The Triumphant Life of Theodore Roosevelt edited by J. Martin Miller

SWINGING AROUND THE CIRCLE 221
the Dubuque Club, where he addressed an immense crowd and
was banqueted.
ARRIVAL IN ILLINOIS
President Roosevelt reached Illinois on Wednesday morn-
ing. His first stop was at Freeport, the second at Rockford,
the third at Rochelle and next came Aurora. After Aurora,
joliet and the steel works gave him welcome. Dwight was
next on the itinerary, then Pontiac, next Lexington, and last
Bloomington, where he passed the night. At Aurora, noticing
a khaki wearer in the crowd, he called him comrade, and then
briefly talked on the importance of the army having the most
up-to-date weapons. In the course of his speech he said:
A weak man with a poor gun will beat a good man with a club every time.
At Freeport the President attended the unveiling of the
monument commemorating the Lincoln-Douglas debate in
1858.
AT THE TOMB OF LINCOLN
Thursday morning, at the tomb of Abraham Lincoln, in
Springfield, which was encircled by a corps of colored militia-
men, President Roosevelt said among other things:
It was my good fortune at Santiago to serve beside the colored troops. A man
who is good enough to shed his blood for his country, is good enough to be given a
square deal afterwards.
The President's visit to Lincoln's tomb was one of several
of Springfield's efforts to show the Chief Magistrate due
homage. The city was decorated; excursion trains had
brought thousands of out-of-town visitors; there was a splen-
did military procession, and a speech in the new Arsenal
Building. At the latter place the immense crowd gave the
President an enthusiastic ovation, which continued for several
minutes. After luncheon in the executive mansion, the Presi-