Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-10-02
THE BOYS IN BLUE.
The Soldiers and Sailors Mass Convention
In PhiladaInhia

Yesterday, after Mayor McMichael's address
Of welcome 10 the delegates, General II. A.
Barnum, Of the Republican National Commit
tee. responded TO the Mayor at considerable
length, paying an appropriate tribute to the
hospitality of Philadelphia This concluded
the regular exercises, and the assemblage dis
pprsed.
The reception was very largely attended.
General KilpatrIck made a short address, and
a few words were also spoken by Gen. Burn
side and Governor Curtin.
The New York city and State delegations
pas sed up Chesnut street and Grated great at
Ientlon. They arrived after the meeting in the
square had ad iourned.
The meeting reassembled in the evening at
Independence Square, which presented a mag
nificent spectacle. Three platforms for speak
ing were erected, all of which We're blazing
with lights forming notices and names of liy-
ing and dead heroes of the war. Spanning the
avenue was the motto, .Grant us Peace Gen.
Barnum pronounced an address, closing with
the ann nouncement that the 18th of October will
be observed among the ssboys in blue" a
holiday, ard calling upon employers TO relieve
their workmen who have served in the Union
army from labor Oh that day. Gen. Burnside
presided at the meeting. Gen. Fitzpatrick made
q stirring speech. Gov. Curtin was called
upon, but declined, saying that lt was a SOL
diers' meeting, and he desired that they shou Id
be heard. The evening was occupied by
speeches from various soldiers from three
stands. The meeting adjourned early. and the
crowd went 10 the Union League House TO
were made.
The New York delegation was headed by
Gen. Sickles, and numbered two thousand, all
In blue coats and fatigue caps carrying their
torches, and accompanied by the Dodwo-th
band and professional band of splendid sing
ers. Heavy delegations from New England
arrived, and great numbers from Ohio and the
interior rofPennsylvania. Of The city is crowded
with vel terans. The mass meeting at the so uare
was very large. The reading OF the address
caused great cheering. The New York Boys
in Blue serenaded the Press ana North Amer.
lean offices, and attracted immense crowds by
their music. Col. Forney spoke. in response
to repeated calls, from his editorial room, and
was followed by MAJOR Hancock. of Maryland.
Great mass meetings were held IN front Of the
Continental and the League House, at which
Gen. Burnside. Col. Forney, Gen. Barnun and
others spoke.
The address of the soldiers and sailors 10 the
country, read at the evening meeting, after
viewing political affairs, concludes as follows:
" In view, therefore, OF these hostile prepara-
tiops for new rebellion, with profound sense
OF our Obligations to our country and to the
Republican party, we call upon every citizen
who wore the Union blue, whether on land or
sea, 10 cast his vote in the coming elections for
the Union State tickets, and for Grant and
ColfaX. And further. to mark alike the sincer-
lty and the efficiency of our solemn declaration,
we invoke our late comrades in arms to set
apart the election day as a period of unremit-
ung exertion and unceaslng Wig lance; and We
hereby formally announce that on the 18th day
of October next, IN the States OF Penns wanna,
Ohio, Indiana, and Nebraska. there shall be
observed among our com Tades n general holi-
day; and we call upon all employers, manu-
factuTers, and business men generally TO relieve
their wOrkmen on that day who have served in
the Union army, ana thus assist in completing
this patriotic purpose. Victory on the 18th of
October will be Sheridan's victory of Five
Forks, marshalling the way 10 Grants tran
scendant triumph on the Appomattox in No.
yemLer.''
Letters were read from General w. I. Sher-
man, Major Generals Sheridan, Howard, Cox
Pope, and SIgel; Governors Fenton, of New
York; Baker, OF Indiana; Bullock, OF MaSsa-
chusetts; Butler, OF Nevada; Fairchild, of Wis
consin; Hayes, Of OHIO; and Pare of Vermont
Ex-Goyernors Morton. OF Indiana; Bucking-
ham, OF Connecticut; and Washburn, of Maine
Hon. Matt H. Carpenter, Geo. w. Curtis, ESQ,
and others.