The Red Cloud chief., 1899-08-04
POINTERS ADDRESS.
TELLS LIVING HEROES OF
N~EBRASKA'S PRIDE.


special events that happened.
The people crowded about the dock
entrance, set up a wild cheer that was
passed in growing up and down the
deasely packed lines as the head of the
column and the first companies marched
forth. The band played, but the well
come from thousands of Threats
drowned the music.
Many wept unconsciously while a
t%hunderous refrain echoed untiringly,
'Welcome Nebraska. welcome home"
Arriving at the parade ground the
regiment was formed in columns of
masses and Governor Poynter well
coined the gallant boys in the follow
ing words:
"As the official repre- sentative of the
great state of Nebraska, which we all
so much love and within whose borders
are our homes, | come to offer you this
greeting and to welcome you upon
your return to your native land. With
pride the people of Nebraska saw you
depart and their prayers and good
wishes went with you. With Joy they
hail your return and award to you due
praise and honor for the splendid man
ner in which you have acquitted your
selves and added new luster to the al
ready bright name of Nebraska.
when you entered the service of
our country no questions were asked
as to either your religious or political
views. You went out pledged to do
your duty, and all the people of Ne
braska are proud of you today, since
upon no occasion did you ever fail in
line Of duty. TO them, during all
these long, weary months, you have
been Nebraska boys. and returning
now you are thought of and spoken of
rs Nebraska boys in whom all the
state feel a most pardonable pride.
and when you reach Nebraska you
will find prepared for you there such
a welcome as will in some measure in
dictate to you the gladness with which
your home coming is hailed by all the
people. You will find there, as when
you went away, every shade of relig-
ious sentiment such as can be found in
every progressive country. You will
find, as when you went away, politi-
cal differences and parties ~contending
maintenance of party policies, which
have eve characterized Nebraska's in
telligent people, but upon M subject.
~votaries OF every creed and people of
every party stand together, with no
division of sentiment. They are all
proud of Nebraska's Fighting First
THE military arm of our govern
ment is of entirely different character
from that of other nations. We do
not now, nor has it ever been our pol
icy TO depend upon u standing army.
When need arises for military equip
ment a ready response has always been
and always will be given. American
armies have always been irresistible
because they are composed of men who
are themselves a part of that govern
ment they are called upon to sustain.
As a nation we take pride in the glori-
GUS deeds of our ancestors, the heroes
of '76. OF their own will they took up
arms in the cause of human liberty,
and having wrested from the mother
country by their bravery and sacrifice
the right to establish q government
and sh ow to the world a new Aug.
they laid down their arms and took up
the ask of building that government
and Of making that flag the standard
Of power as it was the emblem Of free
dom. Again in 1912 our fathers left
the peaceful III walks of citizenship and
taught England q proper respect for
the tights of the young republic on
the high seas
''The mighty armies which engaged
in that awful struggle in 81 and '65
on both sides were volunteer soldiers
and all Americans. No such conflict
had ever before been witnessed. The
conflict ended, the government of
Washington sustained, the eternal
principles Of the Declaration of indie
pendence made to apply to all men
without distinction of color or condi-
ton, our flag firmly established the
glorious emblem OF liberty, those
great armies disbanded and took up
the peaceful pursuit of citizenship. All
history records no bravef or grander
army enduring the hardships of camp
and field, nor better citizens returning
to the walks of private life. 1t has
ever been the. boast of our republic
that in times of war every citizen is a
soldier; in times of peace every soldier
is a citizen. Our government is found.
ed upon the intelligen nee of it's people.
That intelligence is nowhere displayed
to better advantage than in our volun'
teer army.
Men of the the First Nebraska, you
have again demonstrated the fighting
qualities of the American volunteer.
Your state stands first in the ranks OF
broad intelligence of all the sisterhood
OF states, and no regiment outranks
you in hard service of all those who
answered the call of '9s. Your deci'
mated ranks testify to your faithful
discharge of your duty as soldiers,
and as the chief executive of your
state ! say to you, Nebraska Is proud
If her sons. While we extend IN Won