The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-06
Arrival or the President at
Illinois Soldiers Home.
Signaled by Booming Cannon
and Cheering Veterans.
BANDS PLAYED DIXIE
He Bows and Smiles AcknOWI-
edgments
From a Platform ImprOVised
For the Occasion.

Quincy. Ill. Oct. 6--Cannon doomed
and bands played Dixie" as Presi-
dent Mckinley aIighted from the Cam
pania, his private car, at the grounds OF
the Illinois Soldiers home this morning
The sun shone brightly, making almost
a perfect day. Fifteen hundred old vet
Grams. inmates of the home, cheered en-
Enthusiastically as the president and the
members of the cabinet took carriages
to be driven between long platOOns Of
soldiers around the beautiful grounds
of the home The president was first
escorted to an improvised platform
from which he bowed and smiled in
acknowledgment of the veterans
greetings, shaking hands with as many
as possible. Then in company with
members of the local committee, the
president made a short visit to the sol
diers' hospital.
The presidential party was next
driven from the soldiers home to the
city proper. a distance of two miles
Company +. Fifth infantry, the naval
reserves. and company f, Eighth 1Iil-
nofS infantry, escorted me party
through the business district. The
sailors We're supplied with Hotchklss
guns and as soon as the president ar
rived in sight of the public square a
presidents salute of p guns was hred
Six thousand school children from all
the schools Of the city, public and paro-
chiaI were massed on the east side of
the court house. waving flags and sing
ing national airs as the president ap-
peared.
The streets of Quincy were literally
packed with people
A street fair is in progress and all
along the line of march booths and
arches had been erected, most of which
Haunted the stars and stripes ana I'M
rnense pictures Of Mckinley and Dewey.
ion g.
route through the principal business
streets OF the city until the public
square was reached. where the presi-
dent and members of the Cabinet as
cended a platform to review long files
of veterans from the soldiers home
Meanwhile a reception was held in
honor of Mrs. Mckinley in the parlors
of the hotel
The party left Quincy at noon. Peoria
viii be the first stop.
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS TO VET
ERANS.
AIacomb. Ill. Oct. 6.-The president
and several members of the cabinet
delivered brief addresses from the re
viewing stand at Quincy. The president
said.
I thank you one and all for this
pleasure to meet at the Soldiers Home
the men of 1861, the veterans who
stood in the trenches and behind the
guns in that year of emergency when
ance. (Applause)-
1T has given me like pleasure also
to meet with the ex-sOldiers of the
Spanish war from the city of Quincy
and the naval militia representing the
patriotism of 1898. (Applause) And it
is gratifying to me to learn that you
sent from this city one of the gallant
young officers who fought with Dewey
in Manila Bay.
This is an era of patriotism my coun-
trymen. The United States has never
hRRn q fT re Ia
and its sailors who have fought in its
cause and the cause of the United
States has never lacked defenders in
every crisis OF its history. from the
evolutionary days to the present the
citizens of the United States have been
ever ready to uphold at anv cost the
Rag and the honor OF the nation and TO
take all the responsibility which comes
from a righteous cause. There are re-
SpOnsibilitieS. born of duty that can
never be repudiated. Duty unperforn-
ed. is dishOnor and dishOnor brings
shame which is heavier to carry than
any burden which honor can Impose
My fellow citizens, I thank you for this
more than gracious welcome and bid
you all good morning"
SECRETARY ROOTS SPEECH.
Secretary Roots said:
Fellow Citizens of Illinois: NV hmm
Bile duty during the last two months
has been to do what you are doing
here today by encOura cement and the
inspiration of your presence holding nm
the hands. strengthening the soul and
cheering the courage of the president
the chief magistrate of our beloved
country in maintaining its honor and do
ing its full duty before God and man.
on the great stage of the world It is
fitting that here, almost at the verv
spot where the two extreme of pOpIla-
tiOn. coming the one from Massacbu-
setts and Connecticut, and the other
coming from Virginia and Kentucky
the children of New England and the
children of the south should Join in
doing honor to the president of the
whole cOuntry-north and south east
and west There is no Dartisanship.
no factiOnalism in the business in which
We are engaged in. helping President
Mckinley No man can shelter himself
under the flag of party. or justify him
sen by any declaration of principle in
railing to stand behind the men of all
parties and all creeds who lie TODAY in
the trenches in Luzon
No man who knows his duty and is
a true American will fail to do it I
nave no fear no question whatever that
IN the days and nights that the secre-
tary of war is giving to seeing 10 If
that the army of the United States is
the best fed, the best equipped and best
armed army the world has ever seen
the sympathy and the support of the
people Of Quincy. of Illinois of the
country, Will be behind him and behind
the president.
The cause in which your soldiers are
nghting and in which you. Democrats
and Republicans alike. stand behind
him, is the cause of civilization and
peace. The men behind the guns in Ma
Mia today are III front of the school
house, OF law and order and will be fol-
lowed BY the men with the text book