The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-05-20
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HOFFMAN TO VETERANS


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In the exercises at the opera house
last night marking the formal opening
of the annual state encan~nent of
the G. A. r. f. Col Roy V. Hoffman's
address of response in behalf
of the Spanish War Veterans assoc
iation was most powerful and slim
ulating oratorical effort He said:
Upon the part of the association
OF United Spanish War veterans, the
gracious welcome given her is most
heartily and thankfully appreciated.
In the presence Of these survivors of
the mightiest army ever marshaled IN
battle array In the history of the
world. our association is but the kin
dergarten. while they are the post
graduates, and we feel like taking a
back seat and keeping very still.
When you old soldiers who We're up
against the real thing are not around
we swell up and strut and brag about
the blood we split and the general
havoc and destruction we wrought
Why it is a matter OF history that the
Spaniards quit Just as soon as they
heard that Frank Prouty, Charley Hun
ter, Low MuXlow, Chief Mitchell aud
myself We're coming their way And
it's a mighty good thing they did, II
they ever hoped to revive the depart
ed glory of CASTLE and Aragon for II
we'd have got there in time there
wouldn't have been enough left for
seed
But while we're not entitled to
much credit for putting down the
Spaniards, we are entitled to good
deal for putting down army beef-and
keeping it down-and we respond to
your welcome as the proud survivors
of eleven months of thai packing house
product known as the modern army
ration
Compared to the things the real
soldiers OF the Nation suffered and
the deeds they did. our experience was
Ia summers holiday But there is one
place where we stand upon a lavel
We answered the call Of our common
country We enlisted for the honor
of the Republic and the glory of its
starry banner. And, please God, the
government at Washington still lives
a people struggling to be free has
been lifted out of bondage, and Amer
lea, land of the free and home Of the
brave. takes uDdisputed rank as first
among the powers of the earth.
The war with Spain was fought by
the sons of those who wore the blue
and tbs sons of those who wore the
gray marching side by side under the
same flag as brothers in the war for
humanity, commanded by sons of Gen
eral Grant and General Lee and glori-
Gus old Joe Wheeler
Freshly 10 preserve the memory of
great events and Of noble men is to
cherish the greatness Of the state.
States are not great except as men
make them The history Cf his coun-
try stimulates every young patriot to
make that country still worthier the
love of her children
THE war between the states should
no more be forgotten than the war of
the Revolution Its animosities, its
personal and sectional hostilities have
long since been buried beyond resur
rectiOn The cause that triumphed was
not sectional advantage. The result
not the vistory Of the North over the
South II was the arbitrament and set
Ting by arms when there was no other
way of a fundamental idea of gov
ernment And the God of battles was
with us and right prevailed So we
honor upcn these occasions not only
those who wore the blue and offered
their lives. their fortunes. their sacred
honor upon the altar OF their countr,-.
but also those who wore the gray, ana
who, under the Providence OF God, had
their honest purpose crossed and their
brave armies beaten.
Great power vast area, enormous
wealth do not make a great Nation
Every sleeve empty of an arm. but
lull Of glory and honor; every crfch
on which the MANNED soldier limps.
but upon which justice steps more
securely, reminds as that national
greatness is moral not a financial
tact. The richest country on the globe
may be The most unstable Remember
ing tlis If we shape accordingly the
ends of our government, an the cost
and suffering of our wars viii have
been "A price We'll paid
The soldier may never again be
rceded under arms In America
pray that he may not. hope and pray
that the war drum may throb no longer
and the battle flags remain forever
furled hope and trust the sun has
set 10 rse no more upon the frightfui
carnage OF battlefield. But II the