Speeches of Benjamin Harrison, Twenty-third President of the United StatesHarrison, Benjamin
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Speeches of Benjamin Harrison, Twenty-third President of the United States
Harrison, Benjamin
Harrison, Benjamin, 1833-1901; Speeches, addresses, etc., American; United States -- Politics and government
May I not appeal to the children of
those brave settlers who, when but few in number, composed of distant
and feeble settlements, were received into the Union of States, to
show their chivalry and love of justice by uniting with us in the
demand that Dakota and Washington shall be admitted? [Applause.] Does
not your own story shame those who represent you in the halls of
Congress and who bar the door against communities whose numbers and
resources so vastly outreach what you possessed when you were admitted
to statehood? We look hopefully to Kentucky. The State of Henry Clay
and Abraham Lincoln [enthusiastic cheering] cannot be much longer
forgetful [cries of "No! no!"] of the teachings of those great leaders
of thought.
I believe that Kentucky will place herself soon upon the side of the
truth upon these great questions. [A voice, "We believe it!" Another
voice, "We will keep them out of Indiana, anyhow!" Great cheering.]
Thank you. There is no better way that I know of to keep one
detachment of an army from re-enforcing another than by giving that
detachment all it can do in its own field. [Applause and laughter.]
The last visitors of the day were 200 delegates, in attendance upon
the sessions of the National Association of Union Ex-Prisoners of War.
They were led by Gen. W. H. Powell, of Belleville, Iowa, President of
the Association; E. H. Williams, of Indianapolis, Vice-President;
Chaplain C. C. McCabe, New York City; Historian Frank E. Moran,
Philadelphia; President-elect Thomas H. McKee and Secretary L. P.
Williams, Washington, D. C.; S. N. Long, of New Jersey, and J. W. Green,
of Ohio. Every one of the visiting veterans had undergone imprisonment
at Andersonville, Libby, or some less noted Southern prison. Conspicuous
among them was Gen. B. F. Kelly, of Virginia, the first Union officer
wounded in the rebellion, and J. A. January, of Illinois, who amputated
both his own feet while in Libby Prison, to prevent gangrene spreading.
General Powell, in a brief address, touchingly referred to the perils
and hardships they had survived. General Harrison was greatly affected
by the scene--the veterans grouped closely about him in his own house.
He paused a moment in silence, then in a low, sympathetic voice, said:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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