September 8

"The bud of victory is always in the truth."

Benjamin Harrison, 23rd President, 1889-1893 From a speech thirteen years after the end of the Civil War, on September 18, 1888 in Indianapolis, Harrison's home town. Harrison had been nominated as the Republican Presidential candidate on July fourth. As was customary of that time, candidates did travel to make speeches but also received and spoke to delegations who themselves travelled to visit and hear the candidates speak. After a speech from A.E. Willson, of Louisville, Harrison responded to the delegation of about one thousand Kentuckians. In part, he said: My Kentucky Friends There have been larger delegations assembled about this platform, but there has been none that has in a higher degree attracted my interest or touched my heart. [Applause.] It has been quite one thing to be a Republican in Illinois and quite another to be a Republican in Kentucky. [Applause] Not the victors only in a good fight deserve a crown ; those who fight well and are beaten and fight again, as you have done, deserve a crown, though victory never yet has perched on your banner. [A voice, "It will perch there, though, don't you forget it !''] Yes, it will come, for the bud of victory is always in the truth...In the late war for the Union, spite of all distraction and defection, Kentucky stood by the old flag. [Applause.] And now that the war is over and its bitter memory is forgotten, there is not one, I hope, in all your borders, who does not bless the outcome of that great struggle. [Applause.] Surely there are none in Kentucky who do not rejoice that the beautiful river is not a river of division. [Great applause.] And now what hinders that Kentucky shall step forward in the great industrial rivalry between the States? "Speeches of Benjamin Harrison", compiled by Charles Hedges, United States Book company, successors to John W. Lovell Company, New York , 1892, p 129.