Wichita eagle., 1889-06-13
Ehe aaehita Daily eagle yhursday B1oruio gune g. 1889
that state with martial law as alleged.
and which was supposed to be the chief

| that state with martial law as alleged,
and which was supposed to be the chief
cause Of offense:
The general received a number of
callers last evening at the Copeland,
many Of whom were old soldiers, who
| took occasion to endorse the speech
which Mr.. Kelley made at Fort Smith,
Ark, on Decoration day, and which has
been criticised so severely by a few
Democratic papers. Speaking of this
speech, General Kelley said to Capital
| reporter last evening:
Il made the address in the national
cemetery at Fort Smith, where memo
rial services were being held. was adj
dressing the ex-Union soldiers, and in
the course of my remarks I took occa-
sion to say that several of our comrades,
American citizens, had been assassinated
in cold blood in that state for no other
reason than that they were loyal to the
flag and dared to express their honest
convictions. | told them that it was
stain upon the state and that the laws
should be obeyed. l made no threat of
martial law, but said that as an humble
member of congress l should consider it
my duty to do all in my power to see
protection to every citizen of the United
States, no matter what his color or
nationality, whether he be a citizen of
Arkansas, Mississippi or Kansas, or any
other state. | was not surprised that the
old rebel element of the city didn't like
this kind of talk. 1t was true and that's
why it made them so sore. Their indig-
nation meeting was made up entirely of
Democrats, and was not a non-par-
tisan meeting, as was telegraph
ed from Fort Smith. There were
but two old soldiers in the meeting and
they were Democrats. On the following
Saturday evening, the G.. A. R. post of
Fort Smith, by unanimous vote, passed
resolutions endorsing my speech, and
copy of the resolutions was sent to me-. "
Continuing, General Kelley said to the
Capital reporter: 81 am firmly of the
opionion that this southern question is
the greatest question before the people
today. l believe it will receive more at
tention before congress during the next
four years than any other question. The
laws of the country must be obeyed.
The time has come when every citizen of
the southern states, whether white or
black, should be allowed to 60 to the
polls without intimidation, cast his vote
as his conscience dictates and have IL
"The United States authorities should
be directed to take charge of the cleo
tons in the south and see that they are
conducted. / would not be in
favor of sending the militia, and yet the
laws should be Obeyed even if it should
Do necessary as last resort |
to call out the troops. While in
Arkansas | took the trouble to investi- |
gate this subject. Those southern bull
1ozers don't attempt to cover up the fact |
that the negro is deprived of his vote, |
and that if he should attempt to exercise
he rights which are given to him under
he law he would be assassinated. They |
ak about it as lightly as if it was a
natter of no importance"
When asked his views regarding pen
ion legislation, General Kelley said:
Il stand squarely upon the Emporia
platform, which declares for a service
pension, and when it comes before con-
sress l shall most cheerfully support
hat measure. l think the time has
,ome when this government should give
pension to every one of the old sol
liers, with an additional pension to
hose who were disabled. The senti-
nent in favor of service pension is
rowing stronger every day and l feel
Iuite confident that it will meet with
uccess at the coming session. One
hing is certain, if the bill is passed by
congress, it will never be vetoed by the
resident"