Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1895-06-29
TALK TO VETERANS.


OTTAWA. Kan, June 2l.-Mckinley
day was even moro than II promised tc
be. The trains brought Representa-
tivcs from all the snrroundin, towns,
and BY noon It was estimated that 49,
O00 people had come to do honor 10 the
governor of Ohio. The distinguished
guest was welcomed 10 the state by
Gov. Morrill,. and after the response
hundreds shook hands with Gov. Nc.
Kinley. At l O'Clock, promptly he com.
menced his address to his Grand Army
comrades and the vast audience that
had assembled. Gov. Mckinley said 10
part:
Ibid you ever seriously reflect what
II means TO he Il lighting patriot? Many
people preach and profess patriotism,
but the true patriot Is he who practices
II, and he seldom practices 1t by proxy.
Patriotism is un absolute conservation
to country: II Is tho total abandon
ment of business; tits the turning away
from plans which have been formed
for n life's career; /. Is the surren
dering Of bright prospects and the
giving mp OF ambition in chosen
work; II is the surrendcring of all the
ties OF home ana family, and almost
the swapping OF heart strings which
bind MS To those we love; tits the con-
secration OF self to the demands Of
country; 1t may mean disease con-
tracted by exposure or from wounds
in battle; IL may mean Imprisonment,
insanity or death; 1t may mean hun
ger, thirst and starvation. In our
civil war II meant all of these.
I'm this land Of the free and home
of the brave there were nearly 1900, 900
who so loved liberty anl union that
they were willing ut any cost or sacri.
fee to follow the flag. The blood OF
half n million men was exacted In that
fearful con ilict to save the country, and
there are men to-day by tens of thou
sands who are suffering from dis
ease contracted in the service Of the
government, and us many thousands
more bearing wounds from which they
suffer every hour Of the day, and some
Of these, alas, are In distressing power
ty. Our asylums contain many more
Of the poor fellows whose hard service
iethroned reason and unbalanced mind
forever.
"Can we ever cease to be debtors to
these men? Is there any reward In
reason they should not receive? Is
there any emolument too great for
them? Is there any benefaction too
bountiful? Is there any obligation too
lasting? Is there any honor to these
patriotic men which living people can
bestow that they should not extend?
What the nation is. or may become, we
owe Loyalty to them. II there is one
Of these old patriots sick ut heart and
discouraged. should not the cheerful
and the strong who are to-day the
beneficiaries of his vGlor and comfort
console him?'
The speaker then paid beautiful
tribute to the private soldiers, to the
rank and file of the old regular army,
who steod loyal for the union when
officers who had been educated by the
government deserted il. He then went
On:
1.-THE pension list of the government
tells the story of the uffsrings of the
army. June 30, lS93, there was grand
total of veterans, widows and orphans
IN the list of 03i,sl7. This honorable
list is stca lily diminished by death,
and will now RAPIDLY decrease as the
years roll by. Death will stalk through
that list with Increased rapidity us age
overtalkes it,
In conclusion, Maj. Mckinley said:
THE soldiers of the union are rapidly
passing away. The circle of comrades
IF that holy war Is narrowing with
each swiftly passing year. Every new
roll cal discloscs one and another not
present, but accounted for. There Is n
muster roll over yondcr us well as n
muster roll here. The majority of
that vast army are fast join
ing their grand old commanders,
who have already nearly all pre-
coded them to the other shore.
But what a precious legacy they
can leave to their children and poster
ity! We are accustomed to refer with
conscious and just pride to our patriot
ancestors who fought for American in
We praise, us we should,
the heroism of our fathers in the Sec
ond war with England, and the more
recent one with Mexico; yet, my
friends, the time is coming-indeed,
the time is upon us-when to be
the worthy son of union vet
eran in the civil war Is mark
of distinction and honor equally
us great us that conferred by any other
service for home and humanity, for
God and country, that history can
boast This legacy is one that will
not perish. 1t will not vanish with
the ages, nor fade from the memories
of men. 1t is priceless gift to your
children, a precious memory to them
to the remotest generation, to be able
to leave behind record of honorable.
service in the holiest war In which
mankind was ever engaged"