The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-24
ADDR s 5 TO VOLUNTEERS
Tn; g cd Them for Their Ser
 oVice to the Nation.
The Chief Executive Asks Federal Officials to Provide a Place for One of His Civil >>
 War Followers.

San Francisco, May 23.-President Mckinley breakfasted this morning at the residence of Irving M. Scott, re- turned to his temporary home and re. ceived delegation of Federal officials. President Mckinley asked the Federal officials to provide a position for an old man named Ritter. who served in his regiment during the civil war. MT. Ritter lost a leg in battle and is now a resident of San Leandro. The Pres ident remarked that this was the first appointment he had asked for and hoped his old comrade would be pro- vided for. The officials promised to do so.
 The most important event of the day came next. It was the Presidents visit to the Presidio where he reviewed the 18th and 18th Volunteer Infantry Reg iments just returned from the Philip pines to be mustered out of service. When the President mounted the re- viewing stand the soldiers cheered him. He addressed them with much feeling, speaking as follows:
 Speech to Soldiers.
 T count myself very fortunate to have been in the city of San Francisco upon the arrival of these two regi- ments that might join with my fellow citizens of this city in giving you well come home and at the same time to express not only my own thanks as President of the United States, but the gratitude of the American people for the splendid services you have rend- cred to your country in the past two years. Our hearts have been with you; our hopes have been with you and we have realized in large measure peace as the result of the splendid work you performed in the Philippine Islands.
 "You went carrying with you the purposes and spirit and conscience of the people of the United States; you carried with you the flag which Is the symbol of the best and noblest aspir- ations of free people and you bring that flag back with added honor and deliver it to the country which you served so we'll and so faithfully. You come back now to be citizens of the country and Government whose honor you have preserved. You were citizens before you were soldiers. And you be- came soldiers because you were loving your country, attached to our free in- stitutions and because of which you were willing to give that which is the best that any man can give-his own life's blood-for the honor of his coun- try.
 A Surprise to the World.
 You have done your duty-you have done it nobly and you come back to go into the walks of citizenship with your other fellow citizens and take the places that you left when you enlisted two years ago. That is one thing about American honor that is a sur prise to the world. We have mustered four armies. The great>st army that was ever mustered was from 6l to '65, and yet when the war was over, when Lee surrendered to Grant. the nearly two millions of men came back to their homes fell into the quiet walks of citizenship, sustaining the govern ment for which you fought. And so you come back as your forefathers came back, more than thirty years ago. having done your duty. and it is a proud thing to do duty for coun- try You come back having done your full duty as soldiers to now do your duty as citizens; and I want to ex- press my heartfelt thanks to all of you for the services you have render ed, and I want to wish for all of you and to all belonging to you every good thing in this life. I thank you"
 Cheered by the Soldiers.
 At the close of the Presidents re- marks, three cheers were given by the soldiers. The President next visited the general hospital. going through ev4 cry sick ward lowing and speaking words of cheer to every sick soldier.
 In the afternoon the President was the guest of honor at the reception pf the Union League Club, the Ohio Sb- ciety of California, he Mexican War Veterans. Pioneers and Native Sons. The latter three societies presented him with a paper weight containing $S50 worth of gold. At each reception the President respo olded briefly to presentation speeches.
 At the reception of the Ohio Society President Mckinley raid in part:
 q meet Ohio people wherever SC and the surprise to me is how we have gotten along so well when so many of you have left us. Daughter and ap- plause) And then I have that other have gotten on if we had not loaned you to them. Naughter) For in ev- cry State the Ohio man has taken an honorable place, whether in business or in politics and has carried the best traditions of the old commonwealth with him. (Applause)
 A Few of 0hio's Great Men.
 "It is a glorious old State. Glorious names are connected with it.: Chase, Giddings and bluff old Ben Wade and Garfield and Hayes and Thurman and Pendleton and Sherman-leading statesmen of their time and genera tion; and then We never forget that Grant was born in Ohio (applause) he who girdled the globe with his fame as he marched in the pathway of the sun; nor that sherman, who made that magnificent march from Atlanta to the sea was born in Ohio (applause.) And that gallant little Irishman, Phil Sheri- dan (applause) who did not permit Jubal Early to rest in the summer of 1864 in the Shenandoah Valley and finally won that magnificent victory he too was born in Ohio"