Evening star., 1896-08-13
Major Mckinley Receives His Com
panions in Arms.
LOYALTY NEEDED NOW As IN 1861
He Says They Must Stand Firm for
the Nations H Honor.
OPEN MILLS NOT THE MINTS

survivors of the 28d Ohio Volunteer In
fantry. The regiment was famed for its
war record. the number Of its hard-fought
battles including South Mountain, Antietem
and General Sheridan's many battles in the
Shenandoah valley in "a; for the number
OF Its killed and wounded, and also for its
great men noted In war and civil life. OF
the field officers only two survive, Gen. VIM.
8. Rosecrans of San Francisco and Gen.
Russell Hastings of the Bermuda Islands.
The scene yesterday at Canton was a
touching one. Mrs. Mckinley sat in the
hallway near the porch, from which the
major responded to the eloquent greeting
given him by Captain John S. Ellen, mayor
of Willoughby. The old soldiers cheered
and the old flag waved with every burst Of
applause. Captain Ellen told of William
Mckinley as private soldier. saying in
part:
"Comrade: We have assembled here to-
day from all parts of the Union and from
many vocations in life. to congratulate you
our comrade In arms. on your nomination as
candidate for the presidency of the United
States 1 remember. sir, that Company E
had one member, very youthful in appear
ance. so much SO that Captain Robinson
Of the 9th United States Infantry made
some questions as to age and consent of
parents. The answers Of the recruit were
80 prompt and SO decisive, and his desire so
very nodest, and asking to be enrolled as
private, that the officer, without further
hesitation. administered the oath, and Will
liam Mckinley, tr., at the age Of seventeen
was made full-fledged private soldier of
cheers for McKinley)
lhen away to the hills and mountains of
west Virginia, where we fought and skir-
mished the summer away, meeting and de-
teating the confederate General Floyd at
Carinfax Ferry, September TO- 1861 In
recognition of your bravery, efficiency and
ndelity to duty. you were, In April 1862 ap-
pointed TO the non-commissioned staff of
commlssary sergeant Those of us now
present with whom you then ser3ed are
ready TO bear testimony to the very marked
Improvement and regularity of service in
ths one branch of military life If, from
any cause, the coming Of the supply trains
were delayed and rations were short Mac,
dld the next best thing and made requistion
on the country roundabout At a later dav
your gailantry and fidelity secured your pro-
Wo!lon ana assignment to duty on the gen
eral staff.
Always In Touch With the Boys.
But whatever the distinc ton or dispar-
ity in rank you always retained close touch
with the boys who were your first asso-
Ciates in army life. In conclusion. let me
say that the spirit of 1861 is not dormant:
that, as we went shoulder to shoulder in
the defense of our country. SO now, with
willing hands and united voices, we stand
for our country's honor and our country's
nag. Ihirty-f1ve years ago you stood with
your comrades as private soldier in the
great army which was contending for ma
tional life and national union. Today you
are the chosen leader, not of q mere party,
put Of the people, contending for law and
order. national honor and the inviolability
OF the public faith. Your old comrades are
with You now, as then. We stand shoulder
to shoulder Eow as then. We rally about
you and the glorious banner you now carry
with our old love and loyalty and declare
with you that the money of our country
must be as sound the Union and as un-
tarniShed as its nag
with en- abiding faith in the virtue, in
telligence, honor and discriminating judg-
ment of the American people, We again
congratulate you and bid you God speed"
Great applause and chez ring).
Major MckinIey's Response.
When a storm Of applause had subsidized,
Maj. Mckinley responded:
Capt Ellen and my comrades Of the
Twenty-third Ohio: This call of the surviv
ing members of the old regiment with
which 1 served for more than four years. at
my home is most gracious act upon their
part and brings to me peculiar and special
qualification. AS 1 look upon this little
body of mon assembled about me, and re-
member that this is but the remnant OF the
old Twenty-third that thirty-f1ve years ago
ready for duty, and that it was twice re-
cruited to the total number Of nearly 1900,
that here is gathered possibly less than 100,
and that Is one-fourth of the surviving
am vividly reminded how rapidly the years
are passing, and with them are passing our
old associates Of the war. The survivors
are scattered through twenty-four states
of the Union. some of our members are in
the territories. One Of them resides on the
other side Of the water. But wherever
they are, and in whatever vocation they
may be engaged, they all love the old regi-
mental organization, which Is the proudest
thing to them on earth. (Applause.)
A Great Regiment.
I'VE had a great regiment; great in its
field officers; great in the character of the
rank and file that constituted it. Our
hearts go out with tenderness and love- l
sure, to the first colonel Of our regi-
ment. Gen. William 8. Rosecrans. to his dis
tant home in California. Great applause.)
I'VE all remember his splendid discipline
and gentle qualities. and we remember
with what pride we marched under his
command In West Virginia in 1851; and we
remember, too, that the regular army Off
GERS. that splendid soldier. Gen. E. p
Scammon (cheers). not the most popular
man in the regiment in its earlier days, for
we thought his discipline very severe and
his drill very hard, but after the battle of
0OulH mountain, zen. 0CdmmOn the
most popular man in the regiment (Great
applause.) We knew then, for the first
time, what his discipline meant, and what
strength it gave us In the battlefield
Nor can we assemble here, as we have
today, without recalling the third colonel
Of the 23d Ohio, who was longest with us
Rutherford B. Hayes. Great cheering
He was beloved by every man Of the regi-
ment, and no braver colonel ever led his
soldiers to battle. Nor Stanley Matthews.
the first lieutenant colonel Of the regiment.
the great soldier and lawyer. (Applause. J
Nor can we forget Comley, glorious old
Comley CHEERS and cries of Nor Mrs.
HayesD, nor Mrs. Hayes, the faithful
friend of the regiment; and we have with
us today, and we are all glad to see him.
for I remember, In 1854. after his dreadful
wound, we did not suppose we would have
him with US again-we have with us TODAY
that brave soldier, comrade, Col. Russell
B. Hastings. (Cheers.)
As Loyal as In 'O1.
IT was glad to note in the eloquent
speech of my comrade, Capt. Ellen, that
the old 23d Ohio stands in 1885, as it stood
in 1861 for the country and the country
flag. Great applause and cries for Nc
Kinley, too.) Nobody could have doubted
that, knowing the metal from which this
old regiment was made. My comrades, you
are just as loyal to country now as you
were loyal to country then; and as you
or tn fyo,