Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-11
National Reunion of Veterans Who
Were Once Enemies.
SPEECH BY PRESIDENT M'KINLEY
Evansville in Gala Dress in Honor
of Its Guests.
WELCOME BY GOV. MOUNT

EVANSVILLE, Ind, October 11.-Presi-
dent Mckinley and his cabinet came from
Chicago this morning to attend the ma
tionaI reunion of the blue and the gray. A
| heavy rain was falling, but despite this
10000 veterans and visitors gathered about
the railroad station, and the veterans in
gray Wed with the veterans in blue in ten
dering a tremendous ovation when the
presidential 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 Nc
Kinley delivered an address.
Mayor w. M. Akin presided and intro
duced c. A. de Bruler of Evansville, who
welcomed the distinguished guests and vet
Grams to the city. Gov. j. A. Mount fol-
lowed with address of welcome on be-
half of the state, and introduced President
Mckinley, who delivered short speech.
Speech by the President.
President Mckinley said:
My Fellow Citizens: 1t 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, a union that never can be sew
cred.
IF l have been permitted in the slightest
degree to help in the work of reconciliation
and unification, | will esteem it the great
est honor of my life. When l made the
call for troops to prosecute the Spanish
war, men from the north and south, with
out 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 soldiers. The best men
of the north came: the sons of the old
members of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie. All came together in heart and hand to
follow the flag of their country wherever
1t might lead. We have been reconciled
more than reconciled, for our reconclia ton
has been baptized in the best blood of both
sections of our beloved country. If a north
ern soldier put the flag up at Santiago,
southern soldier, the gallant Brumby of
Georgia, put 1t up over Manila. 1t rests
with to look to the future, putting the
past behind u.s. And this government relies
upon the patriotism of the country, north
and south, to stand by the purposes of the
government and follow in the pathway of
it's destiny.
II am glad to meet and greet you; we
come together not as we came third of a
century ago. with arms in our hands, but
with love for each other in our hearts,
AT the conclusion of his speech, President
Mckinley announced that the members of
his cabinet were present and several would
make short addresses.
Attorney General Griggs' Remarks.
Attorney General Griggs spoke, in part,
follows:
I'VE appreciate this welcome from the
great state of Indiana. 1t is appropriate to-
day that we turn back to review the gal
liant 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 a 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 de-
plore 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 longest and
last in the admiration of the human soul
will live deeds Of heroism and gallantry
done in noble causes for the benefit of the
world, noble causes and mankind and God.
And so it is fitting that those who fol-
lowed the cause that they believed in
cordng to their hearts devotion and their
minds direction should be accorded the
glory that is justly theirs.
And may no time ever come when the
flag Of our country is assaiied when our
honor is imperiled or at stake that any
man should Sit down and count the cost
of its defense or stop to think whether he
incurs risk danger. Where the honor OF
the nation, the glory of the flag and It's su-
premacy are in question honest patriot.
CT fn
what 1t would cost to save it,
Secretary of the Treasury Gage and Sec
retary of the Navy Long also spoke briefly.
The presidential party was then escorted
back to the train, followed by long line
of veterans marching in army order, the
blue and gray shoulder to shoulder.
WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO LAND.