The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-06-03
TAFT
AT DEDICATION OF
GETTYSBURG SHAFT
Daughter of Executive Unveils
Shaft-Impressive Military
Parade.

Gettysburg. Pa. May 3l.-The mem
cry of regularly enlisted men in the
Emitted States army who gave up their
lives or fought in the Gettysburg cam
paign of 1868 was perpetuatod in gran
tie on the famous battlefield today
when the monument erected by act of
congress Was unveiled in the presence
of President Taft.
The great shaft. on" of the most On
spicuous ON the field, stands close to
the bloody angle" where the hottest
action in that struggle occurred. The
old town of Gettysburg is gaily dec
grated for the event and the town is
crowded With people.
President Arrives.
President Taft arrived here shortly
after 10 O'clock after am all night ride
from Pittsburg, "A great crowd sur
rounded the station. The presidential
party was met by Colonel John p.
Nicholson, Major Charles A. Richard
son and General l.. l.. LomaX. the meln-
bers of the Gettysburg national park
commission. After n slight delay,
President Taft. his party, and the To-
cal reception committee entered auto
mobiles for a trip over the battlefield.
Following the visit to all historic
points, the president returned to his
car for luncheon and at . y. IN. took
his place at the head of the military
parade which formed in the town and
proceeded to the bloody angle on
Cemetery Ridge.
We're opened by the playing of Amer
lea" by the Thirteenth Coast Artillery
band, followed by prayer by Chaplain
H. H. Chouinard. Fifth United States
Infantry.
The Presidents Address.
President Taft then delivered the
Grafton. He said. in part;
We are gathered at this historic spot to-
day to dedicate a monument to the mem
DRY of the officers and the enlisted mei
of the regular army who gave up theil
lives for their country in the three days
battle. 1t is but a tardy recognition of the
nations debt to the brave defenders
without local color or Strengthening o
state or municipal pride.
The danger of a standing army. enter
satned by our ancestors. is seen in the con
stitutional restrictions and the complaint:
registered in the declaration of independ
ence. 1t mas always been easy to awaken
prejudice against the possible aggression.
of a regular army and a professional sol
aiery and correspondtnglN difficult to ere
ate among the people that love and prid'
In the army which we find today and fire
uuentlN in the history of the countr
aroused as to the navy. This has led t,
8 varied and changeable policy in reSpec
reduced to almost nothing. In 1854 Their
were but so men who constituted the regu
lar army OF the United States. and o
these Battery + of the Fourth %artiller,
constituted IS of them; but generally tn
absolute necessities in the defense OF tn
country against the small wars whic
have Induced the maintenance of a reg
ular force. small to be sure. but one $
well trained and effective as always I
reflect credit upon the nation.
In the war of 1872 had we had a regula
army of 10000 men trained as such a
army would have been trained. we woul
have been spared the humiliations of tn
numerous levies of unframed troops an
The enormous expense OF raising an arm
OH paper of 1900 or 5OO.O 600 men. becaus
with an effective force of 10000 men W
might have promptly captured Canada am
ended the war;
The service rendered by the regula
army in the Mexican war was far create
In proportion than that which 1t rendere
. In the civil war. and the success whic
. attended the campaigns of Taylor and {
! Scott were largely due to that body {
4 men.
. To the little army of 5000 men that su,
: viNed the civil war. we owe the openir
d up of the entire western country. II
h~ardships and the trials of frontier India
Z campaigns, which made possible the col
: struction of the Pacific railroads ha,
: never been fully recognized by our pc,
. pie and the bravery and courage al
II economy of force compared with the tas
/ performed by our regular troops ha,
never been adequate comlmemorated |
congress or the nation.
Today. as a result OF the Spanish wa
the added responsibilities of our new ii
, tendencies In the Philippines. Porto Ric
u and for some time in Cuba. together wi
a sense of the Importance of our positit
as a world power. have led to the increa
e in our regular army to a larger force ,hs
i, ever before. but not larger in proporti'
IS to the increased population and veal
q than In the early wears of the republic.
should not be reduced.
Gettysburg's Heroes.
Y. On the side of the North many of Il
~ nf6rerS wore t},.a ftcd tn nj ba ",
unteer troops from the state while the re
ular army, aggregating about 10000 at Il
opening of the war. was increased
about $500 during Its first year. Mo