The Springfield herald., 1909-06-04
PRESIDENT TAFT
AT GETTYSBURG
SPEAKS AT UNWILLING OF MoNU-
MENT TO REGULAR SOLDIERS
WHO FELL THERE.
DAUGHTER PULLS CORD
TAROv RECOGNITION OF THE MA
TONS DEBT TO lTs BRAVE
DEFENDERS.

Gettysburg, Pa.-Monday, Memorial
Day, was the day of tardy honor to
the regular" at Gettysburg.
An imposing shaft Of granite. erect
ed by Congress to the memory Of
those Of the regularly enlisted forces
who fell in the three days fighting
about the Round Tops and the Bloody
Angle, was unveiled by the Presi-
dents daughter, Miss Helen H. Taft,
while President Taft himself paid
tribute to officers and men OF the
United States army, past and pres
ent.
The President put himself squarely
on record as opposed to any reduc-
ton in the present standing army. He
told of the prejudice which often has
arisen against the possible aggres-
sions of regular army and pro-
fessional soldiery, and of the cores
ponding difficulty in arousing that
love and pride of the army which ex-
presses itself today and has frequent
ly expressed itself in the past In be-
half of the navy.
The President asserted that the
services Of the regular army have
never been commemorated adequate
ly by.Congress or by the nation.
"The profession of arms has always
been an honorable one," he declared.
All honor to the regular army of the
United States. Never in its history
has it had stain upon its escutch-
con-"
-Four regiments of the regular army
were here to escort the President and
to participate In the exercises. There
also was personal escort to the Presi-
dent made up of veterans of the regu.
lar army who fought in the Gettysburg
campaign.
The President arrived shortly before
10 o'clock and was taken for drive
over the battlefields. At several points
he alighted and stood on the promin-
ence overlooking the beautiful valley
and the hazy mountains in the far dis
tance.
Miss Taft came with the secretay OF
war and Mrs. Dickinson. In the party
from the capitol also were many dis.
tinguished officers of the army.
The ceremonies of the unveiling
were simple. Miss Taft pulled the
silken cord which released the flags
draped about the monument. and mo-
ment later the President began his ad-
dress, saying:
I'VE are gathered at this historic
spot today to dedicate monument to
the memory of the officers and the en-
listed men of the regular army who
gave up their lives for their country in
the three days battle. 1t is but tar
dy recognition of the nations debt to
Its brave defenders. whose allegiance
was purely to the nation. without local
color or strengthening of state or muni-
cipal pride.
"At West Point we have been able
to prepare body of professional sol
diers, well trained to officer an army,
and numerous enough at the opening
Of the Civil War to give able command
ers to both sides of that internecine
strife.
ION the side of the North many Of
the officers were drafted to command
volunteer troops from the states. while
the regular army, aggregating about
10000 at the opening of the war, was
increased to about $4,000 during Its
first year.
More than half this army was en-
gagedin the battle of Gettysburg. Time
does not permit me to mention the
names of the heroes Of the regular
army whose blood stained this historic
field, and whose sacrifices made the
Union victory possible"