The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1918-06-06
FORMER PRESIDENT DELIVERS
STIRRING ADDRESS TO OVER
FIVE THOUSAND PEOPLE IN
CROWDED AUDITORIUM.
ASSAILS PkCIFISTS IN SPEECH
Colonel Came to Michigan to Secure
Enlietments for the NaVy-Other
Items Throughout Michigan On
Memorial Day Doings.

Observation-Disclosures loyalty to Am
erica, square DEAF for Americans
of German or other foreign origin who
are true to their oaths of allegiance,
universal obligatory military training
and the concentration of the nations
whole energy toward putting through
the war till it is crowned by peace
with overwhelming triumph" were
the four doctrines hammered home
by Theodore Roosevelt to a madly
cheering throng of 5000 in Arcadia
Thursday night.
This is my Memorial day message
to you" he summarized at the conclu-
sion of a speech of an hour and 20
minutes.
First, that we keep this nation a
nation, a nation of Americans and only
of Americans, nation in which we
do not allow any man to pretend to
be citizen unless he is an American
and nothing else.
THAT we treat every good Ameri-
can without regard to his birthplace or
national origin or creed as on an
equality with every other good Ameri
can in the land.
THAT we prepare for the future. so
that never again shall we be caught
as shamefully unprepared as we have
been caught this time.
Finally, and most important, that
now we bend our whole energies to
speeding up this war. to put it through
10 10 with yhalY
ing triumph"
The colonel had elucidated his last
point earlier in more characteristic
language.
81 don't want any decision on
points," he detained. II want
knockout"
That was one of the epigrammatic
flashes that proved him the same old
Teddy, after all.
For when Americas foremost pri-
vate citizen began his Arcadia address,
the gentleness with which he initiated
| what became later a smashing ar
raignment of the evils still lurking in
the life of the nation at war, caused
many whispered comments that age
had begun to overtake virility; that
while ability to express himself in
plain English had not faltered, his vim
and fire of delivery had suffered with
advancing years.
The roar of applause that greeted
| Roosevelt when he entered the crowd
ed auditorium was taken up by hun
dreds outside. Every window of the
| Arcadia had it's crowd of listeners
outside. On one side OF the building
construction work is under way, and
| hundreds utilized the saw horses"
| planks and ladders that lay about.
The massed Salvation army bands of
Detroit, Flint Saginaw and Bay City
blared forth a triumphal Onward,
| Christian Soldiers'-an air peculiarly
adapted to a Rooseventian entry. II be-
ing the battle cry" of the Progress
| ives in 1912. AS the familiar SLOUGH
h; was lifted high above his head.
e ror increased until the brassy
are of the combined bands was COM
| pletely drowned.
Although Roosevelt's main topic was
the fault underlying Americas fail
ure to make the best of her opportuni-
ties, both before and after she entered
the war, he spent fully 20 minutes dis
cussing the duty of American citizens
Of fighting age. He was in Detroit
the guest of the navy; he came as a
part of their program for recruiting
the men who will build a bridge across
the seas, and he acknowledged the
fact by plain-spoken declarations as to
the necessity for battle-line strength.
For the only way to win the war,
after ALL is smash the German arm
ies," he declared, bringing down a
characteristic fist.
at is no use speaking of the mighty
deeds of the past, in fact, il is detri-
mental unless they are spoken of as a
spur for their emulation by ourselves"
he said. ITO come together and plume
ourselves on what our fathers did in
the past is not only merely obnoxious,
but it is no excuse for our failure to
do likewise nor does it accomplish
anything.
Repeatedly the audience broke in
to cheers when Roosevelt paid his re-
spects to the pacifsts.
"Oh, there were pacifSts in those
days, especially in 1864. Those men
wearing the little II. A. T. button"
and he pointed to a scanty-haired
veteran seated near the stage-could
have had peace very easily. All they
had to do was quit fighting. At home
there we're plenty who professed to be
shocked by the slaughter and"-with
significant emphasis-"who said there
wouldn't be any more wars. anyway.
Yes, those boys who wear those but
tons could have had peace-for two
or three years. Then they'd have to
fight again and / tell you that II they
had quit fighting then, you and would
probably be of different nationalities
today.