Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-08-27
ADDRESS TO VETERANS.


President Morrison Refers to Present Pros
Perity and the Dark Days of the War.
ST. ALBANs, VT, Aug. 26.-President
Harrison left Saratoga by the Delaware
& Hudson railroad on a special train
The party consisted of the president
Private Secretary Halford, Secretary
Tracy, Howard Cole, Edward Tibbetts
and the press correspondents. The
train arrived at Fort Edward at $50
o'clock, and Congressman Burleigh,
Gen j. C. Rogers and Maj. John Dwyer,
president of the Washington County
Veteran association, came aboard
The president from the rear platform
said few words to the people assem-
bled at the station and shook hands
with them till the train moved away.
The train containing the Washington
County Veteran Association on their
way to reunion at Dresden, was in
waiting and a large crowd assembled
around the presidents train. The Bur
leigh corps acted as a guard of honor.
Ex-Congressman Burleigh in a brief
speech introduced the president who
spoke from the rear platform His re-
marks created much enthusiasm.
President Harrison said:
Comrades and Fellow Cit Zeas: 1t is pleas
ant to come this morning upon an assem-
blage of comrades gathering with their fam
lilies to a social reunion to recall their ser-
vices and sacrifices and to battle their souls
in the glory of this bright day and of the
great land that they fought TO save Zap
plause]
Such assemblagcs are full of interest to
the veteran, and they are full OF instruction
and Inspiration to those who gather with
them. 1t Is our habit in the west, as it Is
yours here, to hold annual meetings, and it
is always q pleasure to me, when can so
arrange, to meet with the comrades Of my
old regiment or of the old brigade, or with
the veterans of any regiment or any state
who stood for the flag. lApplausel There
ls pathetic side to all this.
We gather with diminished ranks from
year to year. We miss the comrades who
are dropping by the way. We see repeated
now that which we saw as the great column
moved on in the campaign of the war-a
comrade dropping out, borne to the hos
pital, followed to the grave; and yet these
soldier memories and thoughts are bright
ened by the glOries which inspire and attend
all these gatherings of the veterans of the
war. We see the old flag again and am
glad to beliVe that there has never been
period in our history when there was more
love for it [Applause.l
1t is quite natural that 1t should be so.
These veterans who stand about me have
seen many days and months in camp and
battlefields and in devastated country
through which they marched when there
was on all the horizon only one thing OF
beauty-that glorifed flag. Applause
They brought home the love of it in their
hearts, wrought in every fiber of their ma
ture. and it is very natural that the children
who have come on should catch this inspira
tion and love from the fathers who periled
everything that the flag might still be held
in honor and still be an emblem of the au-
thority of one constitution over an undi-
vided nation
We see o-day how worthy the land was
for which our comrades died, AMI for which
you, my comrades, offered your lives in its
great development and increasing popula
ton, in its multiplying homes where plenty
and prosperity, the love of God and social
order and all good things abide In this
great nation striding on in wealth and pros
perIty to the very first place among the ma
tions of the earth; in this land, in truth as
well as in theory, the land of the free, we
see that which was worthy of the utmost
sacrifice of the truest men.
recall with pleasure that some of the
New York regiments coming to the western
army with Hooker and Howard and Gerry
same corps to which was designated dur
ing the great campaign upon Att nta- Some
of my comrades who made that march to
Chattanooga, to Atlanta and the sea, are
here to-day, survivors of one of the great
est in all its aspects of all the campaigns of
the war.
You came from thos bloody fields upon
the Potomac and struck hands with US of
the west as brothers You helped win the
struggle there to cut the confederacy in
twain and. leading around by the sea, TO
strike hands with Grant again near Apo
mattox. [Gheersl 1 thank you most cor
daily for your friendly demonstration and
presence II i had the power to call down
blessings upon my fellow men the home of
every comrade hsre would be full of all
prosperity.
The president spoke with much ear
nestness and at the conclusion of the
remarks the veterans struggled with
one another to get grasp of the presi-
dents hand, which was extended to all
who could reach it, though many were
disappointed in their efforts.