The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-07-08
il1lIa u III llUh llD[g
DELIVERED AT okLAfiOrLA CITY
BY ftUN. 4. w. OWNbsy.


*
Ladies' and Gentlemen, and Members
OF the Rough Riders Association !:
The kindness of = young friend of
nine, and one of your number. sup-
gested but q roment since that | be
accorded q few minutes in which to
address y0u, aud through the cour-
tesy OF your officers presiding the re-
quest was graciously allowed. To
bsIin Your presence, and 20 have
been refused snch privilege, to me
would have been q misfortune for
which would not have been COM
pensated with aking's ransom.
There are times when preparation
and studied speeches are Unnecessary
for the sentiments of the heart gush
forth as q limpid fountain, and the
lips respond asa stream full of voice,
life and music. 1t is an inspiration
toaook into the eyes and faces of
these young men, who, with Spartan
courage and loyalty unknown to fear.
but yesterday supported and main
tanned the flag of the republic in the
supremacy upon battlefields in the
land of Cuba.
Events come and go, times change,
and the course of national destiny
moves forward with all the novelty
andlrapidity of an ever varying drama
and today each advent upon the
stage with oursnation ushers in new
development, and each curtain fall
suggests q coming triumph.
Two years ago peace, with it's white
wings, lowered over all of bur land.
Since then We have subjagated and
annihilated the rule, reign and en-
pire of Spain upon the western con.
tinent, girded the oceans with our
new possessions, and filed the ma.
itions of the earth with admiration
for the courage of our soldiery and
the fame of our victories, both by
land and sea. No class Of people, no
Fsection or division of the republic,
can claim this honor, but it is the
voluntary contribution of a whole
country, reunited from ocean to
ocean and from the lakes to the gulf.
in loyalty, patriotism and devotion
to our flag. ~
The questions and issues that once
disturbed and divided our unhappy
country in these times, are COM
pletely settled. Under the provi-
dence of God those wounds are heal
ed, and In the memory of our reunit-
ed country ancient passions and
prejudices have been eliminated and
in the last two years we have revised
our political creed, and in the new
revision the word s'hatred" of one
section toward another has been left
out, and in its stead is written in liv-
ing letters of gold, brotberly love.
unity and patriotism. And today the
descendants of the blue and the
gray, in courage, loyalty and devo-
ton, are vieing with each other to
maintain and support our flag in the
supremacy upon distant fields of bat
tie in the war we are'now waging in
the name of humanity and civiliza-
tion and for the betterment of the
human family. And these young
men, in fearless courage, are vlndi-
eating the memories of their sires.
the blue and the gray, as they fear
lessly face the enemy or fall side by
side upon the battlefield.
AS a people, what may we not ex-
pect of future history and fruition,
when we behold our nation being
revived and resuscitated by such
showers of national patriotism! Who
at such q time would dare to invade
the graveyards of the dead past and
from it's silent tombs bring forth the
unhappy memories of the years OF
long ago? AS a Southern man, there
is a charm and beauty and splendor
about this Southland that always
fills me with admiration, but as an
American citizen from childhood the
mention of the name of my country
sweet land of liberty, has always
inspired me with the loftiest emo
tions. In the last two years not only
was the map of the world changed
by the pride of our arms and the
courage of our soldiery, but in the
patriotism of a reunited people we
have changed the map of our OWE
country, and there is no longer any
north, south, east or west, but in its
stead O reunited republic, one anc
linseparable, now and forever
When we behold eighty millions o.
God-fearing and liberty-loving peo
pie he most intelligent, bravest ane
tfreest of the nations of tho earth
appoaching the fountain of nationa
patriotism and disrobing themselves
and performing a iibation. and com
ing forth purified of every thought
|. I.desire aud purpose except the vel
fare and happiness OF all of the peo
pie and the glory of our common
country, what may we not sxpect o
the future OF such a republic ant
the destiny of such a nation?
;. Eighteen hundred years ago ther'
was a divine tragedy. Truth wa
,,ror kha arnaa IL was de