The age-herald., 1898-05-28
WATTERSON'S WORDS TO KENTUCKIANS Grand Civic and Military Pag- cant at Lexington. FIRST TIME SINCE CRUSADE That War Has Been Levied For No Cause of Purely Material Kind and With
 No Selfish Purpose
 vice to Troops.
FIRST TIME SINCE CRUSADE

witness the CIVIC ana mlllIairy pageant, | followed by review by Governor Brad ley of companies of troops now here, and to hear the address to the troops by | Henry Watterson. When the parade and review were ended 300 school children sang America Hon. W. C. P. Breckinridge then introduced Colonel Henry Watterson. who was given an ovation. Mr. Watterson said in part: You are about to make history. It 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 no selfish purpose. I scarcely like the shibboleth, Remember the Maine It seems to me too revengeful to be worthy. do not forget the circumstance to which 1t owes its origin. The scene of that aw- ful tragedy under the shadow of Moro castle is yet before my eyes. I can see, as close them. the faces of our murdered sailors and the ghastliness of death upon them. But also see the myriads of starv- Ing men, women and children ruthlessly sacrificed to feed lust and to fill the pock- cts of professional plunderers masquerad- ing in Cuba as Spanish officers and gen. tlemen. Behind them see three centuries of wanton pillage, of frightfM corruption. of cruelty unsurpassed in human annals. The time has long ago come for some great power to stretch forth its hand to interpose it's authority and to say to the world: This barbarism shall proceed no further
 Next Door Feighbor What power except that of the United States was to do this? Cuba is our next door neighbor. Time out of mind these at- rocities have been perpetrated before our eyes. Whilst Spain has required to spend millions. of money policing our coast against filibusterers, she has shown herself unwilling or unable In our protection to police one of her own harborG Was this to go on forever? You yourselves are the an- swer to the question.
 "You are going to fight battle waged by man for man. You are going, therefore, Tn the name of that Christ who died for men, You going to fight battle for the glory of God and your native land. You are going, therefore, under flag which Is the symbol at once of freedom and hu- manity, and, having Gods blessing upon 1t, has never yet known defeat. Look to it that you carry yourselves as soldiers equally of the cross and of the flag.
 "No man can be soldier who is not at heart a good man. Self-possession in the presence of danger is the truest courage,
 
 head who knows perfectly the right thing to do, and who does it when, frightened out of his boots, his legs would again carry him away It is the sense of duty which will make you men, duty to the flag above you; duty to the constituted authorities; duty to country and honor, and to those dear ones at home, who will follow you with ever tearful but with ever brighten ing eyes.
 Righteous War
 'I believe in this war. I believe with all my mind and with all my soul that If there ever was a justified war 1t Is this. Though it should rob me of lives that are dearer to me than my own life, shall believe 1t con- served in holy spirit, sanctified by heaven and directed toward the advancement and the enlargement of benign civilization.
 Tn these war-like spectacles, every where manifest, it has already united as nothing else could have united-emanci- pating both sections of the union from the mistaken impression that we ever were or ever could be anything else than one peo- pie.
 ..In the brilliant achievement of that typical Green Mountain boy on the other side of the globe 1t has already exploited us as naval power, and as you yourselves shall show, 1t will presently demonstrate us military power. before whose le- gions the enemies of liberty and humanity will look we'll before they leap. Surely these were consummations dovoutly to be wisvd for They are worth all the war has Yost us or will cost us. I know what war lneans.
 "Obedience, submission is the first. and perhaps the hardest of the soldiers duties If officers seem capricious or tryannical do your duty It will come around all right If the powers seem partisan or unfair, do your duty. The end will just fly you. Be sure in the long run the man who does his duty passes beyond. the reach of wrong; for as there is a God who saith. Ven geance is mine-I will repay so the people whose voice Is the voice of God, will visit upon those that would convert the places of trust which they chance to hold into places of private or political advantage, punishment complete as it is certain, as blighting as 1t is overwhelming.
 Hope of Advancement 'In the nature of the case but few of you can hope to attain to great commands, or to acquire exceptional distinction. In the end most of you must lay aside your uniforms and resume the habiliments or civil life But there is one of you who cannot do his duty, and doing his duty, cannot but be proud and happy. neigh .bor of mine came to me the other day to ask me to exert my supposed influence in getting his son commission. l assured him that I had no influence. But said l. I have two sons carrying muslSets in the ranks-sons whom l dearly love-but for whose advancement I shall not put forth the slightest effort. It is enough for me to know that they are serving their country and if 1t pleases God to bring thom back to their mother and me safe and sound, shall bless His name as long ss live.'
 'In that prayer let me include each and every one of you; though I 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 altars of tine nation and mankind, than that one feather should be plucked from the eagie's wing. or a syllable of re- proach bo unjustlyl cast upon the name and fame of our dear Kentucky.''