The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-01-20

etc., etc.
The State Encampment Of the organization of
he soldiers of the late war, known as the Grand
rmy of the Republic, met in annual session in
his city on Thursday and Friday of this week,
br which meeting preparations had been made
y the W. II. i. Wallace Post, of this city. The
ession of the organization was preceded by
xcrcscs at the Opera House, and the meeting
the Aurora Light Guards, and delegates to the
ncampment who came with them, at the c. b.
Q. depot at II o'clock. The Guards, about So
number with a large number of delegates,
cached the city in special car, and were met
II the car by Wallace Post. Forming, all were
scorted by the Aurora Light Guard Band via
Madison, La Sale, Main and Columbus sts, to
he Clifton Hotel. Their appearance on the
treet was very creditable. The guards, in their
handsome uniform, and well drilled under the
leadership Of Capt. Jcp. Vosburg, were quite the
ions of the day, though the battle Scared vets"
fine looking body Of men, escorted by them,
lad evidently marched before The Guards hav-
ny left their charge in the hands of Montrose at
he Clifton, marched away to look after their
bwn comfort, and disbanded till the afternoon
proceedings at the Opera House.
AT THE OPERA HOUSE.
In response to the invitation extended to the
people of Ottawa to be present ut the reception
)f the visitors, the Opera House rapidly filed
with spectators and by the time the members OF
he Grand Army had reached the building it was
Found to be completely filled, the Grand Army
occupying the parQuette, while the Aurora
Guards, with band, the chaplain, Gen. billiard, Z.
h. Lewis, and the President of the day, Hon. c.
b. Trimble, occupied seats on the stage.
The exercises were opened by music by the
,and, which was followed by prayer by the
Grand Army Chaplain.
The President following, in Il few feeling re-
marks, introduced E. N. LEWIS, Esq, of Ottawa,
who, in speech which was frequently and Wig
orously applauded addressed, and extended
welcome to these comrades, the relies of that
Grand Army of $4,000 sons whom Illinois sent to
the war Mr.. Lewis spoke us follows:
Upon me has been placed the pleasant service
of giving you formal welcome to our small city.
If it were only formal welcome-a mere Tune
filling service-then the time might have been
filled and overhowed with silence for all that
should have done. But, however fol NAL, or how
ever lamely expressed the Nv welcome" may be,
believe me, it is marty, real We are glad to see
you-glad to have you among us. We are at
least little proud of the fact that the u. A Il. OF
the State of Illinois has come here to hold its
annual encampment, and that scores of those
whose clear heads stout hearts and strong arms
made history which future generations, to the
remotest time, will read with admiring wonder,
have gathered here to observe the rites of their
glorious fellowship.
THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
That name is like rushing wind oi lnspra-
tion--they were inspired who chose that name
for your fellowship. In an instant memory mar
snals that majestic host. From Names pine
woods to the Golden Gate, the soldiers of that
army rise up and fall in. The beat and roll of
the drums blend and echo and swell, filling half
the continent with hoarse thunder. Along ev-
cry highway 90 the huttering flags with files of
men following Them and down every cross-road
come other flags and files nodding and stream
ing, till they reach the highway, and follow
. those which went before. On every village green
the flags and the files that follow gather and in
crease. The mixed multitudes crystalline into
| forms, and stand in ordered ranks They put on
the blue Innumerable rifles flash in the sun
shine The men have become soldlers,-the
struggling crowds That streamed after drum and
fife have been transformed into companies and
regiments,-a million peaceful individuals have
. been welded into u thousand living thunder
bolts, and so, at last, after mighty throes and
tossings of excitement, the Grand Army of the
Republic is born,-no infant but giant full
| grown,-whose shouts are louder than the clam
or of thunder. clouds when the storm is highest,
All this land how much more) is called up by
your name All this land how much morcD is
involved in your name. whether there be many,
or few names on your rolls, to-day does not mat
ter. You, and you only, represent that army.
When on some winter day in some year long re-
mote let us hope but two or three gray heads
shall answer at your roll call-all the host bat
them having at last put out the lights and gone
to sleepthc two or three will still be the Grand
Army of the Republic, and the young eyes which
l,ply " nm
them the innumerable Host and hear, in their
voices and falterng tread the thunder of its
marchings and its shoutings that filled the sky
That Host 1rdS the q. A. Rho other name
would be appropriate; any other woulo ne smail
and weak. This only name is yours and in pro-
nouncing that name, as we welcome you, we
seem to be bidding welcome to all the vast mul
titudes of the living and the dead who composed
that Grand Army and made it what it was
In accepting the pleasant task OF speaking
words of welcome to YOU to-day it seemed to me
that it was peculiarly fitting that the welcome
should be given by one of that portion OF our
citizens who are not and cannot be members OF
your society, because they in the day OF baptism
were not baptised in the fires of battle nor con-
fessed their names when the muster roll was
called comradc would greet you on the plat
form of a common fellowship, but in our feeling
there is a deeper, grayer tOne-a sentiment oil
respect which deepens into reverence; no nero
worship precisely, but an emotion which cna
bles us TO understand what hero worship is, and
which makes us not merely glGd TO see you, bat
also prouH that you have gathered here where
we can see you and hear your voices. We are
conscious in our Utmost thought that we look ny
to YOU Your fellowship is one into which We
cannot fully enter. You have been babtised with
baptism which we lack. You are graduates from
school which we did not enter; you have jour
neyed through wide frey circles, whose bound:
we never crossed; you have gone across the edge
of battle with its growing voices and spiteful
fires, and passed steadily into the crashing
thunders and binding flames Of its hot heart
hut we only looked on from afar and wondered
to behold you. Il is true that we sympathzeC
with vou-we were with you ia iDidGiHdti0p,-
but however close man may get to the fire
tipped thunderous lines OF battle in magma
tion, not even a spent ball will hurt him--h,
might lust as well lie on feather bed and
dream OF war;
No; there is, as il were, gun nXed oetweet
Ms and Won and Won are on the right side OF ii
No matter how good our reasons were for stay
ing at home-no matter how Clearly The voice o