The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-10-06

hands of your friends, or rather, We, as
citizens Of Emporia, place ourselves in
your charge, knowing we'll what is the
reputation of the American soldier for
integrity, bravery and courage.
GLORY is the soldiers prize;
The soldiers wealth is honor
In behalf of the city of Emporia and
in the name of the city we bid you well
come, welcome, thrice welcomed and
hoping you may find 1t good to be here,
and that in the long days of the hereaf-
ter each one may place this reunion
among the bright pictures of, memory.
After prayer by DR.. Cordley, invoking
the blessing of the God of nations, the
Battle Hymn of the Republic was led
by Prof Holster, the audience joining in
the chorus.
Gov. st. John was then introduced and
warmly greeted with applause. He de-
livered an address which we summarize
as follows:
Mr.. President and soldiers and sailors Of
the great lodr for tie Union:
1t affords me pleasure to meet you
here to-day; yet, while we find pleasure
in reunions such as these, there are many
thoughts of sadness that arise in our
hearts at such a time. l suppose the
reunions held throughout the country
not only include the soldiers and sailors
who fought for the peTpetuatiOn of the
government during the last struggle,
but include every man and woman
who Mt any time has put forth efforts in
defense of our country. We do not hope
To find here any survivors of the war of
the Revolution, but would like to know
If there are any survivors of the war
with Mexico. If SO. please rise to your
feet. Five Mexican Veterans present
arose) Now you boys who fought in
the war for the Union rise. Too many
to be counted. The war with Mexico
exists in the memory of all who are at
middle age, yet here are but five survi-
vors. Ten years ago soldiers reunion
would have brought together a greater
number of the participants of the rebel
lion; ten years from now as the people
of Lyon county gather here at EmpOria
in reunion again, there are many here
who will not answer TO roll call then.
You who are now ut the age of forty,
when you responded TO the call of Lin
coin twenty years ago to take up arms
in defense of the constitution and the
laws, when you received your mothers
last blessing and her God speed as she
sent you forth; and you who parted with
your wives and children then, you
little thought OF the great struggle
before you. Our country had but little
realization of the magnitude of the bat
tie soon to be fought. This fact is Illus
trated by the first call for $4,000. We
thought "a, 600 men a mighty army that
that number of well equipped, brave men
could march anywhere within the United
State and no force could prevail against
them. But how soon we found ourselves
mistaken. Our government without
guns, without ships, without money, was
lily prepared for the struggle; yet she
was rich in the bone and brain and mus
Gle power of the loyal north. They were
slow to action IL is true. We all remem-
Der it was said one chivalrous southern
man could rout five Yankees yet before
the war was over the chivalrous south
ern man found it was all he wanted to
tussle with one of the slow, sturdy, brave,
bighearted boys of the north.
At the opening of the rebellion we felt
we must be cautious; must not trample
on the institution of human slavery; we
must not only save the Union, but slav.
cry with it, This was the plan of battle or.
| ganized by man, but it was not Gods
plan. God would not bless one half
the army with victory, while
the other half were protecting slavehold.
ers in their property. When We woke
up to this fact, and left slavery TO take
care of itself and went to war in earnest
then we did our whole duty. When VIC
| fought nor only for the preservation OF
the Union but the destruction OF human
slavery God was with US, (applause)
/ On1 with (hnI N anHall
prevail against us. At the battle OF
Stone river there were two days of de.
feat and failure; then as the news came
of the final proclamation of emancipa.
ton by Abraham Lincoln, then the boys
took up the approving shout along the
whole line, and then and there the great
God of battles blessed them with glo.
riOus victory. (Applause9 We had done
our duty, aud from that hour We never
lost Il great battle until the surrender oi
Lee at AppomatoX.
/ sometimes think that notwithstand
ing the shout of joy and victory that went
up from every loyal home when the wal
was over, yet perhaps The war ended &
little too soon. There was no punish
ment Inflicted on the leaders of the re
bellion. Ithinix perhaps the time had
not quite come for the end; but the bat
tie should have been kept up until the
broad waste lands of the south
were divided among those who
fought 10, keep them within
the Jurisdiction of tho people of the
United States, (applause) But we mus
conclude that all was right as God il
! his providence ordered il, for ever sine
thai day his blessing has been upon us
i When the north went out to battle
there were those who urged that YOU
| ha IF G1o
4 othersslaid down the fundamental doc
time that there was no power to coercI
a state in rebellion. You ara the mel
who trampled that fundamental law un
der foot and with the strong arm who's
strength was born of principle, vol
convinced the dough-faces of the nortl
that there was g power to eaerce rebel
: lious states and you did 1t.
Now what are the results that have &C
crued from this struggle? What benz
fits have come TO US? What lesson dit
it teach? First, il taught us, that thi
country of ours Is a nation and not
/ mere partnership of states to be dil
solved ut will. This was valuable les
son that cost us millions Of treasure. an
rivers of blooG, but it will never be fol
e gotten. Again, this victory said to tn
blackman, you are n slave no longer
your shackles are broken forever, an
: you are now and forever shall be frei
s The war taught US that our flag reprl
g: sents a government that has power
protect its citizens in every quarter {
: the globe. 1t perpetuated govern
ment Of the people, by the people, whei
n the poorest, most obscure boy, ma
:. work himself up from the rail cutter, IL
tow path or the tan yard to the highe
office In the gift of the people.
said that henceforth and forever theI
i should not be a single inch of so
s where the flag can ruthlessly be stampe
!. under foot II raised 100000 slaves I
freedom; made them citizens, gay
them the ballot and the free schools.
e demonstrated our ability to perpetuate
e government based not upon brute for
but upon morality, Christianity and d
votion to the constitution and the law
IS You have come to Kansas, the garde
is spot of the world, building houses Il
Ne yourselves and families, improving AZ
identifying, building up the materi
interests Of this great state; a sta
n whose past history and bright future
!. without a parallel in the histol
. of the world; a state IN who
q borders ZOO miles of railroad hal
Of been placed in successful opeT
Il tloa in 16 years. You who ha-
gone deep into your pockets 10 he
bald these great public highways,
$ sentiAf a. they are. 10 your prosperi
~ Will not forget that the intelligence al
10 population Of Kansas are equally nee
:. sary to them. Your rights and duti
IL are reciprocal, and while no legislati
IL should cripple these great interests, J
LEGISLATION should be in the interests