The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-09
SENATOR DEPEws ADDRESS :
Delivered at the dwelling of the
Logan Statue.


Delivered at the dwelling of the
Logan Statue.
Ladies and gentlemen: The history
of cur country is condensed in the revo-
lutionary and the civil wars. The -irst
was the creation of a nation which en-
bodied the evolution and aspirations of
the English colonists from 1920 to 1776 in
the experiment OF self government. The
second was the triumphant solution on
the side of liberty and humanity ~by the
most gigantic and bloody of modern
Conflicts of the problems which the
founders of our government had left for
posterity. Since then there has been no
restraint upon American development
ard no barrier TO American progress
The story of the revolution and rebellion
wiz be read by future generations, not
in the narration of their causes or Incl
dents, but mainly in the lives of the
master minds who participated in those
struggles. We now read the revolution
in the careers and achievements Of
Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, AMI
Samuel and John Adams and their COM
patriots. Our marvellous material devel-
Opment and the pace at which we have
advanced in every department of ma
tional activity since 1865 make the great
civil strife seem as distant almost as the
classic tales OF our student days As
Washington stands out in the first Of
our crucial contests, 50 does Lincoln in
Sherman, Sheridan, Logan, Mcpherson
and a host of other heroes.
s'T'he typical American has long been
the subject of discussion and portrai-
ture In caricature, in picture and upon
the stage our national characteristics
ara represented by the Brother Jona
than, who is sharp, keen. aggressive and
fearless. but who exhibits no trait of
morality which mark q noble and sue
cessful people. We do not, therefore,
find the typical American IN the sketch
of the artist or upon the dramatic stage.
The professional or business man who
has been successful in his pursuit: the
one who with the great opportunities
offered in the United States and by the
exercise of rare gifts, has accumula ted
a phenomenal fortune; or the diStin-
guished soldier or sailor who has come
from the severe training Of West Point
or Annapolis, is not peculiar to our
country He exists under all govern
ments, and accomplishes the same ca
reer under all Institutions. American
liberty and law which grant to all equal
opportunities, which neither foster nor
favor, nor permit class or privilege, Gull
tivate a kaleidoscope activity which is
possible alone with us. 1t develops an
American who passes easily and natur-
ally to and from private pursuits and
public life, is ready and 1Orceful upon
the platform or in halls of legislation.
is facile with his pen, and keen upon all
questions of current interest and with
that leisure which comes only to the
very busy finds rest and recreation in
travel, fraternal organization and So
ciety.
He early in life becomes a member Of
the military company of his town or the
national guard of the state, and locks
his office or leaves the shop to march
with his command to the field of duty
and of danger. If he survives the perilS
of battle and dangers Of disease, he prac-
tically beats his sword into a plough
share and his spear into a pruning hook
by exchanging the uniform of the soldier
for the dress of the citizen, and quietly
resuming the peaceful paths of the in
dustry he abandoned to fight for his
country. The Grand Army of the Re-
public has upon its rolls numberleSS ex-
amples, living and dead, of heroes IN war
who were also successes in the profess
sions or business. orators of rare merit
and statesmen of unique distinction.
Such mana typical Americans the
soldier, statesman and patriot for the
unveiling of whose statue, erected by a
grateful country, We are here assembled.
TT is 8 popular deluSiOn that the
fibre of American character IS best
wrought and exhibited in those who have
been deficient in early opportunities for
education; whose struggles have been
harder than their fellows, and who have
passed their youth either in or upon the
borders of the western wilderness. 1t
was found in the civil war that there
was no difference in courage, dash or
endurance between the men Of the east,
tween those who came from the fields
forests. the mines or the factories, ana
those who stepped out from the pulpit,
the lawyers office. the counting house,
the professors chair or the pedagogue'S
seat In that most illustrative body Of
American manhood, the Rough Rider
regiment of the Spanish war. the dandy
from the club, the student from the uni
versity and the cowboy from the plains,
in the stress of battle, in the deadly
charge and under the hail Of bullets,
found that their only differences were in
dress and that under fire and following
the flag they were equal and equally
good Americans.
I'm the crises of our fate as a nation
God seems to have raised up and pre-
pared men specially for the accomplish
ment of the wonderful purposes which
he had in store for the Republic But
these wonderful fntelligences, ready for
great occasions and the accomplishment
tinguished in communities like ours un-
til their country calls them to duty.
ssThe Mexican war at once fired the
imagination Of the adventurous youth OF
our land It carried young Logan, with
a musket, as a private in the ranks Of
his company across the Rio Grande, and
he won his shoulder straps in the bloody
battles under Generals Taylor and
Scott.
enlarged the horizon and pointed out
larger future than ever dreamed of be
fore for himself and for his country to
this enthusiastic lad
a most difficult thing for anyone Is to
escape from his surroundings OF neigh
borhood, traditions provinciaiisus and