The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-21
GUEST OF VETERANS.
Governor Bailey Makes an Ad-
dress at Leavenworth.

Leavenworth. Kan, Nov. 21.-The ad-
dress delivered by Governor w. J. Bailey
at the Soldiers Home opera house yes
terday afternoon, on the occasion of the
Temperance union, was warmly greeted
by the large audience of veterans and
people from Leavenworth.
Governor Bailey's address was in part
as follows:
Always when before an audience of
old soldiers, men who have offered the
best years of their lives to serve their
country, it almost seems like a presump-
ton for me to speak of what to you
are realities and to me are but matters
of history. I wish to thank you in the
name of the generation to which be-
long for the splendid heritage you have
left to US: and 1 promise that we will
strive to the limit of our power to hand
down to our children, this heritage un-
sullied.
You are the victors in the worlds
greatest civil war. AS a result of your
devotion, manhood, suffering, sacrifice
and heroism, God who presides over the
destinies of the nation, placed the seal
of victory on your efforts.
LAS l look upon you, the guests of
the nation I am inspired to thank you
and to pay tribute to the most remark
able genera tion of men in the world 8
history. Is that a strong statement!
Let US consider. You were boys when
sponded, We are coming, Father
Abraham, SOC, 900 strong, shouting the
battle cry of freedom tApplause.)
With no hope of reward, you Sacr1-
feed your ambitions and offered your
lives, and in your victories you dazzled
the men of the old world.
Il have never met an audience of
veterans in recent years but I was
filled with indispensable regret to see
how fast you are passing from the
stage of life. Only a few more Deco
ration days and others than the COM
rades must keep the graves green.
Only a few more roll calls and you
will all be enrolled in the guard of
eternity. Many of the great generals.
Logan, Sheridan and Sherman. whose
names are written across the world.
are already in the great beyond.
You who are left, are gathered here
where you are cared for by the CRATE
full heart of the nation. With that comes
some responsibility. While in the pres
ence of death on the battlefield, you
made your record as heroes. When you
were mustered out although the world
feared lest the great army of men. ac-
customed to rough life, should wreck
the Republic, your action then meas
ured up to the full standard of man
hood. You returned to the ways of
peace and put your shoulders to the
grand as your conduct on the field of
battle.''
The governor spent the forenoon in
viewing the buildings and grounds of the
homo. This was his first visit to the home
since it's acquisition by the state, and he
often, in passing through the halls and
rooms, uttered expression of pleasure and
surprise. The buildings were larger, he
said than he had supposed them to be.
He was especially impressed by the disci-
pline and order shown in the management
of the home and in the conduct of the
men.
At 1890 O'Clock Gov. Bailey sat down
to dinner with Acting Governor Martin
and his family.
The only thing to mar the perfect sue
cess of the day was the haSty departure
of Gov. Bailey. few minutes after he
closed his address he was obliged to leave
to catch a train to Kansas City. The COM
rnittee had planned a reception at the
close of the meeting in his honor,