The Topeka state journal., 1908-08-29
TAFT TO VETERANS.
Tells Them That soldiers Of an Wars
Deserve Equal HonOr<


Taft Republican czl6l6S1a for pre[
dent stopped OF here TO-DAY on his
Ny 10 Middle Bass slznd for = weeks
fishing 70 deliver an address 10 = r.
union O. war veterans which i IN
progress N this city
Nr Tzfr said XIII
Mrs Taft and are glad 70 be able
on our trip 70 NT5dIe Bass Island from
Hot Springs 10 enjoy the Hospitality Of
Athens. even for 50 short = period zs
state university and the center Of the
great mining district Of Ohio has al
ways been a place q Importance in
the state Our stay Is rendered d0ubIy
agreeable by the fact Of this interesting
S0Ad16rS reunion
The interval since the civil var Is
rapidly approaching half century the
report Of the commission Of pensions
shows that of the pensioners of the
civil war, nearly 800 dISd in the month
OF July II that rate Il kept I'D every
month II means that there are passing
away from this world 10 another 5e.o0
men year, who barred their bosoms in
defense Of their country II would
seem that with this constant diminu-
ton in the ranks Of those who in their
memories still see the battles Of the
civil war as participants therein the
survivors should cherish with all the
eagerneSs and effort possible their as
sociation with their fellows in that
-
OF this kind evoke expressions of the
deepest patriotism As the recoIlecti0ns
of our c0untryS perllS and the sacr1-
fees they were made 70 save her are
revived in memory
Mr. Taft spoke OF men who had dis
tinguished themselves in the civil war
He Grows Reminiscent
There was Colonel Noyes. who lost
his leg in the war. he continued He
was the governor OF the state of Ohio.
H. H.
OF the superior court OF Cincinnati.
upon which bench 1 had the honor TO
be his colleague He has now gone TO
his long reward Then there are your
own General GrosvenOr. still active. still
militant and many others whom can
not 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 OF the veterans of the Spanish
and Philippine wars It is true that
the Spanish war was . very short one
and that the dangers OF losses Of men
were very small in Comparison with
those of the civil war Yet II involved
the same love of country, and the same
spirit of patriotism 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 The same thing is true or
the Philippine war. The fact that
there were some OF our countrymen
who were opposed to the Philippine
war and who condemned the govern
ment for attempting to suppress the
rebellion and to produce tranquility, IS
some times used to disparage the pa
triotic feeling and courage of those
who went to those far distant islands
to uphold the authority and flag OF
their country, under the direction of
their constitutional commander-in-
chief. What 1 wish to emphasize here
is that 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 mainten-
ance of benign policy of this country
toward the Philippine islands in insur-
ing for them a higher civilization and
an opportunity to fit themselves for
popular self government.
All Soldiers Look Alike to HiIn.
Those who went into the war had
not the immediate inspiration of an in
tense feeling upon moral issue such
as preceded 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
and continuing effort constantly to full
fill the duty of a soldier loyal to his
colors Many valuable lives were lost
in those islands, but as they were lost
in an effort by this country to dis
charge it's highest duty toward an un-
fortunate people that Providence had
thrust upon it they were doing the
work. They were discharging
the duty owed by their fellow citizens
to the world, and they are entitled
equally with all the other soldier of
the republic, who have fought to up
hold the flag, to a place on its roll of
honor.
Il am glad to have the opportunity |
of meeting you, of feeling again the
thrill that sight of SCARED and veteran |
soldiers, gathered in reunion must al |
ways give to a lover of his country. I |
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 may be full of the sweet calm and |
pleasure which comes from the retro |
spect of a we'll spent life in which you |
have done your full duty to your
country and your fellowman." |