The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-14
M KINLEY TO
OLD SOLDIERS.
He Addresses a Party Who Call
Upon Him.
There Were Four Hundred of
Them In All.
ERA OF GOOD FEELING,
Mckinley Refers to Death Of
Sectional Bitterness.
Cites Hospitality of the City Of
Louisville.


of the 1O4th regiment. Ohio volunteer
infantry, who have been holding their
annual reunion at Massillon. arrived in
Canton yesterday afternoon to greet
Conrade Mckinley, bringing their
wives and children with them. Mrs.
Major Mckinley tent No. l, Daughters
of Veterans, of AIassillon, accompanied
them. The visitors altogether num-
bered nearly 400. They awaited the ap-
pearance of Governor Mckinley on the
front porch of his residence, and when
he stepped out, three cheers We're given
with a hearty will. Col Vim. Mono
han Of Youngstown, then came forward
and made a striking address.
When Governor Mckinley started to
respond the cheers were renewed. His
address was as follows:
''Comrade Monohan and Members of
the 1O4th Ohio Regiment; I assure you
that it affords me much pleasure to
meet and greet my old associates of
the civil war here at my home. Tt is
indeed a most gracious act on your
part to make this call, following your
reunion in the neighboring city of Mas
sillon.
It am glad to know that you continue
annually to hold your reunions. There
is, however, always a sad side to these
meetings of old soldiers, for every re-
curing meeting you have and every
roll call that is read d1scloses that one
and another Of your members who met
with you the preceding year is not
present to answer when his name is
called; and every year reminds US that
death is marching through our ranks
The survivors of the war number less
than a, million and yet there were en-
rolled 100000 men who were willing
to dedicate their lives to the country.
(Cheers.)
I'VE are now thirty-five years from
the beginning of the war and thirty
one or more from its close. The bitter
ness of the war has long since disap-
peared. The resentments have gone
out of the hearts Of the old soldiers and
the people who supported them in that
great conflict on both sides. Incidents
occurred last year throughout the
country-incidents of great signif-
cance-which brought to every patriot
ic citizen special qualification. I refer
to the meeting of the Grand Army of
the Republic in the city of Louisville,
KY, Capplause) wher with their
boundless and prodigaI hospitality the
citizens of that city in the south invited
you to their homes.
7 on COulQ not nave DE9n more gen.
erously treated in any city of the north
than you were in the city of Louisville,
on the other side of the river. Then at
Chickamauga, where the government
of the United States has dedicated that
sacred field as a national park. the eX-
Union soldiers and ex-Confederate SOL
diers who years before had fought in
deadly conflict the one against the
other met and with fraternal feelings
he r01o
tive commands fought and fell and con-
secrated the historic battle field as a
memorial to the Union forever and
forever more. (Great cheers.) And
then a few days later in the city of At
lanta, Ga, the boys in blue and the
boys in grey (applause) met and talked
over their battles once more, all pledg-
to the government of the United States
and the preservation of our flag. (Great
applause)
"Sectionalism has given place to ma
tfonaI spirit, and patriotism has
SmOthered the aSperities of partyism
while the preservation of the national
honor constitutes the great aim and
purpose of all patriotic American citi-
zens- Cloud applause) It is not my
fellow comrades, what we say of you,
as Mr.. Lincoln put it at Gettysburg. it
is what you did which will live. You
have given to yourselves a. great name
because you served in the hottest cause
in which mankind ever engaged-the
cause of freedom and civilization, a
cause which has done so much for
mankind everywhere. (Cheers.) What
we want to do now is to take care of
the future.
You cannot upbraid yourselves for
any lack of patriotism in the past. The
future is now our trust and in our keep
ing and let US see to it that the gov
eminent which was preserved through
your valor and sacrifice and the mil
lions or your comrades snail be pre-
served forever. Tremendous applause. }
Preserved not only to the present but
to those who are to come hereafter.
Il thank you, my CO mradeS, for the
warm and eloquent expressions of good
will spoken by your chairman. His trib-
ute moves me deeply. I know some
thing of the service of the old 104th
Ohio in war, and 1 know something of
your services as citizens in peace, for
I believe that this entire regiment
came from the counties which for
years constituted the congressional
district which by your partially
had the honor so long to represent.
Stark, Columbiana, Summit and Por-
/ tage counties furnished the brave men
I whose names are found on the honor
roll of your regiment. know many
/ of your comrades personally and see
/ before me many familiar faces whose
/ presence here calls up many pleasant
/ memories of the past 1 know Your old
| and distinguished colonel well. God
! bless dear brave Col. Riley. Gap
! plause.)
/ I shall be glad to welcome each of you
/ personally, and I am certain that Mrs.
/ Mckinley will be pleased to meet the
| ladies who are connected with the old
/ 104th Ohio" Great applauSe-)
At the conclusion of the governor
/ speech Miss Bertha Martin of MasSillon
/ spoke in behalf of the Mrs. Major Nc
| Kinley tent, Daughters of Veterans.
/ Mai Mckinley responded by WelcOn-