The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-08-20
Major mckinley Talks to Soldiers.

Ten thousand people were at the fair
grounds at Bowling Green, O., Thurs
day afternoon, when Major Mckinley
addressed the veterans In attendance
at tho annual renuion Of the old SOL
,diers and sailors of Wood county.
When Major Mckinley drove into the
fair grounds he was loudly cheered by
tho large crowd. In his speech the
Major avoided allusion to politics, but
what he said about pensions elected
considerable applause.
1.-The Union WIS worth saving" the
Major said ut cost great deal to
do 1t. No man, North or Sopth, regrets
what it cost to save the best Govern
Iment on earth. We little appreciate
the cost OF that great war. We had
enlisted 2, 1856, 900 men In the army and
navy; 81, 600 men were killed, 1S5, 900
men died in camps and hospitals, 300,-
600 were made prisoners of war. But
to preserve the Union was worth the
cost. The war advanced the ciyillza-
ton OF the country. 1t has led us on
to greater destiny, liberty is more
secure everywhere on account OF the
bloody battles.
1--WE enlisted, not for fame, applause
or the pittances we received. The vol
lunteer army enlisted to preserve the
Union. Would not detract from the
merits of our matchless leaders, but it
was the soldiers who fought the bat
tiles. Our great generals will not be
forgotten. History will not fail to re-
cord the splendid achievements OF
Grant, Sherman and Sheridan. These
men are safe in history. but it was the
linen who wore the blue who saved the
Union. loud cheers.l Instead OF
preserving the Union, as 1t was, you
saved 1t, as it is, with slavery gone.
Lincoln could not save the nation with
slavery, as he intended. It was de-
creed by God that slavery should go.
The Constitution belied itself until the
war wiped out slavery.
"But they say the old soldiers are
getting too much pension. You spilled
your blood for your country. 1t costs
money to carry on the war, it costs
money to keep the old soldiers In
peace. Pensions are cheaper than
standing armies. lCries of Hear" u
Other nations spend millions yearly To
maintain big armies, With So. 600, 600
people we only have 10000 soldiers. 1t
means that free men don't need stand
ing armies. The soldiers get about
one third Of the Federal revenues. Al
the close of the war we owed two
debts, one duo to the bondhoider, the
lother to the soldier. Tho first we must
compute, the latter beyond estimation
''Ihe debt of this Government TO its
soldiers is most sacred. In 1857 the
pension roll amounted to $50, 600, 600.
At that time the interest on the public
debt was Sl47,000,000. The soldiers
said they would go home and wait.
They objected to the reputation of the
public debts. The interest of the debt
to-day is s37, 100000 Don't be troubled
about the pension business. We will
do our duty TO the soldiers. They
made sacrifices to preserve the Union.
The Government has never failed to
take care of its soldiers. If war
break out now you could enlist a corps
on this ground.
81 belive in the comradeship of old
soldiers, ! have talked longer than
Expected. [Cries of go on, Major."l
/ am tired Of hearing 1t said that the
soldiers are footing the Treasury Why,
we would not have Treasury to-day
were it not for the soldiers. There IL
not n poorhouse in the land good
enough for the heroes OF the late war,
l[Great cheers.l
After the speech-making the Major
held an informal reception and shook
hands with large number ofveterans
and others who were present.