The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1897-09-24
NEBRASKA VETERANS
PART OF THEIR TIME DEVOTED
TO THE STATES HONOR.
The Soldier Sentiments of Senator Allen
His Interets In and Efforts For
Those who Saved the Country
Congressman Strobe and Hon.
w. j. Bryan Talk Briefly.
The State Reunion,


hardt read kilograms from Congress
men Greene and Stark, announcing
their inability to be present. A letter
from Senator Allen was also read, the
first part of which told of his partici-
patton in the war and devotion to the
old soldiers. 1t continues:
For those who honestly served in the
same great, just and holy cause. what
ever their station in life may be, or
may have been, have strong feelings
of affection akin to those existing be-
tween brothers, Notwithstanding on
political questions we may widely dis
agree. Men capable of sacrificing per-
sonal convenience and risking health
and life in the accomplishment of a
great cause in the interest of the race
are too broad-minded, sensible and pa
triotic to cavil with others who per-
formed a like service respecting their
political opinions.
The war for the union was fought on
the theory that ours is national gov
ernment and that this is an insepera-
BILE union of indestructible states, and
that a state having entered the union
becomes an integral portion thereof
and cannot throw off or abandon it's
allegiance at any time q majority of its
citizens may SO declare. This is the
Sittled doctrine of our country. We
are not only a federal union, but ma
ton, and our government possesses,
and can exercise for the common good
all the power that any other national
government can rightfully exercise:
Thirty-two years have passed into
eternity since the close of the war in
which We served together and the mus
tering out of the volunteer army and
navy. Those who were then mere
striplings have become gray-headed
men and in the west have encountered
the hardships, privations and expert
ences of a long, useful and active life.
It must have impressed itself on all
that with our retirement from the
army we did not cease to be charged
with duties and responsibilities of a
very high order and an important char
acter. The same cause that impelled
our enlistment and induced uSto en-
counter the hardships and experiences
of soldiers life, namely, the preser
walton and protection of the union, has
doubtless induced us to perform our
duty as citizens to the best of our abil-
ity. in making more secure the founda-
tions of civilization and in strengthen
ing the government wherever, in our
Judgment, it may have needed strength
ening.
/ may be permitted to say that 1
shall in the future, as / have in the
past, use every reasonable and honest
effort to advance the interests of the
soldiers and sailors of this state and
nation. l have during the incumbency
of my present office had under consid
GRAFTON 965 pension cases at the bureau
of pensions, many of which have been
granted, besides having introduced
and secured the passage of many pri-
vate bills. l have strenuOusly con-
tended on the floors of the United
states senate. and shall continue to do
so, that that all who honorably per-
formed like services in the cause of the
Union should be. equally rewarded in
the granting of pensions, and that the
artificial distinction between husbands,
made necessary by the existence of a
state of war, shall not continue be-
tween their widows after the war
closed and each took his station in the
rank OF citizens. l shall earnestly
continue this line of advocacy until
such an odious condition shall have
ceased to exist in the United States.
The wife and children of a soldier who
performed meritorious and honest
services for his country and ris!Sed life
and limb at time when the govern
ment needed him. should be rewarded
equally with the wife and children of
those who received higher pay. greater
honor and emoluments during the
short period such distinction existed.
Among the speakers was Congress
man STROBE. He gave a review of the
causes that led to the war, and said
that the greater part of the army that
marched to the front in 1861 was in
the eternal camp today. He discussed
the war as it affected Nebraska, and
followed the state through it's forma-
ton of a state government and admis
sion into the union, eulogizing Mar
quette and Thayer as two of its great
est patriots. The part of presest pa
triotism was to ''stand up for Ne.
braska- The state had increased in
population from 90. 900 in 1867 to over a
million in 1897 It has grown into a
It was being built up at the time Ben
w duc Sdlu Gill III lISoI VI
for the homeless, rather than niggers
Tor the niggerless. In 1870 the state
raised 100000 bushels of corn: in 1850.
59, 900. 900; in 1890. 100, 900. 900. and in
1897, fully 300, ,OOO, 900 bushels. In 1870
there were 29s school houses in the
state, and now there are 1000, the
state having the lowest percentage of
among all the states. The
speaker thought we ought to stand up
for and be proud of the state. This
would be true patriotism. He said
there were many sincere people who
preach and profess patriotism. but the |
True patriot is the one who practices as
we'll as breaches.
Congressman Strobe was followed by |
Hon. w. j. Bryan. He thought. how
erer, that on occasions like this it was |
proper for those to speak who took |
part in the war, rather than those |
who were born too late to enter the |
great struggle. We can look back upon |
she little contest in which we have |
been engaged and find how small it
vas compared with the civil war-the
greatest war of history. The war was
great, because conquered enemies had
been converted into permanent friends.
ind the greatest question that has ever