The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-08-02
THE WELCOME.
Some Very Eloquent Speeeh-Making at Camp Van
Derv00rt.

Some Very Eloquent Speeei-Making ut Camp Van
DerroOrt.
On Tuesday, the oath ult the grand inter
change of fraternal greetings occurred between
the citizens of Colorado and the encamping
veterans of the Grand Army. By the morning
of that day the delegations were all in, and
some had been minging together for several
days enjoying the privileges of comradeship as
only old soldiers can. On the morning of that
day the various delegations quartered in the
city, State and national, proceeded to the camp,
where they were met by representatives OF the
State and city government headed by Gov
ernor Grant, Mayor Routt the first governor
OF the Centennial State and ex Governor
Tabor. Governor Tabor's eguipage for the
occasion, drawn by four superb black horses
with gold mounted harness, was royalty
ltself--a magnificent barouche with blue satin
Innings, the driver and footman coal black
Ethiopians, in cardinal velvet, with cardinal
ribbons on their hats. As the brilliant cortege
passed through the arch of triumph the band
struck up " Hail to the Chief" the assembled
crowds, citizens and soldiers. cheered they
never cheered before the cannon doomed and
thundered, multitude of drum corps and
martial bands struck up elamor of patriotic
music and the stamping steeds dashed proudly
up to the grand stand as if conscious of the
honor they enjoyed in the admiration Of the
honored guests o
increased as Governor Grant pressed forward
and warmly greeted General Logan, the first
Commander of the Grand Army of the Repub
lie. Of course the veterans cheered again and
again, and of course they called for Logan for
speech, and were only brought to reasonable
silence by Hon. eI. G.. Symes, who announced
the opening of the regular programme, and
proceeded with warm and eloquent welcome.
In this he rehearsed the deeds Of the patriotic
men who won victory from defeat on the hun
dred battlefelds of the war, and expressed the
honor shared By every citizen of the Centen-
NAL State in welcoming them to Colorado soil.
The address abounded in fine passages, and
ended in a sweep of rhetoric which covered
some of the most important and significant
changes of this marvelots and thrilling age
THE MAYORS ADDRESS
In the course of bis address, Mayor Routt,
interrupted by great cheering, said:
Here are some of The men who in 1862 advanced
down the Mississippi, up the Cumberland and Ten
nessee, stormed Forts Henry and Donelson, sealed
the heights of Nashville, and. after OF the hard
estought battles al modern times, gained the great
victory of Shiloh.
Here also, are the representatives of all those
patriots who, In 1868, when the fate oil country
was in the balance and seemed TO waver, rushed 20
the rescue with eager shouts, - We are coming,
Father Abraham 30o, ,O00 strong.n
Here you see some who after months Of suffering
in siege, storIned the heights of Feksburg, and
captured Pendleton and his army.
Here are men who under the great. patriotic,
noble and most model soldier George H. Thomas
stood like the rock of Chekamaues,. against which
the five names of rebellion dashed in yuin-the
men who followed that great general over noun
talns and across the rivers of GeorgIi, and Tcnnes
see, until they annihilated the rebel army under
Hood at Nashville.
We have here some of the men who fought their
way by an almost continuous one hundred days
battle, from Chattanooga 10 Atlanta; and in mid
winter marched from Atlanta to the sea, through
the heart of the Confederacy, under one of the
greatest and most brilliant generals OF any age,
William I. Sherman.
We have here some of the men who swept like
storm OF fire through the valley OF Virginia and
under that irrepressibe genius of the battlefield.
Phil Sheridan, turned defeat and retreat into VIC
tory and triumph
And we have here some of the men who in 1854
after those dreadful days OF fighting and slaughter
in the Wilderness, said with that great guiding
star of war and victory, Ulysses S. Grant :" We
will fight 1t out on this line If it takes all sum-
ner.n
In the West and then in the East and all over
the country, followed that great guiding star OF
and victory. until the last rebel flag was struck
and the last Confederate army surrendered. Such,
my fellow comrades, are the men and heroes we
delight to welcome and honor to-day, and among
the most gratifying circumstances of this Reunion
is the distinguished individual character of every
honored guest who are to-day honored by the
presence of men who will be the heroes III the
great historic epies that shall hereafter portray the
grand drama OF the struggle Tor union and freedom.
In closing his remarks Mayor Routt alluded
to the fact that fraternizng spirit was mark
ing the relations of the blue and gray, citing as
d proof the fact that Governor Grant who
would succeed him, in welcome on the part
Of Colorado, was young Confederate soldier
and his greetings were as warm as those of any.
GOVERNOR GRANTS ADDRESS
Governor Grant, following, extended cordial
welcome to the Union veterans, saying: "They
are not only welcome to Colorado and to Dem
yer, but l venture TO assert that there is to-day
not State nor city in the United States
where they would not be regarded as welcome
and honored guests, and by none would they be
received more heartily than by those who were
actively engaged against them in the late war
These Reunions" nc said, in that spiritof can
dor and generosity which marks the truly brave
| man. are not held for the purpose of keeping
alive that bitter sectional spirit characteristic
of the first century OF the Republic People in
all sections of the country recognize the fact
that those things for which the South contended
the right to withdraw from the Union, the
maintenance of slavery and its extension into
| the free States-are questions that can never
| again rise to the surface of American politics
| They are dead forever. And now that the
smoke of battle has cleared away and we
| are removed seventeen years distant from the
| closing scenes OF the war, and can view calmly
| and dispasSionately the question at issue. am
prepared 10 say that the results of that conflict
| are not less satisfactory to the vanquished than
/ to the victors. Those principles for which the
| the Union, the emancipation of slavery, and the
attendant blessings of equal rights before the
| law and equal chances Tor all in the pursuits of
| lite-were not only triumphantIy vindicated by
the sword in 1860, but they are to-day enshrined
III the hearts OF the people from Maine to
Georgia, and under their guiding influences
friend and foe are cleaning alike the blessings
Of 4 free, a prosperous ana a united country A
brave and gallant soldier always makes a gen
erous enemy. When General Grant laid aside
his sword he knew that the war was ended, and
he felt that the persecution of a fallen enemy
formed 10 part OF the duty of great soldier.
acia only fair type OF the men whom he com
nanesl, .nen whose generous, forgiving aud
eonell3a,ory acts since the close of thc war are
no less to be commended than the courage and
hesoism displayed by them upon the field of
battle"
THE co,iMASDER-iN-oHIEFs REPLY
Commander Chief Van Dervoort responded
win ringing eloquence, which has given him
national reputation as a speaker, as follows:
epa glad to be with you amid the closing scenes