Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-07-14
ROOSEVELT'S SPEECH.

Col. Roosevelt in his prepared
speech said In part:
Il am sure l express the feelings
or my fellow countrymen when
say 1t is matter of heartfelt re-
Jolclng among all the people OF the
united States 60 greet and to welcome
this deputation from the now Russia,
the great Russian democracy. AS a
nation we have for many years felt
a peculiar sympathy with and adj
m1rati0n for the mighty Slav people
OIL the forest of the steppe, for the
young giant among nations, which as
yet has but half developed its tre-
mendous strength.
I'm the past this ardent sympathy
with and hope for the Russian peo-
pie In America has had to struggle
with shocked disbelief In autocracy
and with the whole policy Of reaction
ana obscurantism. We love the
brave, patient, hard working, long
suffering Russian people, but we were
renelied by the tyranny which bore
down with an iron hand on the lead.
ers Of social and intellectual liberty.
which prosecuted the Jews, which
domtneered over the Pole and Lith.
uanlan, which deprived the Finn of
Che self-government due him by SOL
emn covenant and which was dread
ed beyond measure by the Armenian
and the dweller in the Caucasians.
1--WE held as our ideal the hope
that ultimately the mighty Russian
Empire might stand as here we at
least try to stand, so that Jew and
n,,A ~t~t.4
their consciences as free as thu con-
science OF the orthodox, and a self
governing Finland or the Caucasus
or Armenia enjoy within the empire
the liberty that New York and Texas
enjoy within this Union.
NO OBSERVATIONS NOW.
Therefore we hail you, men and
women Of the new Russia, with heart
felG rejoicing. Now at last we can
wish all success to Russia without
any m1sgiving or mental reserva-
lions. Now we feel that the mighty
SlaV republic has blazed the trail Of
freedom and has won In legitimate
tash1on the right to stand In the
forefront Of tho onward movement of
mankind. Now We have the right to
expect that you will grant the men
o, other races ana other creeds the
rights to governmental, intellectual
and religious liberty which you so
Justly demand for yourselves
In congratulating you and earn
estly wishing you God speed on the
path OF national greatness, I DO not
underestimate the grave dangers
that rise before and beside you. One
or our own poets has warned our
people that freedom Is not a gift
that tarries long in the hands of
towards; and neither is it. ono that
tarries long in the possession of
those who lacks the Indispensable
virtues of common sense and self
control. The serf need develop none
OF these virtues; it Is enough If his
ruler possesses brute strength and
the INSCRIPTIONS will to profit by
the labor Of Others. But the free
man must himself posses them; for
the task he fronts is as arduous as
1t is honorable, and the heights of
glorious achievement to which he
'aspires are perilous to- the feet of
all whose steps falter, whether from
feebleness or unwisdom.
ut is because we Americans so
deeply desire the permanent triumph
of democracy in Russia that with all
our hearts we hope for moderation
in the use OF your victory.
PLEA FOR WORLD FREEDOM.
And oh, my friends, strive to So
cure liberty in the world at large,
and therefore treat as traitnrs to