | recognizing that we must secure material rosperity, and that so far from there i being any necessary antagonism between | justice and material prosperity neither can be given its full development unless, | the development of both goes hand in ] hand.
 l Every man in the army would have recognized, as every man in civil life ought to recognize, that equality of re- ward where there is utter inequality of service, is in itself a very gross form Of | injustice, But no soldier bore patiently the sight of reward coming to a general
 because of political or financial intrigue. and no soldier was patient with the giving
 of reward where service had not been rendered.
 Just Reward Tn just the same way in civil life no good citizen should withhold his hearty praise from those who succeed in business