The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-10-12
HIS GREATEST HONOR
Mckinley Holds Would Be to
Have Helped
UNITE NORTH AND SOUTH
Speech to the Blue and the
Gray at Evansville.
UNITE NORTH AND SOUTH

az Ills l4IOA mig ~ dtNSllh liz 446SAOAie~A
reunion of the Blue and Gray A heavy
rain was falling, but despite this, 10000
veterans and visitors thronged about the
railroad station and the veterans in gray
WED with the veterans in blue in tender
ing a tremendous ovation when the presi-
Dental party arrived. They swarmed
about the president and cabinet officers
cheering and extending their hands for
a grasp of welcome. At the same time a
presidential salute of twenty-one guns
Doomed from Camp Farragut, at the Tri-
State Fair grounds This was the signal
for whistles and bells throughout the city
to join in. Owing to the short stay of the
president the party was at once escorted
by the Cleveland Grays and reception
committee to the fair grounds, where
President Mckinley delivered an address.
Mayor William NJ Aiken presided, and
introduced c. A. De Bruler Of Evansville,
who welcomed the distinguished guests
and veterans to the city. Governor ]. A.
Mount followed with an address of well
come on behalf Of the state and intro
duced President Mckinley, who delivered
a short speech. The president said:
my Fellow Citizens: It gives me great
pleasure to participate with you, men Of
the north and men of the south. We are
already unified; the peace which Grant
and Lee made at Appomattox has been
kept, not by the law or restraint, but by
love and fraternal regard. The union to-
day rests not on force, which may fail,
but rests on the hearts of the people, a
union that never can be severed.
eff I have been permitted in the slight
est degree to help in the work of recon
ella ton and unification, will esteem 1t
the greatest honor of my life. When I
made the call for troops to prosecute the
Spanish war, men from the north and the
south, without regard to political belief
or religious creed, rallied to the standard
Of the union. The best men Of the south
came-the sons Of old Confederate SOL
diers. The best men of the north came
the sons Of the old members Of the
Grand Army of the Republic. All came
together in heart and hand to follow the
flag of their country wherever it might
lead. We have been reconciled-more
than reconciled, for our reconciliation
has been baptized in the best blood of
both sections Of our beloved country. If
a northern soldier put the flag up at San
tiago, a southern soldier, the gallant
Drumby of Georgia, put it up over Ma
Mia. 1t rests with us to look to the fu-
ture, putting the past behind us. And
this government relies upon the patriot
ism Of the country, north and south, to
stand by the purposes of the government
and follow in the pathway of its destiny.
1--WE come to gether, not as we came
third of a century ago, with arms in our
hands, but we come with love for each
other in our hearts.
At the conclusion of his speech, Presi-
dent Mckinley announced that the mem
bers of his cabinet were present and that
several of them would make short ad-
dresses.
Attorney General Griggs spoke in part
as follows: 1--WE appreciate this welcome
from the great state of Indiana 1t is
that we turn back today and
view the great deeds of those who have
upheld the cause that was nearest their
hearts. It was the inevitable decree of
Providence that this land should exist as
The valor that inspired the men of the
north and south is a common heritage of
pride to all the land People sometimes
deplore war, and speak of peace confer
ences as if they could blot out of the soul
of man all love of gallantry, all admira-
ton for heroic deeds
you may declare and resolve to the
end of the world, my friends, but long
est and last in the admiration of the hu-
man soul will live deeds of heroism and
gallantry done in noble causes for the
benefit of the world And so it is fitting
that those who followed the cause that
they believed in according to their hearts
devotion and their minds direction.
should be accorded the glory that is just
" theirs. And may no time ever come,
when the flag Of our country is assailed,
when our honor is imperiled or at stake.
that any man shall sit down to count the
cost Of its defense, or stops to think
whether he incurs risk or danger. Where
the honor of the nation, the glory Of the
flag and its supremacy are in question,
no honest patriot, nothing but a coward.
would stop to ask what 1t would cost to
save it."
Secretary Of the Treasury Gage and
Secretary of the Navy Long also spoke
briefly
The presidential party was then escort
ed back TO the train, followed by a long
line of veterans marching in army order.
the blue and gray shoulder TO shoulder,
and departed at noon for the north.
At Vincennes the president was greeted
by another large crowd. He spoke as
Il thank you for this most warm and
welcome. We ought to be a
very happy people. We are very happy
people. The blessings which have been
showered upon US have been almost
boundless, and no nation in the world
has more 70 thankful for than ours.
We have been blessed with good crops
and fair prices. Wages and employment
have waited upon labor and, differing
from what it was a few years ago, labor
is not waiting on the outside for wages.
Our financial condition was never better
than now. We have good money and
plenty Of II circulating as our medium OF
exchange. Banks may fail. fiuctuation in
prices come and go. but the money OF
the country remains always good; and
when YOU have a dollar OF 1t you know
that dollar is worth one hundred cents.
because back OF it is the government OF
the United States. Not only have We
but We have patriotism. and
what more do We want2 We are at peace
with an the nations OF the world and
were never on better terms and closer re-
lations with each and everyone of them
than we are TODAY We have a little
trouble in the Philippines, but the gal
lantry OF the brave boys who have gone
there will. trust. soon put down that
against the sovereignty O the
United States"