Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-10-19
THE DAKorAs VISITED.
Nj. Mckinley the First President Whe
Has Been to Them Since Statehood
Welcomed ct Aberdeen.

Aberdeen, S. D., Oct. 16.-At eight a.
m. Saturday President McKinley's spe-
cial arrived in the city. At the depot
large crowd gathered to see the first
president Of the United States who has
ever visited the Dakotas since state
hood. The principal part Of the throng
was the First South Dakota volunteers,
who arrived Saturday from the Philip
pines, and this feature was delayed for
over an hour by the delay Of the sol
diers' train Shortly after 1926 the sol
diers' special drew up at the Northern
Pacific depot and fell in line behind an
escort OF G. A. R. veterans, who fol-
lowed Immediately after the carriage
of the president and cabinet. Col.
Frost rode at the head of his regiment,
and as they passed down to the review
ing station and the grain palace every
one Of the 5000 inhabitants Of Aber-
deem cheered and they were reinforced
by several thousand visitors from other
parts Of the state. Addresses were
made by President Mckinley and the
cabinet, Gov. Lee and Others The
president in his speech said:
Mr.. Mayor, Members OF the First South d.
k0ta Volunteers and Fellow-Citizens: 1t gives
me very great pleasure to join with your fellow
citizens Of the state Of South Dakota, your
friends, your families, your neighbors in this
welcome to your home. We are not nation OF
hero worshipers. and yet we are a nation Of
70,O),0OO Of grateful people who love valor,
and reward the heroic deeds Of our soldiers, and
think appreciate quite as much II not more
than most Of my fellow-citizens the value OF
the services Of this regiment, with It's associates
OF the Eighth corps, rendered the country in its
hour of great emergency. And am here to
speak, not for myself alone, but for the whole
American people in expression Of gratitude and
thanks for your heroic action in the island Of
Luzon. have with me dispatch just received
from your commander the major general COM
manding In the Philippines, telling me OF the
gallantry Of Col Frost and his First regiment;
telling me that from early In February
until late in June you stood on the firing
line. No enemy could resist your onslauyhts
upon them, Nor can forget, soldiers of the
republic, that when the treaty of peace
was ended, when negotiations were being
conducted in Paris, when the ratification
of the treaty was awaiting the action of the
senate, and finally, when we were awaiting the
exchange Of the, ratification with Spain--I do
not forget that when that time came every one
Of you was entitled to be mustered out OF the
service Of the United States, and can never
express the joy you gave my heart when you
sent word that you would remain until new
army could be formed to take your places.
That, members Of the First South Dakota, was
an example OF personal sacrifice and public
conservation 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 enemies who assail 1t.
am glad to see the veterans OF 1861 with the
veterans of 1893 1t is all the same kind of
patriotism you got from your fathers. 1t is the
patriotism that never deserts and never en-
courages desertion thank you for your splen-
did services to the country; | thank you for
standing faithful and unfaltering on the battle
line thank you for preserving our flag stain
less | thank you for waiting in the trenches
until the relief came; thank you for having
transferred this banner to those who succeeded
you without dishonOr and without blot, And
where that flag Is 1t stands for liberty, human.
ity and civilization.