The herald., 1898-05-28
TO VOLUNTEER SOLDIERS OF
KENTUCKY
BOYS NOW MAKING HISTORY
Urged So to Fight the Holy War That
Their State and the Nation
Shall Be Proud
Associated Press Special Wire


and people came into Lexington today to
witness the civic and military pageant
followed by a review by Governor Bradley
of eight companies of troops now here, and
to hear the address to the troops by
Henry Watterson. When the parade and
review were ended 800 school children sang
America. Hon. w. c. P. Breckenridge
then introduced Mr.. Watterson, who was
given an ovation. When order was re-
stored, Mr.. Watterson spoke as follows:
Mr.. Watterson 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 purely material kind, and with
no selfish purpose. scarcely like the shtb-
boleth Remember the Maine
1T seems to me to be too revengeful to be
quite worthy. l do not forget the circum-
stances to which 1t owes it's origin. The
scene of that awful tragedy under the
shadow of Moro Castle is yet before my
eyes. I can see, as I close them, the very
faces of our murdered sailors with the
ghastliness Of death upon them. But l
also see the myriads Of starving men,
women and children, ruthlessly sacrificed
to feed lust and to fill the pockets of pro-
fessional plunderers masquerading In
Cuba as Spanish officers and gentlemen.
Behind them l see three centuries of wan
ton pillage, of frightful corruption, of
cruelty unsurpassed in human annals
The time was long ago come for some great
power to stretch forth it's hand to inter-
pose it's authority and to say to the world:
This barbarism shall proceed no further
what power except that of the United
States was to do this? Cuba is our next
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 the filibusters, she has shown
herself unable or unwilling in our protec-
ton, 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 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 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 hui
manity and having Gods blessing upon 1t.
has never yet known defeat. Look to 1t
that you carry yourselves as soldiers
equally Of the cross and the flag.
mo man can be good soldier who Is not
at heart q good man. Self-possession in
the presence of danger is the truest cour-
age and he is the bravest soldier who keeps
his head, who knows perfectly the right
thing to do and who does it when, fright
ened out of his boots, his legs would fain
hiv,,o Ia n
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 fearful, but ever Frightening
eyes.
II believe In this war; believe in 1t with
all my mind and with all my soul. If ever
there was justified war, 1t is this. Though
1t should rob me of lives that are dearer to
me than my own life, shall believe 1t con-
ceived in a holy spirit, sanctified by heav-
en- and directed toward the advancement
and the enlargement of a benign civiliza-
tion.
I'm these warlike spectacles, everywhere
manifest, 1t has already united us as moth
ing else could have united us-emancipat-
ing both sections of the union from the
mistaken impression that we ever were or
could be anything else han one people
In the brilliant achievement Of that typi-
cal Green Mountain boy on the other side
of the globe, 1t has already exploited us as
n naval power, and as you yourselves shall
show, 1t will presently demonstrate us no
less a military power but at whose le-
gions the enemies Of liberty and humanity
will do well to look before they leap. Sure
ly these were consummations devoutly to
be wished. They are worth all the war has
cost us or will cost us. know what war
means.
obedience, submission, Is the first and
perhaps the hardest of the soldiers duties
If officers seem capricious or tyrannical,
do your duty. 1t will come round all right.
If the powers that be seem partisan or I'M
fair, do your duty. The end will Justify
you. Be sure that, in the long run, the man
who does his duty passes beyond the reach
of wrong; for as there is a God who saith
Vengeance Is mine-I will repay so
there Is a people whose voice is the voice
of God who will visit upon those that would
convert the places Of trust which they
chance to hold into places of private or
political advantage, punishment as COM
plete as it is certain, as blighting as 1t Is
overwhelming.
I'm 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 uni
forms and resume the habiliments of civil
life. But there Is no one of you who cannot
do his duty. and doing his duty cannot he
proud and happy. A neighbor of mine
came to me the other day to ask me to
exert my supposed influence in getting his
son a commission. I assured him that
had no influence.
"'But,' said l. 4 have two sons carrying
muskets in the ranks-sons whom dearly
love-but for whose advancement I shall
not put forth the slightest effort. 1t is
enough for me to know that they are serv-
ing their country, and If IT pleases God to
bring them back to their mother and me
safe and sound, shall bless His name as
long as live
"1n 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 lively
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"