The age-herald., 1900-09-14
Monument Dedicated to the Brave and Gifted General.
GOV. MOUNT MADE A SPEECH
He Criticized Those Who Objected to the War on the Filipinos, While Colonel Bryan Refused to
 Discuss Politics


 this city today dedicated to the memory of General Henry w. Lawton a monument crowned by cannon captured by him. The ceremony took place under the auspices of the Union Veteran Legion, and Colonel William J. Bryan was the principal orator.
 Major W. W. Barrett told how General Lawton had captured from the Filipinos the little brass piece which crowned the monument in front of the stand.
 The introductory portion of Governor Mounts address was largely biographical and eulogistic He first took up indirectly the Philippine war; denouncing Aguinaldo He spoke of the fact that the gun had been taken from men who had turned it upon our flag and our soldiers. He quoted the utterances attributed to General Lawton: "If I am shot by Filipino bullet it might as well come from one of my own men, be- cause I know from observation, confirmed by captured prisoners that the continuance of this fighting is chiefly due to reports that sent out from America"
 Governor Mount added:
 .'If this cannon was not captured in just and humane war and from those re- sisting the lawfully constituted authorities over these islands, and fighting the sol-
  them from Spanish thraldom, then where is the honor of the capture and the glory of this gift? Honor these insurgents patriots and you interpret wrongfuly the words, the will and the act of our dead hero; then this service becomes q mockery and this trophy of patriotic valor becomes a monument to the disorder of our soldiers and the shame of our country"
 shauid Be LoyaI
 Further on he said:
 ''I trust may never see the day when I shall so forget our soldiers as the agents of oppression, turning the bane of liberty into an ensign of imperialism, nor do I ap- prehend such consummation."
 There was evident expectancy as to what Colonel Bryan would say. Most people re- garded Governor Mounts remarks as di- rect challenge to MT. Bryan's views on the Philippine war. If any one looked for a response he was disappointed, as Colonel Bryan disavowed at the outset any inten- ton of making political speech.
 q was invited to participate in this re- union,'' Colonel Bryan began, mot as a candidate for office, but a citizen of this republic, and I am here to speak to you, not a candidate for office but as cit lZtH. HIS WOA dPpiduoSt anu poe the crowd in a good humor.
 T shall take opportunity, he said, ito make enough political speeches during the campaign to make my views known on every pending question, and therefore it is not necessary that l should discuss pol itics today (Applause) If any of you should be in doubt as to my views and feel that you need enlighten- ment on the subject, let me know and 1 will present them to you in Writing.
 Bryan soldier He then referred to his own record as a soldier, saying, ''I can hardly say that am here as a soldier, for I feel that my l military services so insignificant compared with the service of so many who are here today that 1 am hardly entitled to be classed among the soldiers. 1 was Colonel and yet feel about my title as feel about my service in the army, that it is hardly fair that one should be called a Colonel who never saw active duty and who did not have his courage tested on the battle field. And yet, if I must have title, presume Colonel is the best one, for that seems to be the title of every person who has not some other military title Daughter and applause.) When I offered my services and my wife expressed some fear that might not return, l told her that l was going to occupy a position that must be without danger for from the number of Coonels I had met since the last war I was satisfied that Colonel was ever killed in battle." Applause and laughter.)
 He then went on to say that his military service, brief as it was, had been sufficient to make him realize something of the risk that the soldier takes. I've speak," he said. "of people dying upon the battlefield, and yet more die Tn the hospitals than die upon the battlefield, and when our camp was stricken with fever and I walked through the hospital and saw the boys suf- fering, away from home and friends, I was convinced that the man who dies in a hospital is deserving of as much sympathy as the man who dies upon the battlefield On the battlefield he is inspired by the presence of his comrades, the enthusiasm of battle, the glory that wreathes those who fall upon the battlefield"
 Tribute to the Volunteer Colonel Bryan then paid high tribute to the character of the volunteer soldier and to their wives Further on he said:
 You have met today to do honor to the memory of a soldier in the regular army. No matter what our opinions may be as to the size of the standing army, we are all glad that when emergency comes, whether 1t be an emergency that calls forth the volunteer or the regular. to find the soldier who will measure up to the standard of a soldier as Lawton did. He was brave he was ready to meet danger and he had the skill, genius, if you please, necessary for one in his position"
 Speaking of the responsibility of the sol- dier, MT. Bryan said:
 'It is not for the soldier to determine whether the command takes him to his death is a just one or not. It Is the duty of the soldier to obey. But it is not for the people who control things who make goy- ernments, make laws, shape policies and determine destiny; it is for the people to say what orders shall be given to soldiers. There is where the responsibility lies." (Ap- plause) r 4
 Colonel Bryan said there could be no greater mistake than to assume that the people of any political party are unpatriot- ic. He recalled the partisan rancor of the campaign of 1896. Not in a generation" he said. have the people been stirred more. Not in generation has feeling run higher and deeper, and yet within two