The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-10-01
SOLDIERS WELCOME
Extended to Our HonOred Citizen,
Gen. John c. Black.
.D1nriile (W.0 Leader.1

The members of Kenesaw Post and friends
met at the Post headquarters Wednesday night
| last to give greeting and welcome to their dis
| tinguished comrade and citizen, Gen. J. G.
| Black. The hall was well filed, mostly by old
army men, over whose heads have rolled the
| clouds of battle-smoke and whose eyes have
seen the dance of death on many weli-fought
| field.
The campfire was lit and the gas turned
down. 1t sparllled and blazcd against the
frowning peaks of Kenesaw in the background,
AT the foot of whose thunder pintcred crags
stood the white tents OF the Vcrmilion boys
and those of other bodies. In front frowned .
redoubt bristiing with siege guns.
The gas was relit, and at SIS Gen. Black
entered the hall. The assembly rose rs one
man and greeted him with cheers and clapping
of hands. 1t was complete ovation to the
man whom the king delights to honor
w }. Calhoun made B short and most apprO-
pirate address of welcome in the name of the
Post He compassed the condition of things
in neat and terse way. He feelingly gave
expression to the general sentiment of the
Post, i'll its heartfelt welcome home to an
hon0red member, who had been most appropri-
ately placed in field of honor and usefulness
where his personal knowledge of the wants and
deserts Of disabled soldiers would do the most
good. Applause.J Gen. Black responded as
follows:
and fellow soldier, gladly accept This welcome
home. IL is indeed, a sincere personal pleasure
which YOU have bestowed upon me-
Suddenly called from your midst six months ago.
had time 10 meet but very few of you time to say
good-by 10 but very few OF the men who had
grown up along side OF me, aud with whom had
grown up from boy hood to manhood'S estate.
Sudden cali made the sudden response and 80
departed from yonr midst 10 assume new duties III
a new sphere. had always felt and believed that
in the hearts of this people, and the comrades OF
tins Post, had some little place; as you all Ger
tainly have in mine. And after six months of labor
return to you tonight with my heart full of greet
ing and kindness and thanks
of course yOu do not expect from me anything
more than what have said to you tonight. There
Is occasion for speaking in the middle of n
march. Nobody ever expected that volunteer
who had turned out for three year term OF Office
of marching, of fighting, would stop in the mid
die OF campaign TO either tell what things he had
done or what lie cxpcctedt to. And you will not
expect of me tonight, know, recitation of the
things hat have tried to do, prophecy OF the
things that hope may accomplish. And hope
you will be content with the simple declaration
that will try to do all that a heart big with The
story of n great war. mind alive and alert to the
mlsiOriunes that follow III its train. and feeling
pledged 10 the support and advancement OF those
who were wounded and broken and torn Ill that
mighty contest wherein the thousands fell that
Nuerty might iive-tha: all that be accom-
piished with such purposes, with such emotions,
and with such feeling. 1 will try to do.
humbly appreciate the majesty, the honor, yes,
the glory, THAI belongs 10 the great trust which hIs
been conided 10 me. And am very proud very
proud TO have been called from The ranks of Kene
to take charge of the mighty solaccs rendered
by grateful Republic TO its bruised and their
sorrowlng widows and dependent children. APP
plauSe
Since time began there never was conceived or
planned or imagined so vas. an endowment OF
honorable bencccuce not to call it charity, the
pension service of the Great RupublIc; there
never We're armies whose Changing, armed feet
shook the round globe with their measured tread
toward the front Of victory and liberty and honor
As there never were armies that met such mag
niiicent foemen; rs there never WAS so great a
cause TO be sustained; rs there great
Il Republic 10 be upheld, now, the lengthen
ing shadows fall upon grazing ard bowed heads
there arises from the hearts of the people the most
magnificent bcnefccncc ever planned, devised
executed III Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty. APP
plalIse.
The heapcd wealth gathered from, that brain
that WAS stimulated almost 10 the point of individ
ual genius; the ,;,rncrcd wealth achieved by all
the myriad telling hands of labor IN mos; fertile,
popuious place and in the richest mines that
gave they wealth TO toll has been buiGed III the de-
yotion Of loyal and loving people until it rises tow
ofstrcngth standing fourSquarcd 10 all the winds
OF adversely that may blow upon any bowed and
weaTicd and broken head upon which the light of
battle and the sorrows and rents of disaster beat
III the past years. Applause.
Fellow citizens. TO link ones name with the
worthy performance of such trust Is glory only
second TO that which belongs to him who i'll the
front of battle gives life THAI the right may live;
and to-day there burns IN my heart no higher
ambition than to be the worthy trustee of free
people and the deserving veterans of this Great
Republic lCheers
Ihtil IiL'lC iCtcSS, Wien iAi piS>cSu Ioi NSiiii
to take him by the hand There was kind
word for all.
Among those whose hearts beat truest was
old Martin McCue He it was who among 450,
was one of the l. who escaped from the blow
up Of gunboat on the Mississippi. His body
is covered with scars. In season and out Of
season he has been true TO Charley" as he
calls him. He had shaken hands twice, but
was bound to shake once more. He excused
the overlooking of his warm heart, by saying
'Ie can't 90 a good thing too often, General"
As the reporter left the hall there came out
on the still night air the notes Of that rouSing
and inspiriting old song " Marching Through
Georgia"