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

hanSaS NattOnNi Su1rO
Following is the address of welcome de-
| livered by the Governor to the Kansas Ma
tional Guard at Topeka, September 90:
| Soldiers of the Kansas National Guard:
In a recent story by wcll-known Ameri-
can author, the characters engage in an
after-dnner discussion concerning the war
| of the Rebellion. and one of them remarks
that the astonishing fact connected with il
wns the euperabundance of herOsm il re-
vealed. Then he asks his son: GLOW many
young men do you know who would think it
sweet to die for their country Very modest.
| ly the young man replies: 81 can not tn Ink
of great many ut the moment sir" Where
upon his uncle. a gallant soldier during the
war. SAYS: Nor could in 1851, nevertheless
they were there"
The occasion is wanting now, but as they
were there" in 1861. so have In tn to believe
that any great cause would find tl,cm now.
l can remember hearing dolorous Orators in
the years just preceding the outbreak OF the
rebellion. bewailing the degeneracy OF the
times. and declaring that heroism and patri.
otism were things of the past The Hash OF
the gun at Sumter revealed not only the Ma
ton peril, but its strength and glory. In q
month. farms and workshops were deserted,
and the peaceful North. transfgured by the
splendor of its passion. became u nation of
warriors.
In the story to which I have already re-
ferred. one OF the characters, after quietly
telling an incident of n desperate battle. in
which his regiment sustained a severe loss.
=,
see anv more men killed in my time" This
sentiment will. feel confident. be approx ed
by every so ldicr of the late war. Certainly.
l hope that no occas on Cor call ng the Kan
sas National Guard into active service may
ever arise. But am sure that If such an
occasion did come, You would he equal to
its duties and its responsibilities. Some of
you know what war is. You learned ii on
fields where the earth trcmbled with the
shock of cOntending hosts. Most. if n"t all
of YOU. have in your VEINS the blood of men
In a fa-s and nd "
confident thai. If you were called upon in
any emergency demanding an illustrat TN of
true soidieriy qualities you would prove
yourselves worthy successors of the men OF
lS6l-5.
hope you will continue to maintain an
efficient organiZat on. l congratulate vou
on the proficiency you have already attained
in drill and discipline. This year. for the
first time, the State has made some prOvso n
for una ntaning well-orpanized military
force. and this encouragemcnt ought tc III
crease your interest in the orgen gatiOu' to
which You belong, and your activity in lis
charging your duties as members of the i an
sas National Guard. The instruction 'ou
receive as soldiers. the drill an! discipl NJ &c
which you subject yourselves are not with
out their uses, even in times of profound
peace. Every man who has been drilled "a
soldier is physically benefited by such cNer
erse: and the lessons of ohed ence, of re-
spcct for Law. OF PrCmptnesS in the discharge
Of duty. of faithfuness. patriotism and
courage, that are the inspiration of soldicriy
ysol In every relation of life.
|. 1t gives me pleasure to meet you. ] trust
YOUR brief sejourn in camp will be not cnly
instructive. a,lIt pleasant. to one and all of
you. Your general officers are all trained
and experi cnced sold 'ers. who served theiI
country IA 'thfully and honorably in time OF
war. aald your Major-General left leg or
one Of the battle fields of the late civil war
Many of your field and line officers are also
experienced soldiers. They are thus
thoroughly qualified. 'by habits and seduca
ton ~ instruct you in your duties, and
hare no doubt they will take pride and
p]eastTe IN doing SO.
And new. soldiers Of the National Guard,
rcnen Der that you are here on duty. BE
prompt in responding to every order: pre-
serve discipline IN YOUR camp: and SO con
ducf yourselves, when absent from II, rs to
hrrAC no reprOach on the uniform you wear.
Yes voluntarily put it on. Try to honor il
bv the manliness. of sobrety: By the gEace
md pride of duty faithfully performed: end
by sase conduct Of a true soldier. who, honor
inG the badge OF his service. never fails ia
honor himself. ,