Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-10-20
THE DAKOTAs VISITED.
Ne. Mckinley the First President whs
Has Been to Them Since Statehood
Welcomed st Aberdeen.

Aberdeen, s. D., Oct. 16.-At eight 4
n. Saturday President McKinley's spe-
,ial 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
1iers' train. Shortly after S:25 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 Da-
kota Volunteers and F'ellow-Citizens: It 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 a nation OF
nero worshiperS. and yet we are nation of
&c. co 1000 of grateful people who love valor,
and reward the heroic deeds of our soldiers. and
[ think appreciate quite much, if not more
chan most OF my fellOw-c1t1zenS the value OF
the Serv ceS of this regiment with its associates
If the Eighth corps, rendered the country in its
lour 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
handing in the Philippines. telling me of the
gallantry of Col. Frost aud 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 onslau ghtS
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 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 a new
army could be formed to take your places.
That, members of the First South Dakota, was
example of personal sacrifice and public
conservation rarely known in the annals OF war,
but it 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 it.
I am glad to see the veterans of 1861 with the
veterans Of 1898. 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; I thank you for
standing faithful and unfaltering on the battle
line; thank you for preserving our flag stain
less; I thank you for waiting in the trenches
toe
transferred this banner to those who succeeded
you without dishonor and without blot. And
where that flag is it stands for liberty, human'
ity and civilization.