The Topeka state journal., 1899-10-11
SIDE BY SIDE
March the Blue and the Gray
at Evansville.
President Mckinley Visits the
National Reunion.

Evansville, Ind, Oct. 11.-President
Mckinley and his cabinet came from
Chicago this morning to attend the
national reunion of the blue and the
gray. A heavy rain was falling but de-
spite this ten thousand veterans and
visitors thronged about the railroad
station and the veterans in gray WED
with the veterans in blue in rendering
a tremendous ovation when the presl-
Dental party arrived. They swarmed
about the president and cabinet Off
GERS, cheering and extending their hands
for a grasp of welcome. At the same
time a presidential salute of Il guns
doomed from Camp Farragut, at the
Tri-state fair grounds. This was the
signal for whistles and bellSs through
out the city to join in.
Owing to the short stay of the presi-
dent the party was at once escorted
by the Cleveland Grays and reception
committee to the fair grounds where
President Mckinley delivered an ad-
dress.
Mayor w NJ Akin presided, and in
trOduced G. A. De Bruler of Evansville
who welcomed the distinguished guests
and veterans to the city. Governor J.
A Mount followed with an address of
welcome on behalf of the state and in
troduced President Mckinley who de-
livered a short speech.
He said:
MY Fellow Citizens: It gives me
very great pleasure to participate with
you, men of the North and men of the
South in this glad reunion of hearts.
We are already unified the peace which
Grant and Lee made at AppomattOX
has been kept, not by law or restraint,
but by love and fraternal regard. The
Union today rests not on force, which
may fail, but rests in the hearts of the
people, union that never can be sever
ed.
IF I have been permitted in the
slightest degree to help in the work of
reconciliation and unification I will
hea afea-f hon of FTsTr
When / 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 raj
lied to the standard of the Union. The
best men of the south came; the sons of
old confederate soldiers. The best men
of the north came; the sons of the
members of the old Grand Army of the
Republic came together heart and
hand All came to follow the flag of
their country wherever it might lead.
We have been reconciIed; more than
FecOnclled, for our reconciliation mas
been baptised in the best blood of both
sections of our beloved country.
IF a northern soldier put the flag up
at Santiago, southern soldier the gal
liant Brumby of Georgia put it up over
Manila. 1t rests with US to look to the
future, putting the past behind US. And
this government relies upon the patri-
otism of the country, north and south,
to stand by the purposes of the gov
ernment and follow in the pathway of
it's destiny.
I'VE come together not as we came a
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, Pres
ident Mckinley announced that the
members of his cabinet were present
and several would make short address
eS.
Attorney General Griggs spoke in
part as follows:
iaf
! the great state of Indiana. 1t is ap-
propriate today that we turn back to
| review the gallant deeds of those who
| on land and sea have upheld the cause
| that was nearest their hearts 1t was
| the inevitable decree of providence that
| this land should exist as one and not
| become divided country 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 conferences as
! if they could blot out of the soul of man
| all love of gallantry, all admiration 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
| human soul will live deeds OF herO1Sm
| and gallantry done in noble causes fol-
/ the benefit of the world. n&bIe causes
/ and mankind and God. And so it is fit
ting that those who followed the cause
! that they believed in according to their
| hearts devotion and their mind di-
| rectfon, should be accorded the glory
| that is justly theirs
| And may no time ever come when
! the flag of our country is assailed, ,wher
| our honor is imperilled or at stake. that
| any man shall sit down to count the
| cost of its defense, or stop to think
| whether he incurs risk or danger, where
| the honor of the nation, where the
| glory of the flag and its supremacy are
| in question, no honest patriot, nothing
but coward would stop to ask what
| it would cost to save it,
| Secretary of the Treasury Gage anC
Secretary of the Navy Long also spoke
| briefly.
| The presidential party was then es-
! corted back to the train followed by E
| long line of veterans marching in army
order, the blue and gray shoulder tC
| shoulder.
No MORE ITRORS-