Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-10-02
GOV. MARTINS ADDRESS
To the Kansas National Guard, at
Topeka. Sept. 20. 1885.

Soldiers Of tn, Kansas National Guard;
In recent story BY q well-known Ameri-
can suthor, the characters engage in an af-
inner discussion concerning the war of
rebellion, and one Of them remarks that
astonishing fact connected with it was
'pae,bundance of heroism it revealed.
casks his son. "How many young
men do you know who would
country." Very modestly the young man
replies: 81 can't think of great many at
the moment, SIR" Whereupon his uncle, q
gallant soldier during the war, says: "Nor
could in 1861; nevertheless they were
there
The occasion is wanting now, but as ''they
were there" in 1861, so l have faith TO be-
lieve that any great cause would find them
now. / can remember hearing dolorous
orators, in the years just preceding the out
break of the rebellion, bewailing the degen-
eracy of the times, and declaring that hero
ism and patriotism were things of the past
The flash Of the gun at Sumpter revealed
not only the nations peril. but its strength
and glory. In a month farms and work
shops were deserted, and the peaceful north,
TRANSPORTED by the splendor of its passion,
became nation of warriors.
In the story to which have already re-
ferred, one of the characters, after quietly
telling an incident Of desperate battle, in
which his regiment sustained severe loss,
says, with intense feeling: 81 don't
want to see any moro men killed in my
time" This sentiment will, l feel confident
be approved by every soldier of the late
war. Certainly, hope that no occasion for
calling the "Kansas National Guard" into
i <.&.s nrxx,< Dat
sure that if such an occasion did come. you
would be equal to its duties and its respon-
sibiiities. Some of you know what war is.
You learned it on fields where the earth
trembled with the shock of contending
hosts. Most, if not all OF you, have in your
veins the blood of men who were soldiers
and heroes. And l am confident that, if
you were called upon in any emergency de-
manding an illustration of true soldierly
qualities, you would prove yourselves
worthy successors of the men of 1865.
l hope you viii continue to maintain an
efficient organization. l congratulate you
on the proficiency you have already attained
in drill and dicipline. This year. for the
first time, the state has made some provision
for maintaininga well organized military
force, and this encouragement ought to in
crease your interest in the organizations to
which you belong, and your activity
in dischsrging your duties as men,
bers of the Kansas National Guard. The
instruction you receive as soldiers, the drill
and discipline to which you subject your
selves, are not without their uses, even in
times of profound peace. Every man who
has been drilled as soldier is physically
benefited by such exercise; and the lessons
of obedience, of respect for law, of prompt
ness in the discharge of duty, of faithfulness,
patriotism and courage, that are the inspira-
ton of soldierly conduct-these lessons will
be of value to you in every relation of life.
II gives me pleasure to meet you. / trust
your brief sojourn in camp will be not only
instructive, but pleasant, to one and all of
you. Your general officers are all trained
and experienced soldiers, who served their
country faithfully and honorably in time of
war, and your major general left a leg on
one of the battle-felds of the late civil war.
Many of your field and line officers are also
experienced soldiers. They are thus thor
oughly qualified, by habits and education,
to instruct you in your duties, and l have
no doubt they will take pride and pleasure
in doing so.
And now, soldiers of the National Guard,
remember that you are here on duty. Be
prompt in responding to every order; pre-
serve discipline in your camp; and so con-
duct yourselves, when absent from it, as to
bring no reproach on the uniform you wear.
You voluntarily put it on. Try to honor it
by the manliness of sobriety; by the grace
and pride of duty faithfully performed; and
by the walk and conduct of true soldier,
who, honoring the badge of his service,
never fails TO honor himself