The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-25
Hon ,Iames Tanner

The band played a selection and Hon.
James Tanner. better known as Corporal
Tanner, was introduced as the next speak
er. Mr.. Tanner said:
II am fully as conscious as yourselves
of the splendid speeches that have been
made here tonight. In fact think that
you have received fun rations
Il want to say that / have been closer
to church and state than ever before in
my life. Now l find myself upon the
same platform with both Never before
tonight was / in favor of the mixture.
but 1 find on this occasion that it Is a
pretty good one to thrill the heart of an
American.
II can appreciate the restraint upon the
distinguished divine who has opened his
heart here and the restraint upon the
Cabinet minister who has to contend with
the sIIpposition that because of his posi-
ton he is the mouthpiece of the Chief
Executive 1 have listened closely to both
of them and can make but one sugges-
ton. and that is to my secular friend,
the Postmaster General. When he used
the word Manila he should have suosti-
tuted the Philippines
II agree with my reverend friend that
we are capable of running our own ma
chine That is the plain Yankee for il.
81 am only here tonight because the
committee had to select some one to rep
resent the old veterans who fought in the
last war before the last war. l am
proud that this honor has fallen upon
me. For every one of the little band OF
veterans in blue who are in this city
there are nearly one thousand citizens,
vet I hardly believe that the enthusiasm
of all you citizens can equal that OF the
old veterans.
I'VE know what it is to sleep In
trenches. We know what battles are, but
we never knew what ii was to be starved
or to be neglected when We were sick.
as do the boys who fought in this war.
God forbid that this criminal negligence
will ever occur again in this country.
I'VE veterans never had any doubt but
that If another war should occur our
sons would rush in and fight. Wherever
American vaior has planted the flag
American valor will retain it-if the Ad-
| ministration people will permit it.
1.-The and not Thou people are fond of
bringing up the Monroe doctrine as a
doctrine whereby we should sit still and
| take what comes. But ] tell you that
while | regard the Monroe doctrine and
| the Constitution as two sacred things, ]
| have lived long enough to be conscious
! of the fact that the Constitution has had
| to be amended fifteen times, and if the
/ founders OF une CONSTITUTION cOuld not
! make a better guess than they did there
| is chance that the Monroe doctrine
( might be changed to advantage.
1--WE did not go into this war unit
| forced to it. When the foul waters o,
| Havana Harbor swallowed UP the Maine
| Uncle Sam began to straighten up ant
| to turn his ears to the Infinite and n,
1 heard the Infinite say: Vengeance is min'
| and 1 will appoint you, Uncle Sam, a!
/ my agent on earth to strike the blow
And now Europe thinks we have been
| very respectable agent on earth.
| I'VE want to welcome our boys wheI
| they come back-but, alas. many of then
| will never come back. Still the presen
| status is worth all that it has cost t.
reach. 1t is now understood that wha
! the eagles wings overshadow the eagle
beak and talons will protect.
.Yes, we can forgive Gen. Wheeler 70