The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-18
TRIBUTE TO THE BAY STATE
BRIEF ALLUSIONs TO THE WAR WITH
SPAIN AND IT'S RESULTS.
Expansion of Our Trade Also Com
mented On-SuggestiOn to G. A. II. to
Admit Spanish War Veterans.

|
| BOSTON Mass, Feb. 17.-President Nc
Kinley began what promised to be a busy
day much refreshed by the nights rest after
the fatiguing incidents of his visit here yes
terday. He and the members of his party
| breakfasted soon after o'clock. At 10:30,
| escorted by the First Battalion of Cavalry,
the party started from the Hotel Touraine
| for fremont Temple, in which the G. A. r.
encampment is being held The President
! and his associates were received with cheers
by the old soldiers. President Mckinley was
introduced and made brief address, recall
ing the spirit with which they entered the
war of the rebellion and their loyalty and
faithfulness to the Republic. He referred
to the stirring scenes of the last year,
which. he said. he was glad they had lived
to see, and closed by suggesting that the
! Spanish war veterans should be admitted to
membership in the G. A. r. The sugges-
tion was received with cries of Good" and
applause His address follows:
II count myself most fortunate to find
upon my visit to the city of Boston my
comrades Of the G. A. r. in session in
| the same city, thus giving me oppor-
| tunity orce again to look into your faces
and exchange the friendly greeting of COM
! rades with each and every one of you You
| fought in a holy cause, which, under the
providence of God. triumphed. You not only
| were good soldiers, maintaining in the bat
! ties front the honor and integrity of the
flag we loved so much, but since the war
and In your relation as citizens to the gov
ernment you have ever been loyal and faith
ful, preserving IN peace the government
which you secured in war. The sad features
about all these reunions Is that our NUM-
bers are diminis hing.
Every annual roll call discloses one or
; another of our comrades not present, but
accounted for. They have gone to join their
/ 80, dor ~ Gil in hl
| majority, sleeping within that low green
| tent whose curtain never turns. 1t has oc-
Cured to me, as it has to every old soldier
| of the war, that the conspicuous command
| ers, those who gave orders we loved to
| obey, have all gone from among us-Grant,
| and Sherman, and Sheridan, and Logan, and
| Hancock-and a long line beside that is
| treasured In the memories of the soldiers or
the Republic.
II am glad to have an opportunity, as
| you have had the opportunity, of living in
| this last year. when the American people
have again manifested their patriotism, their
| love of country, their devotion to American
| honor, and / want to see all the brave men
! of the Spanish war, North and South. in
some great, patriotic organization. and |
! know none better than the Grand Army Of
| the Republic. l thank you and bid all good
morning"
In response to calls Secretaries Alger.
Long, Gage and Smith spoke briefly, and
the party then proceeded to the State Capt.
tol to visit the legislature
An hour before the time announced for
! the Presidents arrival at the Statehouse
the corridors were thronged and as soon
| as the doors of the house were opened the
! crowd pushed in until every seat was taken.
! The entire floor was reserved for members
of the two branches Of the General Court,
! the executive department and the distin
! guished guest. The President and his party
arrived promptly at the time scheduled and
after being received by Governor Wolcott,
under escort of Sergeant-at-arms j. l..
Adams. the party proceeded to the House.
! They passed down the main aisle amid
| cheers of all present who arose the moment
| the President was announced. President
| George A. Smith, for the Massachusetts
Senate, welcomed the distinguished guest
in brief address and introduced him to
| the convention.
| M'KINLEY TO LEGISLATORS.
| AS the President arose waves of applause
rolled through the hall and cheer upon cheer
rang out. When it was possible for him to
be heard the President spoke as follows:
Gentlemen of the General Court-Al-
though limited for time. 1 could not deny
myself the honor of accepting the invita-
ton officially extended by Joint resolution
of your honorable body, which 1 had the
pleasure of receiving from the hands of your
distinguished senior senator, Hon. George
+. i
Gus action and it cannot be more sincere
than the feeling of pleasure which l have
In meeting the senator's and representatives
of the great commonwealth of Massachu-
setts. 1 am glad to be in this ancient capt.
tai. Here great public questions have had
free discussion. Here great statesmen,
whose names live in their country's history
have received their training and voiced the
enlightened opinions of their countrymen
Here, through the century, you nave chosen
your fellow-citiZens to represent you in the
councils of the Nation through that great
parliamentary body, the Senate of the
United States You have chosen we'll and
leaders you have never lacked
What illustrious men have thus borne
the commission of the legislative body of
the commonwealth of Observation-Disclosures
ans, Pickering and Webster, Choate, and
Everett, and winthrop Sumner. Wilson and
Of your State and the Nation and those
later statesmen Hoar and Lodge, honored
everywhere for their distinguished services
to our common country.
'It was in the Massachusetts, House of
Representatives that John A. Andrew made
the speech for human liberty which touched
the hearts of his fellow-citiZens and made
him your great war Governor. Nor do ! for
get that at one time the speakers chair of
this legislative body was occupied by your
former Governor and representative in Con-
gress the able secretary of the navy (Long),
whose department has added luster to the
American navy and glory to the American
Il am glad to be on this historic ground
1t revives memories sacred in American life
1t recalls the struggles of the founders Of
Massachusetts for liberty and Independence
Their unsefsh sacrifices, their dauntess
courage are the inspiration OF all lovers of
freedom everywhere; their lives and char
acter reach into every American home and
have stimulated the best aspirations of
American manhood.
"In the beginning of our national exist
ence and even before this was the home
and fountain of liberty. 1t is the home of
liberty now, and / am sure that wiIst those
, great men of the past secured for us they
would have US transmit not only to eur de-
scendants. but carry to oppressed peoples.