Omaha daily bee., 1899-08-31
EXERCISES AT CITY HALL
welcome by City and state Extended
by Mayor and GOvernor-Ad-
dress by Dr.. Butler.

When Governor Poynter and his STAFF, the
speakers of the morning and Lieutenant
Colonel Eager and Major Kilian OF the First
regiment had reached their places on the
stand Chairman Baum raised his hand fol
silence and the steady roar, which had
drowned out even the brare OF the bands,
gradually subsidized. Mr.. Baum, addressing
the assemblage as Soldiers and Citizens
introduced Mayor Moores. who received an
earnest cheer from the regiment. Mayor
Moores had before him the two golden keys
of the city. He spoke as follows:
Mayor Moores' Address.
Gentlemen of the First Nebraska Volun-
teers, or as we would rather call you, "Our
Own Fighting First 1t Is indeed a difficult
task which has been assigned to me, to
express to you the pleasure your fellow
citizens feel in welcoming you back to their
hearts and home. i know that mere words,
however eloquent they may be, are totally
inadequate to express the Joy of your faith
ers, mothers, sweethearts and friends at
your homecoming. AS, with trimming
eyes they have embraced you or grasped
your hands, you have known their hearts
were surcharged with a happiness too great
to find it's expression in words.
Our citizens have been deeply interested
in you ever since you marched away to war.
They have read eagerly every bit Of news
which has come to them during the last year,
They are all familiar with the splendid
record made by your regiment. Wa know OF
your intrepid charges, of the hardships incl
dent to a soldiers life, which you have en-
dured uncomplainingly; of the hunger and
thirst of the march; of the WEAKNESS of in
cessant watching; of the splendid bravery
and the military skill of your lamenteC
colonel and OF the terrible effectiveness Of
his regiment as a fighting machine. We
glory in the magnificent record of each
ngl nAr ntI ,,ar .f tho Vim EunrN IN
of you has done honor to his town, to his
state and to his country.
Lesson in Patriotism.
AS / have seen the Joy upon every face
at your homecoming, l have been reminded
OF the stirring scenes of a year ago wher
you gave yourselves to your country anc
marched away to her service. There was
sadness In every heart and a tear in every
eye as you passed through the streets witt
the step of veterans. The spontaneous out
pouring of your fellow citizens upon that oc,
casion was an eloquent tribute to the higt
esteem in which you were held In your com
munity. Many of our business men WHIT
shouted the loudest or applauded the mos
vigorously could hardly keep back the
tears at the sight of your patriotic devo-
ton. 1t was a lesson in patriotism never
TO be forgotten. Our boys were marching
away to war, and We knew that there were
some who would never come back. We
knew that when the regiment returned Their,
would be a vacant chair" in many a home
Today we rejoice at your home coming
but we also mourn with those whose dea1
ones did not return, but sleep today OF
flames eternal camping ground Thei
memories are enshrined in the hearts o
their friends and Of their fellow citizens
j trust that the day is not far distant whel
a splendid monument Will be erected in on
state to commemorate their magnificent lif
and heroic death.
Now to Pnrbuits of Peace.
At the close Of the civil war. when peac
was declared and the soldiers We're dis
charged from service, 1t was the wonder o
the civilized world that SO many men coulC
so quickly lay aside the implements OF wa
and take up those of peace. In a few shor
months the men who so lately fought val
iantly the battles of their country in toreigI
lands will have found employment here II
the pursuits of peace. The same enthusi
asm, force, character and courage whicl
they displayed on the battlefield will b
applied by them to business affairs an
every avenue of business life will pulsat
with new life and energy.
trust that each one of you may flint
remunerative employment without delay
and If / or any of your fellow citizens, car
be of assistance TO any or you in you
efforts in that direction, you have but Il
command us. TIL pFomptness with whicl
We will respond will prove to you NOR
forcibly than any language OF mine that
speak no merely formal words when l say
"Welcome Home"
The city il Theirs.
Becoming a little more informal, Mayo
Moores reminded the men of the promis
he had made to them when they went away
to take care of their sweethearts and t
run in any one else who should try to stea
their affections. He continued:
Now take the city, 1t is yours to do wha
you please with. II you do not see wha
you want, you have only to express you
wishes and everything that can be done I
crafty them shall be done, for We feel tina
nothing is too good for you, Take thes
keys. You viii see that on one side we hav
written what you should do in case 20
get into trouble, Call up No. 90 and l wi
help you out, no matter what hour OF tn
night or day Il is. Everything goes TO-DAY
have the best time you possibly eal have
Taking the keys from the hands Of tn
mayor. Colonel Eager answered as fohoss:
On behalf Of the First regiment l than