Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-11-09
tinguished themselves as the benefac

tors of their race.
i,s.Your Homecoming, exchanging at
once the equipment and uniform of the
soldier for the dress and occupation OF
civilian being again merged in the
great body of our common people,
from whose ranks you SO proudly step
ped forth a few months ago, again DEM
onstrates with renewed emphasis that
for all emergencies likely to arise
among free and thoughtful people the
citizen soldiery can at all times be re-
lied upon. "A generation ago this coun-
try witnessed the spectacle OF the
homecoming Of more than a million
citizen soldiers who underwent I'M
|finchingly the ordeal of mighty war
of four years. duration. They at once
returned to civil life and have proven
themselves to be as valuable in peace
as valiant in war.
The wise and brave men who found
led our institutions had entire faith in
our volunteer army and never ceased to
warn the people against the dangers
OF large permanent military establish
nent; that their faith had solid
foundation the lapse of time and recu.-
renee ofseyents have repeatedly demon
strated."
Lop er's Farewell.
4; Col. Loper's leave taking from the
regiment was most touching. The col
onel is not aispeech maker, but on this
occasion there were things he felt he
must say and he said them, although
not without great effort and many
failures to master his feelings. He said:
aa"Officersi and men of the Fifty-first
Iowa volunteer regiment: This is a
glad and also painful occasion for me.
| am glad because we are once more on
Iowa soil and looking upon the faces of
those we love and sad because many of
those who marched away with us are
deaf to the sounds of welcome that
have filed the air today. And to the
SORROW that comes with thoughts OF
the brave boys who gave their lives for
the country, is added the reflection
that our military service is ended and
we must part to take up the duties of
peace. want to tell you that no
commander of a regiment ever found
his men more loyal, obedient and con
siderate than did the colonel of the
Fifty-frst, i am grateful for the 10y
atty with which you bore with and
sustained your. commander and trust
that everyone of you will prosper and
be blessed with the best that the grea,
country affords, want to say to YOU
that the latch string of the Loper
home is always out to every member
of the regiment, and the last one of
you is expected to pull it and walk in
when in Des Moines.
Hnnnues and ueccantinu
AT the close of the speaking an elab-
crate banquet was served the soldiers
and guests, after which the different
companies went to the respective head
quarters assigned TO them. where they
met and exchanged greetings with
their friends and relatives until it was
time to take the trains which bore
them to their homes, which they will
reach in time TO cast their ballots to-
day.
The belated third section, containing
the companies from Council Bluffs.
Shenandoah, Glenwood and Red Oak,
reached here last evening about S
O'Clock, and We're accorded, if possible,
an even warmer welcome than extend
led in the morning TO their comrades.
Men and women actually fought at the
depot platform to get nearest the train
as il, pulled in.
An attempt to form a parade proved
futile. as The relatives Of the boys OF
Company L refused 4 to leave them for
a moment. The banquet prepared for
them was abandoned. The other three
etcmpanies went, straight through to
THEIR towns.
Demonstration at Dek Moipes.
Dies Moines, Nov. 7.-When the SOL
diers OF the FiftS-frst Iowa infantry
volunteers, returning from sixteen
months in the Philippines. arrived here
'3ast night the streets were flied with
so many thousands of their friends
that they hid to find their own gay 10