The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1896-07-18
WERE COMRADES IN WAR
M'KINLEY WAS VISITED by FIVE
HUNDRED 6. A. n. VETERANS.
Aged Soldiers Are Told That q nat-
tie for Financial Honor L.
at Hand.

Canton. Ohio. July Is.-FIve hundred old
veterans. comrades OF the war, called
On Major Mckinney this afternoon. They
came from Cleveland on a special train,
and called to congratulate as com
rades, and not as republicans or demo-
Gratis. as their Spokesman said. The
bronZe-badged veterans lined up hand
someiy and marched with yigoT TO the
music Of Fahy's military band, which
ihey brought with them. The company
represented the soldiers and sailors OF
the union Of Cuyahoga county Two q.
A. X. posts Of Canton aHd the Canton
troop of horEemen escorted them TO
Major Mckinleys home whore thous-
ands Of citizens were gathered. Addresses
Eere made By Commander Hugh Buck
ley and others.
Major Mckinley responded: Ny Com
radss ana Fellow-citIzens: I respond to
your call with special qualification.
Nothing gives me greater pleasure than
TO meet at my home my comrades In the
civil war. The ties OF fraternity and
friendship gro" stronger and dearer as
Inc years rece1e. and the old guard one
by one, is called home Your presence
reyiEes many patriotic memories II re-
calls many stirring and glorious events
| How viyidly they rise before u.s. and
what an inspiration for the right they
always are.
To have been faithful soldier of the
! United States is no less a source Of Joy
! TO your advancing years and infirmities
| than precious legacy for family and
| friends. II blesses him who gives and
| eBriches him who receives IL Is a rec
| ord Of patriotism and service i'm the Sc
verest trials OF our history We all
know something of what that war meant
and what ii cost: what sacrifice IL exact
| ed and for what a holy cause the sac
| riiIce was freely given. Misery iiIimit-
| able, suffering understandable and death
I HFpa# sSa
1 BY far the largest number of our old
| comrades Of the grand army are sleeping
| In their silent tents beyond the river.
but though death has diminished our
ranks. il Is a consoling reflection that
| more than a million of our comrades
! survive. Our gratifying thought is that
those who served their country best in
| war have always been among our best
and truest citizens in peace. II IS in
the living present, however. and its du-
ties and responsibilities. that every old
soldier Is now as always most deeply In
1erested. Each new engagement Of the
war brought its own trials and perils TO
face and bravely overcome The devo-
ton TO duty and discipline which dis
tinguished them has kept the Old SOL
diers true and steady ever since. They
have not faitered. and will not faIter
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 crisis Of the hour will
J now come from all sections OF our com
mon country. We have reached a poin;
/ in our history when all men who love
= their country must unite to defeat by
| their ballots the forces which now assai
E the eountrys honor. The war has beer
over = years. and a. result We have
: a reunited country. union stronger and
q freer. civilization higher and nobler
{ | freedom brighter and more enduring
Q / and flag dearer and more sacred thar
q | ever beforehand all OF them safe from
E any enemy. because the men who 4 thirS
o | OF century ago fought in deadly con
! fict unite in their mssierful might Il
I 4 oppose any enemy who would aSsai
: either freedom OF the union or flag
. The struggle which is now upon us
e | involving the national good faith ans
honor. will enlist their united and ear
nest services until those who are arrayes
and dispersed. The bitterness of the wa
. belongs TO the past. Its Elories are tn
common heritage Of Us all. What wa
won in that great conflict belongs jus
= as sacredly to those who los, as TO thos
n who triumphed. You meet today as citi
4 zens interested now in maintaining tn
= credit Of the country you have served $
i well and in restoring prosperity an
l. better times TO our heritage. The fuIur
II Is the sacred trus; OF Us all the south a
well as the north. Honesty. like patriot
Il ! ism. can never be bounded by state no
:. sectional lines. Financial dishonor
e the threatened danger now. and goo
: men will oblilerate the lines OF party /
e an united effort 10 uphold America
81 honor.
This you have always done and yo
le must strive TO Keep the union worthy {
r the brave men who sacrificed and die
y for IL. ! will be glad. my comrades
is meet you all personally"