The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-10-09

army. For Kansas was not only .he first
cause of the war. but the new home to which
the veterans turned their footsteps when
their marches and battles were over kvery
regiment that served in the army of the
Republic has contributed its quota to swell
this magnificent population. aud there are
men sitting around quiet hearthstones IN
every county of the State who can give per-
sonai recOlleetions of every march. every
campaign. every battle of the war, from
Bull Run to Bentonville. In this audience,
1 have no doubt. are men who have been
partic pants in every great battle of the Re-
Here in Kansas. too. is a general on Of
young men and women who have in their
yiens the blood of heroes and patriots In
this audience are hundreds of young men
and women whose baby eyes witnessed sad
partings when their fathers hurr ed away 70
Join the COMPANY mastering IN the village
square. Here are mafrons who were Young
wives. sweethParts or sisters then. aud who,
busy with household cares, heard the fIint
throbbing of the PARKWAY drum. and days
and weeks before wOro was spoken. read in
the troubled but resOlute ewes ct husbands,
busy in tIeir era ns-the thought of o
stricken cCs ntry. sadly needing men. They
knew, these patient. loving women. what
was coming. and in the lence OF their
rooms, i'm loneliness and bitter tears, they
PRAYED that. il possible, the shadow of this
great grief might be lifted from their home:
and that those nearest and dearest to them
might remain. to lghten their cares and
br ghten their daily life. hut when Mt last
the word was spoken. a race of self-sacrifc
ing and heroic women stood side by side IN
patriotic devotion with a race of heroic men.
and the whole world learned. as the long pro
cession of weary months and years went hy,
that the meN and women of 'i6 had worthy
successors in the men and women of 81 and
Is
The "boys" of twenty-three years ngo are
men of mature age: the men of that day are
growing old. The faded and tattered battle
flags they followed are preserved in the
n et-ee
hanging over the mantel is rusty with age
Every year the ranks are thinning. Wounds
and disease. the legacy of battlefield. march
and b.vouac- are doing their sure work. The
glad picture they saw, looking forward
through the lurid smoke and flame of battle,
rs the reward of their tolls and sacrifices
the picture of Il mighty Nat on. compact,
prosperous, free and respected by all the
Nations of the earth-has been fully realized.
There no limit to the power. no measure
to the wealth of the redeemed and enfran-
chised Republic. Only the memories of
heroic struggle are left us. But until the
last survivors of the Grand Army that
marched and fought with Lyon. Blunt. Nc
Clelian. Rosecrans. Meade. Shcr dan, Thomas.
Sherman ard Grant. are fiually mustered
ont, let them preserve their comardeshiP
hearts the glorious recollections ard still
more glorious principles of the far away
days when they whro soldiers OF the Re-
public.
Soldiers OF the Union! again I bid you
welcome. l welcome you. as citizens of this
great State to its capital. welcome YOU as
patriot heroes, who. during the darkest DAYS
the Rel ublc has ever known. gladly and
proudly pcriled health and life to save 1t
from destruction. l welcome you as the
men whose strong arms and brave hearts
gave freedom to the slave, and made this
land. in fact rs we'll as i'll name. land OF
liberty. And with my whole heart ! salute
you IN fraternity. charity and loyalty, and
welcome you as comrades.