Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-29
Republican Candidate Talks to
Them at Athens.
HE'S ON A FISHING TRIP
Train Delayed and Detoured Because
of Wreck.
CANDIDATE IN GOOD FORM
Dwells on Theme Of Ohio's Greatness
in Civil and Philippine
Wars.

Al HENS, ONO, August ia dig
crowd of admirers, Including many G A. r.
veterans, listened to a speach by Williem
Howard Taft at this city today. and were
delighted to hear praise for this we'll known
Ohio center fall from tho lips Of the re-
publican nominee Although in the jour
ney from Hot Springs to Middle Bass Is
land the train was very late, the Atheni-
ans awaited the coming Of Judge Taft
and his party and listened with the clos
est attention to what he had to say.
Judge Taft's address was particularly
pleasing to the veterans
Speech Of tho Candidate.
Mr.. Taft said:
Mrs. TAFT and I are glad to be able
on our trip to 60 to Middle Bass Island
from Hot Springs to enjoy the hospi-
tally of Athens, even for 50 short
period as three hours. Athens. as the seat
Of state university and the center OF
the great mining district Of Ohio. has
always been a place of Importance in the
state. Our stay is rendered doubly agree
able by the fact Of this interesting SOL
diers' reunion.
The interval since the civil war Is
rapidly approaching half a century The
report of the commissioner Of pensions
shows that Of the pensioners OF the civfl
war nearly 5000 died in the month OF
July. If that rate is kept up every month.
1t means that there are passing away
from this world to another. $1,000 men a
year who barred their boeoms in defense
Of their country. 1t would seem that with
this constant diminution in the ranks Of
v1@ AhA(~
battles of the civil war as participants
therein. the survivors should cherish with
all the eagerness and effort possible their
association with their fellows in that
crisis In the countrys life. Meetings Of
this kind evoke expressions of the deepest
patriotism as the recollections Of our
country's perils and the sacrifices that
were made to save her are revived in
memory.
Distinguished Ohioans.
Mr.. Taft spoke OF men who had dis
tinguished themselves in the civil war.
There was Col. Noyes. who lost his
leg In the war" he continued. He was
governor of the state Of Ohio, ambassador
to France. and finally judge Of the supe-
rior court OF Cincinnati. upon which bench
had the honor to be his colleague. He
has now gone to his long reward Then
there are your own Gen. Grosvenor. still
whom cannot now stop to name.
What I am specially glad to note In
this reunion Is that the veterans Of the
civil war welcome association with them
pine wars IT is true that the Spanish
war was a very short one, and that the
dangers and losses of that war were very
small In comparison with those of the
Of country and the same spirit Of patriot
ism on the part Of those who entered the
army for the purpose Of fighting that
war that led to the outpouring Of the
volunteers in the civil war
Also Philippine War.
The same thing is true of the Philip
pine war. The fact that there were some
OF our countrymen who were opposed to
the Philippine war and who condemned
the government for attempting to sup
press the rebellion and to produce tran
ouility is sometimes used to disparage
the patriotic feeling and courage Of those
VINO went to those far-distant islands to
uphold the authority and flag Of their
country. under the direction of their con-
stitutional commander-in-chief. What
wish 10 emphasize here is that a life lost
or health lost in that war entitled the
loser to exactly the same gratitude that
the country feels to those who lost their
lives or their health in the civil war. They
were sacrificing themselves in the main
tenance Of benign policy Of this country
toward the people Of the Philippine Is
lands In insuring for them higher civil
izatfon and an opportunity to fit them
selves for popular self-government
They Were Heroes, Too.
Those who went into the war had not
the immediate inspiration of an intense
feeling upon a moral issue such as pre-
ceded the civil war: but when they were
exposing themselves to the bullets Of
the enemy. or to the ravages Of tropical
disease. 10000 miles away from their
homes. 1T required great continuing
effort constantly to fulfill the duty Of a
soldier loyal to his colors. Many valu-
able lives were lost in those islands. but
as they were lost in an effort by this
country to discharge it's highest duty
toward an unfortunate people that prov
idence had thrust upon it. they were do
ing the country's work, they were dis
charging the duty owed by their fellow
citizens to the world. and they were en-
titled. equally with all the other soldiers
Of the republic who have fought to up
hold the flag, to a place upon Its roll of
honor.
Close to the Veterans.
II am glad to have the opportunity Of
meeting you. of feeling again the thrill
that the sight Of SCARED and veteran
soldiers. gathered in reunion must al
ways give to lover Of his country. 1
hope that the future Of those of you
who are survivors Of the civil war and
who are going slowly down the hill Of
life Alay be full Of the sweet calm and
plealAe which comes from the retro
spect 8 a we'll spent life. in which you
have 06Ae your full duty to your country
and youY felloWmen
Had to Dodge a Wreck.
GALLIPOLIS, Ohio. August 29.-Judge
Taft, w..o is on his way from Hot
Springs. Va, to Middle Bass Island in
Lake Erie. made a brief political ad-
dres to a large crowd at the depot here
this morning.
Mr.. Tafts train was detoured over
the Hooking Valley and Baltimore and
Obi, Southwestern to Athens from here.
owing to a bad wreck on the K. and NJ
at I.angsville. Taft. looking in perfect
health. said he was glad to get back to
Ohio. He eulogized Roosevelt and adj
yised capitalists, laborers and farmers
H.