The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-15
MET BY NI'kINLEY.
South Dakota Volunteers Greeted by
the President mt Aberdeen

the President mt Aberdeen.
ABERDEEN, S. D., Oct 14-At Aber-
deem this morning President Mckinley
met the men of the Second South Da-
kota regiment AT o'clock this morn
Ing President McI<inley's special arrived.
A fair run was made after leaving
Wahpeton, N. D., and the train, which
had been running two hours behind
schedule, arrived here promptly on time
AT the depot a large crowd gathered to
see the first president of the United
States who has ever visited the Dakotas.
The principal feature in the throng was
the presence of the Second South Dakota
volunteers. who arrived today from the
Philippines. This feature was delayed FOR
over an hour by the delay of the soldiers
train. Shortly after SIS the soldiers spec
cial drew up a the Northern Paclhc
depot, and the men fell in line behind an
escort of G. A. r. veterans who fol-
lowed Immediately after the carriages OF
the president and the cabinet.
Col Frost rode at the head of his reg1>
ment, and, as the soldiers passed down
to the Grain Palace, every one or the
5000 Inhabitants of Aberdee cheered, and
they were reinforced by several thousand
visitors from other parts OF the state.
Addresses were made by President Nc
Kinley and the cabinet, Gov. Lee aid
others. The president said:
1t gives me very great pleasure 10 ON
with your fellow citizens of the state Oh
South Dakota, your friends, your faml-
lies and your nelghbors In this Welcohas
to your home. We are pot nation OIL
hero worshipers, and vet we are nation
of 70, OO0, 900 of grateful people who love
Valor and reward the heroic deeds or our
soldiers. l think ! appreciate quite as
much if not more than most of my fel-
low citizens the value Of the services this
regiment, with its associates of the Eighth
corps, rendered the country In its hour
speak not for myself alone. but for the
whole American people in AN expression
of gratitude and thanks for your heroic
action In the Island of Luzon.
l have with me this morning dtspatcn
just received from your commander the
major general commanding in 1.-The Phil
iIppines, telling me of the galautry OF Col
Frost and his regiment, telling me that
from early In February until late In June
you stood on the firing line, and that no
enemy could resist your onslaughts upon
them. Nor do | forget soldiers of the
republic, that when the treaty of peace
was pending, when negotiations We're be-
ing conducted in Paris, when the ratifica-
ton of the treaty was awaiting the action
of the senate, and finally when we were
awaiting the exchange of the ratification
with Spa1n-1 do not foroget that when
that time came every one of you was en-
titled to be mustered out of the service
CT the United States and can never
express the Joy you gave my heart when
YOU sent WOIu ludL you WOulu IelldlH
until a new army could be formed to
take your places. That, members of the
Second South Dakota, was an example of
personal sacrifice and public consolation
rarely known In the annals of war, but
1t is Just like the American soldier No
matter where he comes from, he never
lays down his arms in the presence of an
enemy, and he never lowers the flag of his
country until he has triumphed over enc
mics who assail 1t.
l am glad to see the veterans of 1851
welcome the veterans of 1898 It Is all
the same kind of patriotism you got from
your fathers. 1t is pa triotism that never
deserts and never encourages desertion
But, my fellow citizens and members Of
the Second South Dakota, yeu have just
come, and know you want to get nearer
home, and L shall not delain you mo-
ment longer, except to say that I thank
you for your splepdid services to the coun-
try: ! thank you for standing faithful and
unfaltering on the battle line; thank you
Tor preserving your flag stainless; l thank
you for waiting in the trenches until the
relief came, and I thank you for having
transferred this banner to those who sue
ceeded you without dishonor and without
blot. And where that flag is it stands
for liberty, humanity and civilization
The train bearing the presidential party
left Aberdeen at II 80 for Huron, S. D.