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
reputation which your State has established as the friend as well as
one of the bulwarks of liberty and law. [Cheers.] It was not unnatural
that they, coming back from scenes where comrades had shed their blood
for liberty, should choose to find homes in a State that had the
baptism of martyrs' blood upon its infant brow. [Prolonged cheering.]
The future is safe if we are but true to ourselves, true to these
children whose instruction is committed to us. There is no other foe
that can at all obstruct or hinder our onward progress except treason
in our own midst--treachery to the great fundamental principle of our
Government, which is obedience to the law. The law, the will of the
majority expressed in orderly, constitutional methods, is the only
king to which we bow. But to him all must bow. Let it be understood
in all your communities that no selfish interest of the individual,
no class interests, however entrenched, shall be permitted to assert
their convenience against the law. This is good American doctrine,
and if it can be made to prevail in all the States of the Union until
every man, secure under the law in his own right, is compelled by the
law to yield to every other man his rights, nothing can shake our
repose. [Cheers.]
Now, fellow-citizens, you will excuse me from the attempt at further
speech. I beg you again to believe that I am grateful, so far as
your presence here has any personal reference to myself--grateful as
a public officer for this evidence of your love and affection for the
Constitution and the country which we all love. [Great applause.]
There is some grumbling in Kansas, and I think it is because your
advantages are too great. [Laughter.] A single year of disappointment
in agricultural returns should not make you despair of the future or
tempt you to unsafe expedients. Life is made up of averages, and I
think yours will show a good average. Let us look forward with hope,
with courage, fidelity, thrift, patience, good neighborly hearts, and
a patriotic love for the flag. Kansas and her people have an assured
and happy future. [Prolonged cheers.]
NORTONVILLE, KANSAS, OCTOBER 10.
At Nortonville the citizens, and especially the school children, turned
out _en masse_ and gave the President the heartiest of welcomes. Among
the prominent residents who participated in the greeting were Hon. A. J.
Perry, S. P. Griffin, Thomas Eckles, C. C. McCarthy, Dr. D. T. Brown, L.
P. King, D. A. Ellsworth, O. U. Babcock, Dr. R. D. Webb, J. G. Roberts,
W. T. Eckles, Harry Ellison, Rev. T. Hood, and M. Crowberger. On behalf
of the school children a little girl climbed the steps and presented the
Chief Magistrate with an armful of beautiful bouquets, for which she
received a hearty kiss.
Governor Humphrey introduced the President, who spoke as follows:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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