Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-08-25


lowed after him the cheers of the people,
until he was obliged to come to the balcony,
where, after order had been restored, he
said:
Il come to greet you and TO thank you at
the same time for your welcome. The
Grand Army of the Republic seems to be on
loot to-day. but not carrying arms. Those
were long since laid aside, and the Grand
Army of the Republic is to-day dedicated
to peace tapplause) and the Union forever.
l am glad to be in the city of Buffalo with
my comrades of 81 and '65 and my comrades
now. | thank you all and bid you good
afternoon
Shortly after o'clock Columbia post.
dressed in fatigue coats and white duck
trousers, arrived at the hotel and acted as
escort 10 the presiden. to the Elliott build
ing, where the post entertained the presi-
dent at banquet. As the president passed
fiom the hotel TO the banquet hall, the
pcl!ce had literally TO drive a way through
for the carriages. and at the Elliott Club
the corridors We're so densly packed that
the president had to be lifted through by
stalwart policemen. In the reception room
Of the club, he met prominent citizens of
Buffalo and then 4 little later he entered
the great banquet hall as the guest of
honor of Columbia post. of Chicago, with
500 other distinguished guests and soldiers
At the guest table sat Commander c. II.
Mcconnell of Columbia post, toastmaster
of the occasion: President Mckinley, Com
mander-in-Chief T. S. Clarkson. Archbish-
op Ireland. Mayor Jewett. General Russell
a. Alger Governor Frank s. Black. James
f. Curtiss. aplan-in-Chief Mark r.
Taylor. Wilson s. Bissell, HaZen S. Pin
gree. of Michigan: former Commander-in-
Chief 7. W. Lawler, Representative r. B.
Mahany, Representative D. s. Alexander
c. Porter johnson, of Chicago: Colonel
Biackman, of Chicago; Colonel Sage, Cen
erai Walker. General Komits. Colonel John
D. Webber, Colonel j. II. Horton, Colonel
Atkinson, Alderman Finch. of Chicago;
Henry d. Esterbrook, of Chicago; F'erd W.
Peck. of Chicago: General John S. Wise
and Augustus +. Scheu.
When an elaborate menu had been dis
cussed TO the satisfaction of the guests,
the toastmaster called for Governor Frank
s. Black. who extended a welcome for
Columbia post to President Mckinley.
At S:i5 o'clock, Senator Mark Hanna,
who had just arrived IN the city. came
into the banquet hall. His entry was noted
by applause at the further end of the hall,
and as the proceedings passed. President
Mckinley rose from his seat and moved
along the hall to meet him. There was
shout of applause as the two men clasped
hands and the presidents left hand went
up to Mr.. Hanna's shoulder. Both took
their seats amid applause. Mr.. Hanna
had to hold a levee. Closely following Mr..
Hanna's entrance it was announced that
the president, desiring to hear Archbishop
Ireland and other speakers, had decided to
make a brief visit to some of the camp
fires and then return. He left. accom-
panied by Commander-in-Chief Clarkson.
The POSTMASTER then announced the
next toast. ''The City of Buffalo Welcomes
the Grand Army"
Mayor Jewett responded.
While Mr.. Jewett was speaking, the pres
ident returned. and for a few moments
pandemonium reigned supreme. somebody
yelling Wheat, s1.03: silver 40 cerits!' a
cry that was taken up and repeated again
and again.
When Mr.. Jewett had finished his adj
dress. President Mckinley was introduced
and for fully five minutes it seemed as
though the roof would have to fall or the
side walls bulge with the roars of applause
and greeting.
Then the president said, very slowly and
distinctly:
Mr. Postmaster and Comrades and NY
Fellow Citizens:-1 wish might frame fit
ting words to make fitting response to the
have accorded me here tonight. come
with no set form of speech: come with no
studied phrases to present to you. but /
come in the spirit of comradeship zap
plause) to talk to you, as we have often
talked in the past. around the campfires
in war as well as at campfires in peace
tApplause) To me, see by the programme
has been assigned the toast. The Country
and Its Defenders Ny fellow citizens,
blessed is that country whose defenders
are patriots. (Applause.)
blessed Is that country whose soldiers
fight for it and are willing to give the best
they have. the best that any man has,
their own lives, to preserve it because they
love it. (Applause.) Such an army the
United States has always commanded in
every crisis of her history (Applause.)
From the war Of the revolution to the late
civil war. the men followed that flag in
battle because they loved that flag and be-
lieved in what 1t represented. (Applause)
That was the stuff of which the volunteer
arm of 81 was made. (Anplause) Every
one of them not only fought but they
thought (applause), and many of them did
their own thinking. daughter and ap-
plause), and did not always agree with
their commander. daughter and applause.)
That young soldier, who, in the late war
upon the battle line. ahead with the color
guard, bearing the stars and stripes, way
in front of the line. but the enemy still in
front of him. the general called out to the
colorbearer: Bring those colors back to
the line and quicker than any bullet that
young soldier answered back, Bring the
line up to the colors.' prolonged applause.)
1t was the voice of command; there was a
man behind it, there was patriotism in his
heart.
so nigh to grandeur is our dust;
So near to God is man.
When duty whispers, Lo. thou must
Youth replies, I can
And so more than two million hrave
men thus responded and made up an army
grander than any army that ever shook
the earth with It's tread (applause),
and engaged in hoier cause than ever
soldiers did before. (Applause.) What de-
tenders. my countrymen. have We nowo
We have the remnant of this old, mag
been speaking. and then, as allies in any
future war. We have the brave men who
fought against us on Southern battIefields.
Great applause) They are one in faith.
in hope, In fraternity, in purpose and in an
invincible patriotism (applause) and. there
fore the country is in no danger CAP
plause.) In justice. strong: in policy. Sc
cure. and in devotion to the flag, all one.
Great applause.) My fellow countrymen.
l thank you and bid you good night" pro
longed applause)
The presidents allusion to the South and
its unity with the North was received with
vociferous applause, the audience standing
upon their seats to cheer, and at the con-
clusion of the toast Governor Black led
the