I hope you will continue to maintain an efficient organization. I congratulate you on the proficiency you have already attained in drill and discipline. This year, for the first time, the State has made some provision for maintaining a well-organized military force, and this encouragement ought to increase your interest in the organizations to which you belong, and your activity in discharging your duties as members of the Kansas National Guard. The instruction you receive as soldiers, the drill and discipline to which you subject yourselves, are not without their uses, even in times of profound peace. Every man who has been drilled as a soldier is physically benefited by such exercise; and the lessons of obedience, of respect for law, of promptness in the discharge of duty, of faithfulness, patriotism and courage, that are the inspiration of soldierly conduct—these lessons will be of value to you in every relation of life. It gives me pleasure to meet you. I trust your brief sojourn in camp will be not only instructive, but pleasant, to one and all of you. Your general officers are all trained and experienced soldiers, who served their country faithfully and honorably in time of war, and your Major General left a leg on one of the battle-fields of the late civil war. Many of your field and line officers are also experienced soldiers. They are thus thoroughly qualified, by habits and education, to instruct you in your duties, and I have no doubt they will take pride and pleasure in doing so. And now, soldiers of the National Guard, remember that you are here on duty. Be prompt in responding to every order; preserve discipline in your camp; and so conduct yourselves, when absent from it, as to bring no reproach on the uniform you wear. You voluntarily put it on. Try to honor it by the manliness of sobriety; by the grace and pride of duty faithfully performed; and by the walk and conduct of a true soldier, who, honoring the badge of his service, never fails to honor himself. WELCOMING ADDRESS. Address of welcome, to the Select Knights, A. O. U. W., at Topeka, October 13, 1885. GENTLEMEN: When requested by the local committee, some weeks ago, to welcome to Kansas the Select Knights of the A. O. U. W., I very willingly assented. For, although not a member of your organization, I knew enough of its purposes, and of the principles on which it is founded, to assure me not only that it was worthy of the respect of all good citizens, but that it worthily represented, in its membership, the best citizenship of the United States and Canada. The ceremonial addresses of this occasion are, however, only the outward manifestation of the cordial welcome with which the people of Kansas will greet you. The real welcome will be extended in the outstretched hands, in the open doors, in the generous hearts of your friends and brothers throughout this Commonwealth.