The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-22
LAST SPEECH OF THE DAY.

and accepting the invitation of the Chamber
of Commerce and citizens.
LAST SPEECH OF THE DAY.
The President Talks to His Old
Friends at Columbus.
COLUMBUS. o., Oct. 21.-The presidential
train arrived at Columbus about $3.50 p. m.
Notwithstanding the heavy downpour Of
rain. an immense crowd had assembled at
the depot and the spacious building resound-
ed with cheers A committee of citizens
met the President. and, accompanied by an
escort, composed of the Seventeenth United
States Infantry and the.Columbus Rifles, he
was driven to the Auditorium. Fully 1000
people, who had patiently waited more than
an hour. were packed into the immense hall,
and the Presidents appearance was greeted
with almost deafening cheers. The President
was introduced by Mayor Samuel L. Black
and spoke for about ten minutes his address
being frequently interrupted by enthusiastic
applause. President Mckinley said:
Mr.. Mayor and Feflow-citlzens-It is not
in the unconstrued language of compliment,
but with deep emotion that l undertake to
make response to the warm and generous
welcome extended on behalf Of the city of
Columbus by your honored mayor. 1t seems
to me like coming back home. Great APP
plause.) The familiar faces 1 see about me,
the familiar songs / have heard all make
me feel that l am among my old friends,
with whom for four years lived. (ke-
neWed applause.) l recall no four years of
public service that gave me more, pleasure
than while serving this State, and not the
least of that pleasure was the kindly,
friendly social relations l had with the peo-
pie of this capital city. (Renewed cheer
ingl
you in public assembly. The Nation has
been at war not because it wanted war, but
because 1t preferred it rather than to wit
ness. at. it's very door the sufferings and
death of an oppressed people. Tremendous
applause.) We entered upon it with no pur-
pose but that of humanity. No desire for
new territory, no motive of ACKNOWLEDGMENT,
no desire to extend our territory, but that
we might stop the oppression of our neigh
bors whose groans we could almost hear
Happily for US, with our splendid army and
our no less splendid navy. the war was con-
cluded in little more than one hundred
days-nothing like it in the military annals
of the world (Great cheering) We sent
our troops 1900 miles by sea in the East
we sent them more than thousand miles
in the west. We had our squadron in Ma
Mia and our fleet in Santiago, and in little
more than three months our foe asked for
Suspension of hostilities that terms of peace
might be arranged (Renewed applause.)
All honor to- the army and the navy of
the United StateSi ALI honor to the reGu-
lars aid the volunteers (renewed shouting
and cheering) and to the marines. to the
black and the white and of every nation,
that marched under the glorious banner of
the free to a victory for God and civiliza-
ton! All honor to our peerless navy!
(Cheering) We had altogether too few
behind them were men. CRenewed cheer
ing) They have done their work They
have wrought we'll 1t remains for us now
to dedicate ourselves to that unfinished
of the strife. (Applause)
Nor do forget that. short as was the
in battle never to rise again They fell
under the holy banner of the free, fighting
for humanity, whether in the camp or on
the field in the battle line, in the trenches
or the forccastle. They gave up their lives
for their country'S cause. Nor do | forget,
standing In this presence that rugged old
soldier Colonel Poland tremendous cheer
ing) and that other rugged soldier. Colonel
Haskell (vOciferous applause) brave COM
manders of the gallant Seventeenth In
fantry. Cprolonged yelling), gave all they
life-for the honor of his country. The
brave boys fell at Santiago making the
charge on San Juan hill. at FL Caney, at
Guantanamo and at Manila.
/" They fell devoted but undying,
The very. gales their names seem signing,
The woods are peopled with their fame,
The waters murmur their name:
But beyond, silent pillars lone and gray,
Claim kindred with their sacred clay.
Their spirits wrap the dusky mountain;
Their memories sparkle in the fountain;
The meanest ril, the mightiest river,
Roll mingling with their fame forever.
Nor do I forget the promptness with
which the brave boys of Ohio responded to
the call of the President. and do not for
get that within forty-eight hours Ohios
quota was full (Cheering) l know you
will be glad to know that the gallant
Fourth Ohio. made up from your own citi-
zens, taken from your own homes and your
own firesides. blood of your blood, did gall
liant service in Porto Rico, and in the very
near future will be brought back to reunite
with home and friends. (Cheering.)
My countrymen. the past is secured We
Know the extent of our country now. Some
additions have been made since i left you.
Our flag floats triumphantly over Porto
Rico. (Cheers.) Our troops are in unques-
toned possession of that island. The same
nag floats over Hawaii. More cheering. }
we know what our country is now, know
its history, but we do not know what il
may be in the near future; but. whatever
it is, whatever obligations shall justly come
from this strife for humanity. we must take
up and. free, strong. brave people. ac-
cept the trust which civilization puts upon
us. (Cheering.)
II am sure you will excuse me from say
ing another additional word I have a
number of members of my Cabinet with me
whom am sure you will be glad to see and
near for moment if the train will wait
long enough for that purpose. and with your
permission Mr.. Mayor. / will present the
secretary of the treasury, Mr.. Gage" CTre-
mendous cheering)
Secretaries Gage and Wilson spoke briefly.
The celebrated Republican glee club. which
sang at the inauguration ceremonies in
Washington, sang several popular songs.
After short, informal levee on the stage
during which the President shook hands
with large number of prominent citizens
who acted upon the reception committee, he
returned to the train. A committee of ladies
met Mrs. Mckinley on the train at the
depot, but she did not leave the car