The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-05-14

to the front on the occasion specified In other
States the showing is less fiattering. The paper
strength only 81 eco men, and this credits Florida
with over 7,0oO, while III fact, she has but one uni
formed companyi
The present strength for inspection will not ex-
coed 10000 men. about $1,000 or 60,0lI men are
available for duty for over 5000, 900 of people;
These facts show decline of military spirit in
consistent with traditions, and SO forbodng TO
the future TO call for immediate reform.
But let us al ways bear in mind that ii is only by
maintaining the great middle class OF society that
Republic can be maintained. The concentration
Of wealth in few hands, with the consequent cor
rupting of the law-making power and the increase
OF the idle. poycrtystricken classes VIII beget an
irrepressble conflict that must result III despotsm
or anarchy 1t was the great middle class that
I volunteered in IS6l, equally regardless Of those
who would usurp arbitrary power and those who
opposed the carrying the They were the
men who earned wages, paid taxes, and fought the
battles OF the war. 1t Is upon this class that we
mus, depend at all times for the perpetuity OF free
institutions. 1t is not the aristocrat monopost,
gent owners of the soil and the industrious citizens
of moderate means that form the true columns OF
support TO Republic.
THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
The Army Of the Potomac makes no invidious
comparisons with other armies Sighting IN the same
great cause. II murGnured no. IN the hour OF Its
greatest trial. 1t mnkes no criticism now, but IT
insists due the cherished officers and to itself
a. military organization that the difficulties and
embarrassments under which il labored, and the
Obstacles it overcame, should be considered in esti-
and the example of its devotion and fortiude may
be appreciated by posterity.
The soldiers Of the Army of the Potomac knew
for what they fought They were not votaries of
any creed. or afoot upon any romantic cru
stdc. They believed they were finishing the work
of the fathers and protecting the fruit OF the seed
sowu at Yorktown and Saratoga, where the men
of the North aud the South fought shoulder to
shoulder until the victory won.
When the supremacy OF the Constitution, signed
by George Washington, was in full sustained, our
work was done. When the " Star Spangled Ban
ner,' thst Maryands !lus:rous poet first disclosed
streaming in doubtful luster through the perilous
night, )" waved once more unassailed over every
foot of American SOIL from the Lakes to the Gulf.
and from sea to sea- arms were stacked in stub
born rest and final satisfaction, and onr hostility
pcTished in the revival Of a national and impartial
patriotism which knows East, no West, no
North no South but embraces with undying devo-
ton "A common country, one and undlviSable for
ever The re-establishment of the Union of free
States the exclusive object Of the campai'Es of
the Army of the Potomac. and the unbroken Re-
public stands to-day solitary and alone as the APP
pirate mausoieun OF its dead and the accepted
monument OF its fame,
Comrades, TO you has been vouchsafed the bless
ing witness the grand results of all your sacri-
fees iii reunited country pursuing common
destiny under a Government Offering equal rights
to s
The spirit of patriotism that caused you TO enlist.
shat sustained you through all the trials and peris
of the war. now peTyades and radiates from all
the institutions OF the land, and Is felt in every
patriotic heart.
May it guide and guard until the virtues of our
people shall be wide and pure the blue beauty
OF our native skies.
OTHER SPEECHES.
At the conclusion of the address the band
entertained the audience for few minutes
with favorite airs. and then Hon. Henry Lloyd,
Governor of Maryland, was called upon. He
joined in the welcome which the Mayor of
Baltimore had extended. and compimented
the Army of the Potomac for, its splendid gal
lantry and unf1inching devotion.
Gen. II. w. Slocum was called for and when
he responded was received with storm of ap-
plause. He spoke of the evils of political in
inencc in the army and gave several pertinent
illustrations drawn from his own experience.
The incident that occurred at the meeting in
the afternoon was the most pleasing he had wit
messed at any ever held by the organization.
Count de Paris was right when. on being i'll
formed that soldiers who had fought on either
side had visited the battlefield at Gettysburg
together, he said that such thing could occur
in no other country in the world. When Grant
said to Lee at Appomattox Court house: " Keep
your horses, for you viii have use for them to
aid yon IN restoring the South" he spoke the
mind of every soldier in the Union army. The
fraternal meeting Of the day was glad scene,
aud would be received with favor by every 999
oHt of 900 residents in the North. 1t has been
said that there never will be strife again be-
tween the North and the South. He thought
different. There would at some future day be
such strife. but it would be when against
foreign power there would be rivalry as to
which soldiers should bear the flag farthest to
the front-thoSe who wore the blue or those
who wore the gray.
There was another storm of applause when
he had finished.
Gen Horace Porter when called upon res
ponded in pleasant, humorous way that evoked
sallies of laughter
Ex-Goy. Hartranft made a short speech, in
which he said that it was a mistake to suppose
that any feeling existed between the men who
fought during the war. The fight involved
questions that had agitated the country for
years and these had to be settled as they were
settled. The result was satisfactory to every
citizen in the land. [Appause.l
Gen. Cooke, Commander of Lee Camp, was
called upon, but he delegated the duty of reply
ing to Private Bohannan. of the Army Of
Northern Virginia, who began his remarks
by saying that a score more years ago
| he had done his best 10 help entertain the
Army of the Potomac but had quit that
after Appomattox. He was well satisfied with
the results of the war, wiping out, it did. the
curse of slavery. At the same time he felt
satisfied that he had performed his whole duty
while serving in the Army of Northern Yir-
oinia