The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-27
Climax of Reunion of Civil WaI
Veterans.
Gather to See President of the
United States.
HEAR GOOD SPEECHES.
Last Nights Camp Fire ROus-
ing One.
John Lee Webster's Eloquent
Address on West.

AUUEcSS OH WGSbs
This was a great day for the old sol
diers and sailors of Kansas. Thou
sands of them were in the city from all
parts Of the state and from other
states. Daybreak was rosy and indi-
Gated that there at least the elements
would not mar the ceremonies of the
day.
There were a few of the veterans on
the streets to get a glimpse of the
president and his escort While en- route
for the Country club, but the supreme
moment in the estimation of the fight
ers of long ago came when President
Taft laid the cornerstone for the $780,
600 Memorial building which the state
Is erecting in their honor and COM
memOrative of their efforts in preserv-
ing the Union. While the fact that
such a monument is being erected for
them was enough in itself to fill them
with pride and make them feel that life
is worth while. still the honor of hav-
ing their building dedicated by the
president of the United States was
something still further to impress upon
them that this was one of the greatest
days of their lives.
OF course the parade was one of the
big features of the day for them.
The program of addresses for this
afternoon at Camp Topeka. included
speeches by William p Hepburn of
Iowa. Mrs. Belle c. Harris, past ma
tional president. w r. c., Emporia;
Mrs. Lillian A. Hendricks, departing
president, Women's Relief Corps, Cher
ryvale; Comrade H. NJ. Trimble, COM
Inander-in-chief, G. A. R., Chicago;
Mrs. Ida E. Dickerson, department
president of the G. A. r.. Parsons.
Music was furnished by the First
regiment band, K. N. G., Lawrence, the
Lyon Post Drum corps, and the
Knights and Ladies of Security band.
The program for this evening is a
strong one, including Charles F. Scott
Of lola, Congressman D. r. Anthony,
Leavenworth; Congressman Fred S.
Jackson. Eureka; and Senator Charles
Curtis, Topeka.
The campfire at the Auditorium
Tuesday was attended by 1000 people.
The principal addresses were given by
COmrade John Lee Webster president
of the Nebraska Historical society,
Omaha, and Comrade Edwin G. Man
ming, president of the Kansas State
Historical society, Winfield.
Music was furnished by W. F. Roehr
on the pipe organ, and the Modoc club.
The Development of West.
History is to a nation what the fac
ulty of memory is to individuals 3
the basis of all our experience, and by
means of experience, the source of all
improvement" said Comrade John Lee
Webster in the course of an eloquent
address on ''The West It's Place in
American History History knows
all things, contains all things. teaches
all things; not in winged words which
strike the ear without impressing the
mind. but in great and striking ac-
tions. The spirit of the world
itself is but a great and unending tale
repeated from age to age. the poem of
God, the source of human inspiration.
Such is a condensed statement of the
expressions of Lamartine, the French
scholar and historian.
1.-THE number of vigorous. energetic
and Industrious free men in this great
west, a number six times as great as
the pOpula- IN of the thirteen colonies
when the Declaration of Independence
was signed, and when the battles of
the Revolution were fought; five times
as great as the population of all the
states at the time when the federal
constitution was adopted It is a pop-
uIation greater than that of England
when she carried her banner to vic
tory over the chivalrous hosts of
France at Crecy and Agincourt. It is
q population greater tian that of
Greece when she won her separation
from the dominion of the Turk A
population nearly as great as that of
Sicily and Naples ard of Italy when
Garibaldi started the revolution that
created the federation on the King
dom of Italy under Victor Emanuel. A
population nearly as great as that of
France at the time of her revolution or
when Napoleon began his career as her
emperor.
'One writer has estimated that by
the end of the century the United
States will have a population of three
hundred millions of people. Mr.. Car
negie, no less thoughtful or intelli-
gent. and an unreasonable enthu-
siast, has said that the United states
viii ultimately have a population of
five hundred million. every one an
American, and all boasting a common
citizenship. Should that day come
more than two hundred million of
them will live west of the Missouri
river.
1.-The lives and history of our pio-
neers, our scholars our statesmen and
soldiers should be preserved by our
historical societies and in our memo
rial halls through the countless ages,
as are preserved the hoof print of the
vagrant desert deer of Van Dyke for
they are of more value to the future
of our public than the history of the
Sargons. the Pharaohs and Caesars"
Col. Manning's Address.
Col. Manning's address was in part
as follows;
If it were possible to obliterate the