The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-28
KENTUCKY PATRIOTISM
SPEECH By HENRY WATuTERSON TO
BLUEGRASS STATE SOLDIERS.
Touching Reference to His Two Sons,
Who Have Entered the Ranks to
Fight for Their Country.

LEXINGTON, KY, May 27.-Ten thousand
people came into Lexington to-day to wit
ness the civic and military pageant, fol-
lowed by review by Governor Bradley of
the companies of troops now here and to
hear the address to the troops by Henry
Watterson. When the parade and review
were ended three hundred school children
sang America" Hon. w. e. p. Breckin-
ridge then introduced Mr.. Henry Watterson,
who was given an ovation. He said, in
part:
You are about to make history. 1t may
prove that this will not be history merely
repeating itself. For the first time since
the crusades war has been levied for no
cause of a purely material kind and with
boleth Remember the Maine!' 1t seems TO
me too revengeful to be quite worthy. do
not forget the circumstances to which IT
owes its origin. The scel.e of that awful
tragedy under the shadow of MORO Castle
is yet before my eyes / can see, as close
them With the very faces of our sa
them. But / also see the myriads of starv-
ing men, women and children, ruthlessly
pockets of professional plunderers masquer-
aiding in Cuba as Spanish officers and gen.
tlemen. Behind them / see three centuries
of Wanton pillage. of frigEtful corruption,
of cruelty unsurpassed in human annals.
The time was long ago come for some great
power to stretch forth its hand to inter-
This barbarism shall proceed no further.
What power except that of the United
door neighbor. Time out of mind these
atrocities have been perpetrated before our
eyes. Whilst Spain has required US to
spend millions of money policing our coasts
against tilibusters, she has shown herself
unable, or unwilling, in our protection, to
police one. of her own harbors. Was this
TO go on forever? You yourselves are the
answer to the question.
You are going to fight a battle waged by
man for man. You are going, therefore, in
the name of that Christ who died for men.
You are going to fight a battle for the glory
of God and your native land. You are go
ing, therefore, under flag, which, the
symbol at once of freedom and humanity,
and having Gods blessing upon it, has
never yet known defeat Look to it that
you carry yourselves as soldiers equally of
the cross and of the flag.
mo man can be good soldier who is not
at heart good man. Self-posSession in the
presence of danger is the truest courage
and he IS the bravest soldier who keeps his
head, who knows perfectly the right thing
to do. and who does 1T. when: frightened
out of his boots, his legs would fain carry
him away. 1t is the sense of duty which
will make you men; duty to the flag above
you; duty to constituted authority; duty to
country and honor, and to those dear ones
at home who will follow you with ever tear
full, but with ever Frightening eyes.
II believe in this war. believe in it
with all my mind and with all my soul. If
ever there d justified war 1t is this
Though it should rob me of lives that are
lieve it conceived in a holy spirit. sanctitied
10y heaven, and directed toward the adj
vancement and the enlargement of a benign
civilization. In the nature of the case but
few of you can hope to attain to great
commands, or to acquire exceptional dis
tinction In the end most of you must lay
aside your uniforms and resume the habit
iments of civil life. But there is no one of
you VINO cannot do his duty, and, doing his
duty, cannot be proud and happy. neigh
Dor of mine came to me the other day TO
ask me to exert my supposed influence in
getting his son a commission. l assured
him that l had no influence. But said l.,
L have two sons carrying musketS in the
ranks-sons whom l dearly love-but for
whose advancement l shall not put forth
the slightest effort. 1t is enough for me to
know that they are serving their country,
and if it pleases God to bring them back to
their mother and me safe and sound, I
shall bless His name as long as | live In
that prayer let me include each and every
one of you: though | would rather see my
boys, and each and every one of you, lying
by the side of that brave and lovely sailor
lad whom North Carolina has just given up
as heavens first sacrifice upon the affairs
of the Nation and mankind, than that one
feather SHOULD be plucked from the eagles
wing, or a syllable of reproach be justly
cast upon the name and fame of our dear
Kentucky"