The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-05-31

viz VII III His
only TO fight but to die for it. Il was this
sentiment which gave to the anited states
s en saa which Tstes to all governments
their strength ana security and permanent
cy. II is this sentiment which nerves the
soldier and gains his consent 10 service anu
sacrifice. aye. even to death
did YOU ever seriously reflect what II
sincere people preach and profess patriot
Ism. but the true patriot practices IL
What is true patriotism? II is an absolute
conservation to country. II is an abandon
ment OF home, family and business; IL IS
turning away from cherished plans whlcn
have been fondly formed for a LIES ca
reer; II is the surrendering of bright pros
poets and the giving up OF ambition IN a
ee SEN WORK; II Is tne SUI Sdna as1os, vi The ehs sn sss
ping or the heart-strings which Dind US TO
those we love; il is the surrendering OF
country; IL may mean disease contracted by
the exposure Of wounds in battle: 1t may
mean Imprisonment. insanity or death; it
may mean hunger, thirst and starvation.
In our civil war IL means all Of these"
Continuing. Governor Mckinley touched
on the heroism that was displayed in
Southern prison pens. In hospitals and on
the Dattlefields or the rebellion. and added:
Tell me-" he said, that men who were
thus willing TO give up their lives for their
country would now bankrupt or discredit
the government for which they were will
ing to give their life blood TO save? This
Is patriotism which is above price. 1t is
not merchandise for barter; it cannot be
bought, for IL is not in the market. There
are some things that money cannot buy,
thank God. and true patriotism is one of
them.
COST OF PRESERVING THE UNION.
The blood of half a million men was
shed in that fearful conflict to preserve
the Union. Aye, more, there are men to-
day by the ten thousands who are suffer-
ing from disease contracted in the service
OF their country and as many thousand
more carry with them wounds from which
they suffer every hour in the day and
some OF them are in distressing poverty.
Our asylums contain many of the poor fell
lows whose hard service has dethroned
ths:- reason or unbalanced their minds
Forever. The demands OF patriotism meant
for many wives ~widowhood; for many chill
dren orphanage. They took from many a
mother her sole support, the love OF a son
upon whose strong arm and heart she had
counted in her declining years. And how
pravely those wives and mothers accepted
The sacrifices.
Can We" said Governor Mckinley. "ever
cease TO be debtors 10 those men? Is there
anything in reason they are not worthy
TO receive at our hands? Is there any
emolument too great for them? Is there
obligation too lasting or too sacred? Is
there any honor too distinguished which
q loving people can bestow, that they ought
not to receive? What the Nation is or
what the Nation may become We owe to
them. II there is enc Of these fighting pa
cheerful and the strong, who are the benef-
Charles OF his valor, should comfort and
console him, If there is one who Is sick
skill and the most tender nursing should
wait upon him."
Governor Mckinley gave some interest
Ing statistics of the armies in the various
wars of America, showing the magnitude
Union. He said: Our pension rolls con-
tain nearly as many pensioners as the en-
sailor muster oft the rolls alS,t Of an tse IN soldiers 9Sa war and nd
The revolution, in the war of 1872 and in
the war with Mexico combined. Within
fourteen thousand as many names are now
borne on our pension rolls as were con-
tanned in the enlistment rolls of all our
to the civil war. My comrades. this long
and highly honorable list is being steadily
diminished by death and will rapidly de-
crease as the years roll by. The pension
roll has probably reached its maximum.
Hereafter it is likely to recede.
God grant that while the old soldiers
are still with us they shall enjoy without
STINT gfudge or suspicion the bounteous
penefactions or the country they served
so well and the care and benedicti0n of
all their neighbors and fellow-citizens. The
daily report OF the displacing from the pen
sion roll by death carries with IL no faint
OF dishonor; 1t raises no suspicion of I'M
.worthiness- We cannot prevent this honor
able roll from decreasing from natural
ished or if displacement shall occur from
other causes. let it be for reasons alike
timent of the Country will approve and the
brave soldiers of the Republic will them
for the needy survivors of this great strug-
gle i'm the true spirit of the martyr who
promised that the Nation should care for
him who shall have borne the battle and
for his widow and orphans.
WHY OLDIERS LOVE THE FLAG.
ut is no wonder that the old soldier loves
the flag under whose folds he fought and
for which his comrades shed so much blood.
He loves ii for what it is and for what it
represents. 1t embodies the purpose and the
history of the government itself. 1t records
-
land and sea: 1t heralds the heroic sacri-
fees Of the revolutionary fathers who plant
ed free government on this continent and
dedicated it to liberty forever. 1t attests
the struggle of our army and The valor of
cur citizens in ali the wars of the, Republic.
1t has been sanctifed by the blood of our
best and our bravest; 1t records the
tyrdom of Lincoln. 1t has been glorlfied III
the hearts of a freedom-loving people, not
only at home but in every part of the world.
Our flag expresses more 10 humanity. than
any other faS. 1t means more than any
other national emblem. 1t stands for the
they are supreme, and that they acknoWl-
edge no earthly sovereign but themselves.
home and abroad, on land and on sea. has
in the past been often demonstrated. No
Incident Mite to my mind Il, Is more striking tn =
j. r. Poinsett. OF South Carolina, was the
United States minister at that court. 1t
Wa6 O1OWIhS sh tACClAOA
which was bitterly fought, and the defeat
ed party were desperate in their disappoint-
ment. The excited populace look possession
of the artillery barracks and painted bat
teries along the streets. and The streets
flowed with blood. While the firing was GO
ing on the widow of a former viceroy OF
Mexico, who lived in the adjoining house TO
that of our minister. trembling with fear
and almost overcome with excitement,
sought his home and appealed TO him for
protection. While engaged in assuring her
Of full protection at his hands a shot was
fired at him which passed through his coat
and lodged In the shutter of his balcony
window. The maddened mob. as he Gisap-
peared. then cried out to fire in the window
and break down the gates At the very
moment when passion was running highest
and the men had become mad with despera-
ton, ready to batter down the gates and
walls surrounding the house, Mr.. Poinsett
directed the secretary of the legation to
throw out the American flag, which he did;
and then the minister and secretary, in
full view of the excited .rowd, stepped
forth on the veranda beneath its folds. In
stantly the shouts were husnsd, the fury or
the mob began TO abate and the muskets
dropped by the soldiers sides which a no.
ment before had been pointed with deadly
intent at the home and person of our Min
lister. Dread and awful silence fell on the
warning multitude. The minister announced
that he was the accredited representative
of the American government. The leaders