The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-17
OLD VETERANS VISIT HIM.
Major McKinley's Eloquent and Patriotic
Speech to Soldier Comrades.


Speech to Soldier Comrades.
Canton, o., July 10 Five hundred old
veteran comrades of the war called on
Major Mckinley this afternoon. They
came from Cleveland on IA special train
and called to congratulate him as com
rades, not as Republicans or Democrats,
as their spokesman said. The company
represented the soldiers and sailors union
of Cuyahoga county. Two q. y. IL. posts
of Canton and the Canton troop of horse
men escorted them to McKinley's home,
where thousands of citizens We're gath
cred.
Addresses We're made by Commander
Hugh Buckley, Senator w. L. Clark, Rev
George Pfeffer, f. L. Patterson, Z. I.
Dewstoe, Capt. BONN and Major w. Il.
Gleason, to which Major Mckinley re-
sponded:
sMy Comrades and Fellow Citizens: |
respond to your call with special gratifi-
cation. Nothing gives me greater pleas
ure than to meet at my home my COM
rades in the war. My friendship grows
stronger and dearer as the years recede
and the old guard, one by one, is called
home. Your presence revives my patrl-
otto memories; it recalls many stirring
and glorious events. How wildly they
rise before us and what an inspiration for
the right they always We're. 1t is rec
ord of patriotism and service in the sever
est trials of our history. (Applause).
We all know something of what that war
meant and what it cost and what sacr-
fee it exacted and for what Il holy cause
the sacrifice was freely given. Treasure
illimitabe suffering Understandable and
death beyond previous record or compar'
ison. BY far the larger number of our
old comrades of the Grand Army are
IL IN, ell ~ ihax-nnI
the river, but though death has decimated
our ranks, it is consoling reflection that
more than IL million of our comrades still
survive. 1t is gratifying thought that
those who served their country best in war
have always been among the best and
truest citizens in peace. 1t is in the living
present and its duties and responsibilities
that every old soldier is now as always
most deeply interested. (Applause). Each
new engagement of the war brought its
own new trials and perils to face and
bravely overcome. 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 come from all sections of our
common country. Great applause.)
1--WE have reached II point in our his
tory when all men who love their country
must unite to defeat by their ballots the
forces which now assault the country's
honor. The war has been over thirtytwo
years and as result we have a reunited
country, union stronger and freer, a
visitation higher and nobler, more sacred
than ever before
The struggle which is upon us involv-
ing national good faith and honor will
enlist their united and earnest services
until those who are arrayed against the
public faith shall be routed and dispersed.
The bitterness of the war belongs to the
past Its glories are the common herit
age of us all. What was Won in that
great conflict belongs just as sacredly to
those who lost as those who triumphed.
You meet to-day not rs soldiers but
as citizens interested now in maintaining
the cause Of the country you served so
well. The future is the sacred trust of
us all, South as we'll rs North. Honesty
like patriotism can neither he bounded
by state nor sectional lines Financial
dishonor is the threatened danger now
and good men will obliterate old lines of
party in Il united effort to uphold Ameri-
can honor
This you always have done and you
must strive to keep the union worthy of
the brave men who sacrificed and died
for it.
Il will be glad, my comrades to meet
you all personally" loud chcering)