The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-27

Post with entire mem bership; roster
of the membership of the state in
1894; roster of the posts since that
date; one Lincoln penny; statement of
comments giving number of pensioners
of the Topeka Agency and amount
paid said pensioners; address of Com
rade J. G. Waters, Sept 26, 1911; To-
papers; statement of the Past De-
partment Commander w. A. Morgan;
invitation, program, sheets of paper,
etc.
The old soldiers who acted as
guard during the ceremony were: c.
N. Bacon, H. S. Halleck, Fred Lewis.
H. H. Louthan and G. NJ Woody.
The Presidents Address.
President Taft's Topeka speech was
extemporaneous He had TO notes, no
manuscript prepared in advance. 1t
was his master effort so far on the
trip and had nothing at all TO do with
politics. He respected the fact that
among his old soldier hosts here
The president said il. part:
81 spoke in Hutchinson yesterday
about the early days of Kansas history
from a prepared speech but il seems
to me that this occasion is more ap-
propriate still for a revival of ths
glorious part played by Kansas at the
beginning of the great Civil war.
might truthfully say that Kansas was
the chief issue in that great struggle.
Kansas is q soldier state. 1t is fitting,
therefore. that this Memorial should
be erected, not only for the soldiers
still living but as a constant tribute to
the character of this state.
"The war was one in which each
side found unexpected strength IN the
other side. The south thought in the
beginning that one of her Cavaliers
would be worth five Puritans of the
solder north in a battle. But she
found that American manhood is the
same in all sections of this country
when arrayed in cause that both
sides thought was right.
"After the most bitter and deadly
struggle known to the world they set
tied down to live up to those words
of the commander of the Union forc's,
Let US have peace
"Grant and Lee were the central
figures in the great war drama. me
north's problem, with her greater re-
sources, was not only to subdue the
rebellion, but to restore tranquility IN
the nation at large after the war was
over The south, with fewer soldiers
and less resources, had only TO mann
tain that rebellion until she should be
allowed to remove and dwell apart
from the union of the states Far
from me to detract. however, one 1ota
from the courage and tenacity of the
southern soldiers in that struggle
Their efforts in all the battles Of the
war. fighting against odds, is without
parallel in warfare.
1" It the nOrtn'S MISSION TO MAKE
this the greatest nation on earth. To
prevent the nation from committing
suicide.
''There is nothing now in our pros
pect ia compare with the bitterness OF
the slavery and antislavery factions at
the end of the fifties and the beginning
of the sixties. I like to look back
upon the terrible problems of the men
of those days. The problems We have
to solve this day are as nothing com
pared to theirs The period of doubt
ended at Appomattox. The future
stretches great ard certain pe1ore US
Tribute to Grant.
~C.rant was a simple private soldier
There was nothing of the love of mill
tary pomp and glory in his makeup
At the end CT the war he wished Tor
no car OF triumph that should witness
the humiliation of the soldiers OF the
south You remember his words that
composed the terms of the surrender
of Lees army and how he wished that
they might retain their horses TO help
them plant their crops
Nor would I detract from the V1r-
tues of Robert E. Lee A man OF
lesser mind or lesser nobility might
resorting to guerilla warfare more
terrible even than pitched battles. |
Revenge for defeat could have easily |
prompted this course. and you know
would have readily fought as long as
he desired them to do So But he
knew his cause had been lost and he |
was great enough to make noble |
surrender.
standing amazed at the spectacle of a |
million soldiers on the one side and a
half million on the other dissolving
from armed camp and bloody field |
like the SHOWS and going back to their |
homes to resume the interrupted avo-
cations of peace. In other countries
the man on horseback is feared But, /
thank Cod it is the character of our
people that their soldiers are clIlzens
still.
sI have the right to invoke now
from this audience of soldiers who |
therefore know what war is, and who |
know of its horrors and suffering and |
of the tears of the widow and the old |
wounds that make life a burden hard |
to bear. their support and co-opera-
ton in our efforts to secure arb1tra-
ton treaties with the world and among |
the nations of the world. War will not
be abolished tomorrow as result OF
these treaties I am not fanatic on
the subject But believe that the ex-
altation of these treaties will help
nightly toward the end that shall
finally result in all questions that IN
volve war being settled by impartial
and independent courts of arbitration
Then the questions that arise between
the nations will be settled by right and
not by wager of battle
There are two questions that vex us
still in our arbitration treaties with
France and England. Shall the SEN
ate waive it's claimed rights and sub
nit to arbitration in questions that in
volve war? The senate has hesitated
t. do this, claiming that it is uncon-
1 have equal rights with