The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-08-02

of my administration, surrounded by loving COM
rades l am glad to be in this mountain State
which Is burning with patriotism, and to have
Order welcomed to this beautiful State bv <-s who
fought on the other side, but now one of % <aied
In one common country and under one Rsg. The
Grand Army comes actuared by no DszAice and
burning with no hate. We are glad tbs4 we lived
when we could fight for the principles that
believed then and know now to have them correct.
And we know that If the yexed questions that
arose after the war could have been left to the
who fought OH both sides they would have been
Grand Army thank Colorado for this magnificent
reception They thank your Chief Magistrate for
the M handsome welcome ne has gwen us, and they
thank the General Assembly of this State for the
magnificent appropriation, which Is the first that
has ever been given by any State since the Grand
Army had its first Encampment sixteen years ago.
We greet you and honor you, and thank you again
and again. We thank the patriotic citizens for
their splendid munifcence in decorating the camp,
and we appeal to all comrades to partly repay this
muniicence by joining in the march and taking
part IN the grandest review that has ever taken
place In this country since the grand review at
Washington in 1865. We have to report in the past
year gain i'll membership of sc, 70o and in Posts of
1,5I2, and this is only the beginning of movement
that will yet include every man who took part in
the war. Before another year more than 100000
will be Joined in fraternity, charity aud loyalty.
No political party has its badge upon our back. We
widows or orphans shall suffer while we are able
to raise a hand. We do not propose to stop until
the whole Nation is devoted to the cause for which
we fought. 1 thank you all again, and, bid you
Godspeed in fraternity, charity and loyalty.
GENERAL sTIMsoN's GREETING.
General Stimson, speaking for the comrades
of Colorado, and of how joyfully they had
worked for the expected visit of their friends
from far and near, gave expression to the fol-
lowing fine sentiment:
But, comrades, while / can stand here and
speak this greeting heartfelt and true, for the
Department of Colorado, while 1 can, perhaps
give some idea of the measure of pride and pleasure
with which we bid you rest within the portals of
homes; yet the superior welcome of this occasion
does not lie in the words spoken the sentiments
uttered in this place. Out here upon the plain we
have prepared for the thousands who shall lie
down IN Its shadow, they did in time or war q
great white camp such as we used to see in hostile
sections, or spreading its snowy squares around
the capital of our Nation. Very many days we
nave wrought out its proportions and builded its
ghosty iineaments, with the reeollections of past
years guiding workmanship, until it stands
here as If wind from the cavern of memory had
blown aside the mistS of time and from the shadow
land wrath had fixed its presence in the teeming
civilizations of the present, which is the consunl-
nation OF the glory and the passion of the Grand
Army OF the Republic. No man has power 10 voice
the significance of its welcome. Its silent presence
is an Grafton for which every heart that beats be-
Meath Its braZen star furnishes language that
be thought with rapidity which annihiiates space.
GENERAL LoGAN's REPLY.
To the welcome in behalf of the g. A. R.,
Gen. Logan made a stirring response. His
Characterization of the Union soldiery and
their consecrated work is a sentiment which
should be framed in gold for the children who
in future days shall arise, and with wondering
eyes shall ask: Who were these veterans OF
the Union Army?" Let their old commander
IN war and peace make answer:
These are the representatives of the men who,
when they first heard the rumblings of discomfort,
quietly listened for the thunderings from the first
war cloud, and when il broke forth in suIlen tones
left the pow in the furrow; the plane and the
bench the hammer and the anvil the scythe in the
swathe; the garden and the dairy; the flock the
hill and the herd in the valley; their stores closed
their clerks desks unsupped their cases i'll court
Gnargued; their sick in the hands of nurses their
Bibles closed ON the stands the pulpit vacant
with one embrace for the wife, kiss for the little
darling, a loving glance at the sweetheart and
farewell for ALL they came forth with the patriotic
declaration: My life belongs to my country"
They, sir after years of great harships from the
hard-fougEt fields where comrades fell and lines
melted away like snowflakeS in the throat of
volcano, returned to their homes with ''one flag,
one country, and liberty for all and are your
guests and with them they still bear the old banner
of the Union and as the stars the blue plains of
heaven light mp the world for the glory OF God, so
the stars on the blue ground on the old flag have
lighted up the pathway to glory, honor and justice
between man and man of all races and eoors.