The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-17
THE EVENING SESSION.
The Veterans Listen to Addresses by Promi-
nent Speakers and Poem by Mrs. Bolton.

| The Veterans Listen to Addresses by Promi-
nent Speakers and a Poem by Mrs. Bolton.
| Masonic Hall was filled with a fine audience
| last night, to give welcome TO the surviving vet
Grams of the Mexican war. The stage was dec
Grated with American flags, while the names of
Wool, Pillow, Shields, Twiggs, Lane, Harvey,
Patterson, Quitman Worth and Butler were in
large letters upon the wall General Denver
presided, and quartet sung with fine effect
| 1--WE Are Tenting Tonight on the Old Camp
| ground giving the 1.-THE Maiden of the Fleur
| De Lys" upon being recalled
Governor Gray extended cordial welcome on
behalf of the people of the State of Indiana and
| in glowing words recalled the services of the
| soldiers of The United States in the war with
Mexlco-soldiers who never lost battle and
who added to the country such a vast extent of
| territory. He said he thought he might say for
| the State of Indiana that this people demands
that the names of the Mexican veterans be in
| scribed upon the pension rolls of the country
| those glorious names which have brought re-
nown, wealth and grandeur to this great Re-
public.
When General Manson rose to speak he was
| greeted with great clapping of hands. He re-
| piled in behalf of the soldiers of the Mexican
war, returning their sincere thanks for
| the cordial welcome with which they
had been received by the State
and by Indianapolis, the pearl of
| Indiana. He spoke of the great achievements
| of the soldiers of the United States in the war
with Mexico, and the wonderful and glorious re-
| suits of that romantic and brilliant campaign,
dwelling upon the battles and particularly upon
| Buena Vista, where scarcely more than 1900
| Americans achieved victory over 20 600 Next
cans. He said that the Mexican veterans were
! few now, and that the political power they once
| held had departed from Them as it would depart
| from the soldiers in the war for the Union as
| Al ~.
| that now they were courted by political dema
! gogues, and that the politicians took the sub
| stantial favors while the veterans were put off
with little or nothing.
At the conclusion of General Mansons address
| Mrs Sarah L. Bolton was introduced, and read
poem of Superior excellence, the concluding
| stanzas of which were as follows
When done you laid your weapons down.
Or fashioned poughshares of the idle sword.
The world has set its seal to your renown,
But for the gems you placed in freedoms crown
She gives you small reward
Does she ignore your services or hold
The debt she you Cancelled by delayl
Owes you for suffering, sacrifice untold;
Owes you for benefits received that glod
| Can never all repay!
| There will not be- a few more years to come.
man to say, Il fought in Mexico;"
| The ears will all be deaf, the white lips dumb
The limbs at rest that followed fife and drum
Some forty years ago.
Many survivors of the dead
| Crippled impoverished, i'll, they made no moan;
Beyond the human need of daily bread
| Perchance, government will give instead
A monumental stone.
| At the conclusion of Mrs. Bottoms poem, that
lady was again brought before the audience in
response to the applause which followed her
effort, when the audC nee was informed that
thirty nine years ago the lady who had just read
| the poem presented a flag to the first company
| leaving this city for Mexico. At this, gentle
man, whose name could not be ascertained, rose
| and said that he himself had received that flag
and carried it to Mexico.