The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-04
MAJOR M'KINLEY TALKS.
Addresses His Old Comrades, Paying
a Soldier Tribute.

Addresses His Old Comrades, Paying
a Soldier Tribute.
one OF the first speeches Maj. Nc
Kiniey has been induced to make this
year was to his home people on Decor
alton day at Canton.
The major attended the meeting at
the Tabernacle, which closed the eXer-
cises, and there he was captured horse,
foot and Dragons
The regular programme OF speech
making and singing was ended, and the
audience was about to arise for the ben
ediction, when the chairman, 4. T. Nc
Carly, said quietly, that as MAJ NC
Kinley was with them he would be eX-
pected to address them Instantly the
hall rang with cheers and with calls for
Mckinley.
The major could not refuse such an
urgent demand. He advanced to the
front of the platform and the audience
gave him a rousing greeting. Flags and
handkerchief and umbrellas were
waved and every body got UP and just
shouted for all he or she was worth.
There were many school children pres
ent, and they raised their shril voices
with the rest
The speech was an admirable fllustra-
ton of what the major can do in the
way of making addresses on the spur
of the moment OF his readiness and fe-
LEFTY In speaking on short notice there
are many instances on record The
most remarkable, perhaps, was his feat
at the Atlanta exposition when he and
other governors visited it. The speaker
of the day-gOvernors' day-fafled the
committee. AT the last minute he sent
word that he could not come. Gov Nc
kinley agreed to take his place, and
with hardly Is minutes warning deliV-
cred one of the finest addresses ever
heard in the south or anywhere else.
He began by saying that the past Of
our country was secure. and that it
was our duty to see that the govern
ment should be preserved in its integ-
{ TfFW A mPTIGln bow and girl
for ever more.
That" he added. lis the lesson Of
the services today As ] saw the little
ones carrying the flag and heard them
singing their patriotic songs. i thought
that as long as our children were
taught to love that flag and to wave
that flag. with that flag in their hands
and patriotism in their hearts nothing
evil would ever befall this government
for they would live to perpetuate it,
Vow I did not intend to make G..
speech. I only came to be with you, as I
have been with you all day. to join
with you in paying fitting tributes to
our soldier dead. Stretched across the
capitol at Washington during that mag
nfncent review of the whole army
the army of Grant, the army of Sher-
man, the army Of Sheridan and the ar
my Of Thomas, stretched across that
great marble capitol. written in letters
that might be read by every passing
soldier and by every civilian. were the
words: There is one debt that this ma
ton can never pay, and that is the debt
that it owes to the men who saved the
nation That was true then, and it is
just as true now. and as the years go
bE and we are further removed from
the great struggle-We are now 35 years
from its beginning and 81 from its close
I 1t does not seem so far away after all.
Yet no one can look in the faces of
/ the brave men before us tonight and
see their gray hair and no one could
witness their march to the cemetery,
U STONED and HING n
/ the spr1ngy step OF 80 years ago with
| out realizing the fight of time. Yes. it
seems not so long ago, but we realize 1T
I when we look into your faces. comrades
and remember what you were IS years
agO-mere boys, from Is to % years of
age-22 was the actual average army
age
las the years so by and the old sol
diers get closer together. and all the
I people of the country come to have a
I stronger love and regard for them.
u es, they appreciate what they owe to
I you They appreciate your valor, your
( great sacrifices, your willingness to
| shed your last drop of blood for the
/ nation. GCheers.l God bless you all
And let US forget the bitterness of
/ the past in the glories Of today and of
I the future We struggled with the men
/ Of the south for the control Of the cOun-
/ try We had recourse to the great arbf-
/ trament of war We won, but the vic
] tories we achieved are just as much
/ theirs as ours. The glories Of that great
! victory, with its results of splendid
/ achievements, are the glories Of US all,
north and south.
/ What we want now is patriotism in
! the hearts of the people. rCheers.1 We
I want patriotism that will not die. that
] VIII stand faithful and unyielding for
/ the country and for the fulhllment of
/ her destinies; for the preservation of
/ the great institutions founded by our
4 fathers, maintained by us, and to be
I perpetuated by our children"