Speeches of Benjamin Harrison, Twenty-third President of the United StatesHarrison, Benjamin
History
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
Comrades, you still love the flag for which we fought. We are
preserved in God's providence to see the wondrous results of that
struggle in which you were engaged--a reunited country, a Constitution
whose authority is no longer disputed, a flag to which all men bow. It
has won respect at home; it should be respected by all nations of the
earth as an emblem and representative of a people desiring peace with
all men, but resolute in the determination that the rights of all our
citizens the world around shall be faithfully respected. [Applause and
cries of "That's right!"] I thank you again for this visit, and, if it
be your pleasure, and your committee will so arrange, I will be glad
to take you by the hand.
The fourth and largest delegation of the day came from Boone County,
numbering more than two thousand, led by Captain Brown, S. S. Heath, A.
L. Howard, W. H. H. Martin, D. A. Rice, James Williamson, E. G. Darnell,
D. H. Olive, and Captain Arbigas of Lebanon, the last-named veteran
totally blind.
Another contingent was commanded by David O. Mason, J. O. Hurst, J. N.
Harmon, and Mr. Denny, an octogenarian, all of Zionsville. Dr. D. C.
Scull was orator for the visitors. General Harrison said:
_My Friends_--The magnitude of this demonstration puts us at a
disadvantage in our purpose to entertain you hospitably, as we had
designed when notified of your coming. [Cheers.] I regret that you
must stand exposed to the heat of the sun, and that I must be at the
disadvantage of speaking from this high balcony a few words of hearty
thanks. I hope it may be arranged by the committee so that I may yet
have the opportunity of speaking to you informally and individually.
I am glad to notice your quick interest in the campaign. I am sure
that that interest is stimulated by your devotion to the principles of
government which you conceive--rightly, as I believe--to be involved
in this campaign. [Applause.] I am glad to think that some of you,
veterans of a former political campaign to which your chairman has
alluded, and others of you, comrades in the great war for the Union,
come here to express some personal friendship for me. [Cheers.] But
I am sure that this campaign will be waged upon a plan altogether
above personal consideration. You are here as citizens of the State
of Indiana, proud of the great advancement the State has made since
those pioneer days when brave men from the East and South entered our
territory, blazing a pathway into the unbroken forest, upon which
civilization, intelligence, patriotism, and the love of God has walked
until we are conspicuous among the States as a community desirous of
social order, full of patriotic zeal, and pledged to the promotion of
that education which is to qualify the coming generations to discharge
honorably and well their duties to the Government which we will leave
in their hands. [Applause.] You are here also as citizens of the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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