Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-18
PRESIDENT TOUCHED BY
WELCOME ACCORDED HIM
Tells Distinguished Gathering
What Country and It's Navy
Stand For.
Executive Witnesses Land Parade,
and on His Yacht Passes Up
River Between Warships.

|
In the Hudson River, and at n luncheon
rendered to him on shore by the CITY
of New York. told a distinguished
gathering what the country and Its
navy stood for. Tho great battleships
that lay in the river. he said, were en-
| gines to promote the interests OF
| humanity"
The inspiring thing about America"
the President asserted, ''is that she asks
| nothing for herself except what she
| has a right to ask for humanity itself
We want no nations property; we
| wish to question no nations honor: wa
wish to stand selishly in the way OF
the development of no nation II
Is not pretension on our part to saw
that we are privileged to stand for
what every nation would wish to stand
for. and speaking for those things
which all humanity must desire"
The spirit which brooded over the
river to-day, said the President, was
Just solemn evidence that the force
| of America is the force of moral prin-
ciple. that there is rot anything else
she loves and that there is not any-
| thing else for which she will contend"
The President took occasion to pay
| tribute to Secretary of the NAVY
Daniels. who sat beside him.
PROGRESS THROUGH STREETS
IS CONTINUOUS OVATION
| Although the day was damp and
chilly. with occasional downpours of
rain. the weather abated in no way the
| enthusiasm with which New Yorl,
! greeted the head of the nation In the
| forenoon he reviewed land parade of
o'ooo sailors and marines, and from
the Moment he, set foot on shoresliYrtif'
hefEreturned to the AIayfower to review
the fleet. his progress through tho
streets was continuous ovation. He
was plainly touched by the welcome
accorded him.
Everywhere a spirit OF patriotism
was shown. Many men and women
seized every opportunity to tell the
PRESIDENT OF their support In the pres
| ent international crisis. Thousands
stood In the chilly drizzle while the
brigade Of sailors and marines marched
up Fifth Avenue. and during the after
noon. with a cold, damp wind blowing
across the Hudson. and thousands more
later thronged vantage points to watch
the Mayfiower as she passed I'D the
river between the warships.
The Presidents remarks at the
luncheon were greeted with tremendous
applause. He was introduced by Act
! Ing Mayor George McAneny
TEXT OF ADDRESS
OF THE PRESIDENT
The text OF the Presidents address
follows:
"AIr. Mayor. Mr. Secretary, Admiral
Fletcher and gentlemen OF tho fleet:
This is not an occasion upon which.
1t seems to me, it would be wise for
me to make many remarks. but would
deprive myself of a great qualifications
II did not express my pleasure at
being here. my gratitude for the spler-
did reception which has. been ac-
corded me as thesrepresentative of the
nation. and my8Sprofound interest in
the navy of ths!United States
This is an interest with which
| was apparently born. for IL, began when
l was n youngster. and has ripened
with my knowledge OF the affairs and
policies Of the United States. I think
1T is natural, instructive Judgment
OF the people OF the United States
that they may express their power
| appropriately in an efficient navy, and
| their interest is partly.,I believe, be-
cause that navy somehow is expected
to express their character. not within
our own borders, where its character
II.
where it is hoped we may occasionally
touch others with some slight vision
or what America stands for.
But before / speak OF the navy of
the United states. l want. to take ad-
vantage of the first public opportunity
have had to speak of the Secretary of
the Navy, to express my confidence and
my admiration, and to say that no has
my unqualified support, for I have
counscled with him In Intimate fashion.
know how sincerely he has II at
heart that everything that the navy
does and handles should, be done and
handled as the people of the United
States wish them handled-bccause es-
fciency is something moro than or
ganization.
NAVY SPECIALLY TRUSTED
WITH IDEAL OF AMERICA
Efficiency runs into every we'll
considered detail of personnel and
method. Efficiency runs TO the extent
OF lifting the ideal of n service above
every personal interest. So that whcu
1 speak my support of the Secretary
OF tho Navy. am merely speaking my
support of what l know every true
lover Of the navy to desire and to pro-
pose, for the navy of the United States
Is a body specially trusted with tho
ideal OF America.
'I like to Imagine in my thoughts
this ideal These quiet ships, lying In
the river, have no suESestion of bluster
about them--no intimation of aggres-
sion. They arc commanded by men
thoughttul of the duty. of the scitiEensf
SaS ARel1, as tho fIuty,.pf offlrsrs-Anief, s