The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-06-28
WI. N'KINLEY.

N NJ
the state. to which the latter responded
briefly. Aftera brief intermission, dur
ing which thousands shook hands with
the distinguished orator, ex-Gov.
George T. Anthony introduced Gov.
Mckinley, who was received with en-
thusiastlc applause.
Gov. McKinIey's Address.
Mr.. President, Comrades Of the Grand Army
OF the Republic and Ladies and Gentlemen:
There is born in every manly breast the de-
termination to defend the thing he loves. We
strike down the enemy who would invade our
homes, and guard family and fireside at the
peril of our lives There is no sentiment
as strong as love; no sacrifice too great
for those we love. This is the underlying
principle of true patriotism; the foundation OF
true loyalty to country. The patriot is he who,
loving his country, is willing not only TO fight,
but, if need be, to die for it. 1t is this seuti-
ment which gives TO human governments
their strength, security and permaaency 1t
is this sentiment which nerves the soldier to
duty and gains his consent to service and
sacrifice The strongest and best government
is the one wSich rests upon the reverent af-
lection of its own people, and the nearer the
governments 20 the people and the people TO
thegoverDznent, the stronger becomes the sem
timent o. patriotism. Laws are of little or no
SDcst and support of the people When
patriotism has fed from the hearts of the
masses, the country is nearing dissolution
and death. Did you ever seriously reflect
what it means to be fighting patriot? Many
people preach and profess patriotism, but the
true patriot is he who practices it; and he can
seldom practice It by proxy. Patriotism
is an absolute conservation TO country; it is
the total abandonment of business; it is the
turning away from plans which have been
formed for life's career. It is the surrender
ing of bright prospects and the giving up of
ambition in a chosen work. 1t is the sunder-
ing of all the ties OF home and family and al
most the swapping OF the heart strings which
bind US to those We love. 1t is the consecra-
ton of self to the demands Of country. II may
mean disease contracted by exposure or from
wounds in battle; it may mean imprisonment,
insanity or death; 1t may mean hunger, thirst
ana starvation. In our own civil war it meant
all Of these In this land OF the free and
home of the brave" there were nearly 3,0)00CO
Of men who so loved liberty and union that
they were willing, at any cost or sacrifice, 10
follow the flag. The blood OF half million
men was exacted in that fearful conflict to save
the country: and there are men to-day by the
tens OF thousands. who are suffering from dis
ease contracted in the service OF the govern
ment, and as many thousands more bearing
wounds from which they suffer every hour in
the day; and some Of these, alas, are N dis
treSSing poverty. Our asylums contain many
more Of the poor fellows whose hard service
dethroned reason and unbalanced mind for
ever.
The demands OF patriotism meant for many
wives widowhOod; for many children orphan
aged: they took from many mother her sole
support, the love Of a son, upon whose strong
arm she had counted to lean in her declining
years There was nothing personally attract
i've or promising about any Of the features of
enlistment in the war Of the rebellion 1t was
business Of the most serious sort. Every SOL
der took a dreadful chance. His Offering was
nothing short OF his own life's blood, if his
country should require it This, however,
then seemed insignificant in the overmaster-
ing love of country; in the fervent patriotism
which filed the souls Of the boys in blue, in
that high and noble purpose which animated
them all, that they were tosave to themselves
10 their families, and TO their fellOw-cOuntry-
men the freest and purest government ever
known, and TO mankind the largest liberty and
the highest and best civilization in the world
In that spirit thousands of men went forth to
accept any sacrifice which cruel war might ex-
act The extent OF that sacrifice far exceeded
expectation, but it was offered. freely offered,
on the altar of our beloved country.
Can We ever cease to be debtors to these
men? Is there any reward In reason they
should not receiver Is there any emolument
too great for them? Is there any benefaction
too great or too lasting? Is there any honor to
these patriotic men which a loving people can
beStow that they should not extend? What
the nation is or may become We owe largely TO
them. II there is one OF these old patriots sick
at heart and discouraged. should not the cheer
full and the strong. who are to-day the bene-
ficiarieS of his valor. comfort and console him?
II there is one who is sick or suffering from
wounds, should not the best skill and most
tender nursing wait upon and attend him?
hat- Col
in the most generous response 10 all such de-
mands upon them.
The Citizen Soldier.
We are not martial nation; but no govern
Dent Of the world can boast more devoted,
self-Sacrihcing or patriotic citizenship than
that which established and has since msl-
tanned our free institutions for now nearlyVls
years Nor are We 4 nation Of hero worshipers;
but the men who have fought and suffered,
from the revolutionary war TO the present hour,
for independence. freedom and union are de-
voteoly cherished in memory by the entire
American people.
The soldiers of no other country in the world
have been crowned with such immortal need,
nor have received at the hands OF the people
such substantial evidences OF national re-
gard. Other nations have decorated their
great captains and knighted their illustrious
commanders. Monuments have been erected
TO perpetuate their names; permanent and tri-
umphal arches have been raised to mark their
graves. Nothing Als been omitted TO celebrate
and make immortal their valorous deeds.
In the United States we not only honor our
great captains and llustrious commanders,
the men who led the vast armies to battle,
bat we shower honorS in equal measure upon
AL. irrespective Of rank in battle or coalition
at home.
From the very commencement Of cur civil
war we recognized the elevated patriotism Of
the rank and file of the army. We fully real
lied then their unselfsh conservation to coun-
try, while subsequent years only served TO in
crease cur admiration for their splendid and
heroic services. They enlisted in the army
with no expectation Of promotion: not for the
psltry pitsance OF pay; not for fame or popular
applause, for their services, however efficient,
were not TO be heralded abroad. They entered
the army moved by the highest and purest
motives Of patriotism, that no harm might be-
fall the republic.
While dstracting nothing from the fame OF