The record-union., 1896-07-18
SACRAMENTO REcoRDUN1oN. SATURDAY. 49,
AT M'KINLEY'S HOME.
WAR VETERANS CALL ON THE
REPUBLICAN NOrlINEE.
The rlaj0r Calls Upon Them to Unite
in Preserving the Nations
Honor.

CANTON (O), July 16.-With colors
flying and band playing, the Cuyahoga
County Soldiers and Sailors Union
marched from their special train to Ma
Jor McKtnley's house late this after
noon. This organization is composed Of
veterans of the war and is non-partisan.
A number of speeches were made.
The speakers were Hugh Berkeley, Hon.
w. T. Clark, Chaplain George w. Pep
per, ex-Consul at Milan; e. L. Patter-
son, E. H. Bohn, w. ]. Gleason and c.
c. Deostoe.
When Major Mckinley arose to speak
he was greeted with prolonged cheers.
He said:
My comrades and fellow citizens: I
respond to your call with special graft
hcation. Nothing gives me greater
pleasure than 70 meet at my home my
comrades in the civil war. The ties Of
fraternity and friendship grow stronger
ana dearer as the years recede and the
OIL guard enc by one is called home.
Your presence revives many patriotic
memories; it recalls many stirring and
glorious events. How wildly they rise
before us and what an inspira tion for
the right they always are to have been
a faithful soldier Of the Union Is no
less a source Of joy IN your advancing
years and infirmities than legacy for
family and friends. It blesses him who
gives and enriches him who receives.
II is a record Of patriotism and service
in the severest trials of our history.
(Apl lause)
I'VE all know something of what that
war meant AMI what it cost; what sac
rifice it exacte1, and for what holy
cause the sacrifice was freely given OF
treasure illimitable, suffering inde-
scribable and death beyond previous
record or comparison. By far the larger
number of our old comrades of the
Grand Army are sleeping in their silent
tents beyond the river, but though
death has decimated our ranks, it is a
consoling reflection that more than a
million Of our comrades still survive. It
is gratifying thought that those who
served their country best in war have
always been among our best and truest
citizens in peace. Tt is in the living
present, however and It's duties and
responsibilities that every soldier is now
as always most deeply interested Gap
plause)
Each new engagement of the war
Brought its new trials and perils, and
they were bravely overcome. The de-
votion to discipline and duty which dis
tinguished them there has kept the
soldiers true and steady ever since
(Applause) They have not faltered,
and will not falter now There has been
no time since they laid down their arms
when we had greater need for patriotic
men than now, and the response to the
sciC ~r
sections of our common country. (Great
applause.)
I'VE have reached point in our his
tory when all men who love their coun-
try must unite to defeat by their ballots
the forces which now assault the coun-
try's honor. The struggle which is upon
US, involving national good faith and
honor, will enlist their united and earn
est services until those who are arrayed
against the public faith shall be routed
and dispersed. The bitterness Of the
war belongs to the past. It's glories are
the common heritage Of US all. What
was won in that great conflict belongs
just as sacredly to those who lost as
to those who triumphed
you must meet to-day not as soldiers,
but as citizens interested now in main
tanning the credit and honor Of the
country you served SO well, and in re-
storing prosperity and better times to
our goodly heritage. The future is the
sacred trust Of US all, South as we'll as
North. Honesty, like patriotism, can
never be bounded by State nor sectional
lines. Great applause.) Financial dis
honor is the threatened danger now and
good men will obliterate old lines of
party in united effort to uphold Amer
lean honor This you have always done,
and you must strive to keep the Union
worthy of the brave men who sacrificed
and died for 1t. will be glad, my COM
radss, to meet you all personally"
cloud cheering and applause)