The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-28
HAT1ERSON TO THE TROOPS
BRILLIANT KENTUCKrAy ADDRESS
Es SOLDIERS OF f1ls STATE.
War Was Justified, and II Worth
All That II Has Cost or VIII Cost
the Country In Uniting Its People.


sand people came into Lexington today
10 witness the civic and military pageant,
ioiiowed oy review by Gov. Bradley CT
the companies OF troops now here and
near tae address TO the troops by Henry
"atferson. When the parade and review
were ended 1850 schoo. children sang
AMERICA Hon. ". p. C. Breckenridge
then introduced wasterson. who was given
an ovation When order was restored Mr..
Wasterson said in part:
You are about TO make history. II may
prove fEat this Will not be history merely
repeating Itself. For the first time since
me- sae erossaoes: war has been levied for no
a no seia.n purpose. I scarcely like the
snioooieth, Remember the Maine" Il
ss'i1a 20 me y be too. revengeful 10 be
au,e wor.ay. 1 do not forget the circum-
scene OF that awful tragedy under the
shadow or Moro castle Is yet before nv
Eyes. can see. as / close them, the very
races OF our murdered sailors with the
ghastiness OF death upon them But also
see the myriads OF starving men, women
ana cniidren, ruthlessly sacrificed TO feed
sne inst ana to NIL the pockets OF profess
as spanish officers and gentlemen. Be-
n.no them, ! see three centuries of wanton
p,.ags, OF .rightful corruption. Of cruelty
was long ago come for some great power
10 stretch forth its hand. TO interpose it,
authority and TO say to the world: This
power except that of the United states
was TO do this? Cuba is our next-door
nelgnbor. Time out Of time these atroci-
. ues nave nsen perpetraied before our
eyes. While Spain has required US 10
spend millions Of money policing our
coasts against filbusters, she has shown
nerseii, unable or unwilling, IN our pro-
Was this TO 60 on forever? You. your
selves. are the answer to the question.
You are going TO fight battle waged
sg IA tho er ma You are gong h are
Tor man. You are going to fight a battle
for the glory OF God and your native land.
a rSn are re going therefore. under flag
manity, and. having Gods Blessing upon
II, has never yet known defeat, Look to
ii that you carry yourselves as soldiers
equally OF the cross and the flag.
No man can be good soldier who is
not at heart good man. Self-possession
in the presence OF danger is the truest
courage n and ne is the bravest soldier who
right thing to do. and who does 1t when.
frightened out Of his boots. his legs would
fam carry him away. 1t Is the sense OF
flag above you; duty TO the constituted au-
thority: duty TO the country and honor 10
the dear ones at home, who will follow
YOU wherever you so with tearfu., but
frightened. eyes.
Il believe in this war I believe In It
with my mind and with all my soul. II ever
there was a justified war I, Is this one.
dearer to me than my own life. l shall
believe IL conceived in a holy spirit. sane
titled by heaven and directed toward the
advancement and the enlargement OF a
benign civilization.
I'm these warlike specsacles. everywhere
manifest, 1t has Already united us as moth
Ing else could have united us-smancipa-
ting both sections OF the Union from the
mistaken impression that we were ever
or could be anything else than one people.
In the brilliant achievement OF that typical
Green Mountain boy on the other side Of
the globe, II has already exploited US as
a naval power. and as you you selves shall
show, 1t WI. presently demonstrate us no
enemies OF liberty and humanity will do
wen TO look before they leap. Surely these
were consummations 6evoutly to be wish
ed. They are worth all the war has cost
us or viii cos. US. I know what war
means
obedience. submission. is the first and.
perhaps. the hardest of the soldiers duties.
do your duty. It will come around all
right. IT the powers that be seem partisan
or unfair do your duty. The end will
run. the man who does his duty passes be-
yond the reach of wrong: for. as there is
God who saith, 'Vengeance-T viii re-
pay So there er + people whose voice Is
those that would convert the PAGES OF
trust which they chance to hold into places
OF private or political advantage pun
sshment as complete as IL is certain, as
hlighting as ii is overwhelming.
I'm the nature OF the case but Few OF
you can hope to attain great commands or
10 acquire exceptional distinction. In the
end most of you must lay aside your uni
forms and resume the habiliaments OF civil
life. But there is no one OF you who can
not do his duty. and doing his duty. can
not be proud and happy A neighhor of
mine came 10 me the other day to ask me
to exert my supposed influence in getting
his son a commission. l assured him that
had no influence. But said T. I have
two sons carrying muskets in the ranks
sons whom I dearly love-but for whose
advancement I shall not put forth the
slightest effort. 1t is enough for me 10
know that they are serving their country.
and II II pleases God TO bring them back
TO their mother and me safe and sound.
shall bless His name as long as live
I'm that prayer let me include each and
every one o. you: though ] would rather
zee my boys and each and every one Of
YOU lying by the side OF that brave and
ioval sailor lad whom North Carolina has
Jus. given up as heavens first sacrifice
upon the affairs OF the nation and mar
kind. than that one feather should he
nlucked from the eagles wing. or a sylla-
BILE OF reproach be Justly cast upon the
name and fame of our dear Kentucky"