Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-10-23
EXTRACTS FROM A COMRADES SPEECH

The following extracts taken from an ad
dress delivered by Col. Woodcock at ths
G. A. r. Reunion, last week, at Neodesha
will not fail to touch chord of hearty sym
patty among those who "wore the blue
and sacrificed the best years of their life in
the service of their country:
Col. Woodcock being introduced, said
COMRADES: -Uccasioas like this are
fraught with peculisr feeling and sacred
memories to me. Ne meet year after year
to join fellowship once again and recount
the trials, the hardships, the valor, the
bravery and the victories of the war. Yet
at each of these reunions we find vacant
chairs, and beside those chairs we see the
widows and the little ones of those who met
us on last reunion day, and do we consider
the sorrow, the suffering, the bitterness of
soul the departure ofeach hero leaves be-
hind hims Do We properly appreciate the
weight of responsibility left to us! As
members of the Grand Army, our honor,
our substance, four lives if need beg are
pledged to the defense and care Of these
helpless and bereaved ones.
Our fathers established the principle that
all men are created equal and endowed with
certain enalenable rights, and they laid this
grand saying as the foundation stone of
this great Republic.
And now, you my comrades, in these last
days have placed the keystone in this mag
nifcent structure, and named it Fraternity,
Charity and Loyalty. And to the universal
brotherhood of man have added closer tie
"a brotherhood of patriotism, of sacrifice,
of danger and of death.
As boys we left our homes together; we
tented on the same camp-ground, we drank,
boys, from the same csnteen. We stood
elbow to elbow on the battle field. amid the
roar of artillery, the screeching she'll and
the whistling bullet. We stood together
over the bitches where our dead comrades
were buried by plstoons, companies and
regiments. We talked and thought of home
and friends we scarce expect to see again.
Yet in Gods mercy we were allowed to
escape. Now, comrades, who should gain
say our right to meet as we NEE. to-day and
recount the memories and the glores of the
past!
But, comrades, am not here to-day to
make you an extended or an elaborate
speech, but to take you each by the hand in
that fraternity, charity and loyalty which
only Grand Army comrades understand. 1
thank God that we are again allowed thus
TO meet. ] want 10 impress on each one of
you the duty you have before you. All
over this great state there are thousands of
worthy soldiers who are not members Of the
Grand Army. Go to work, comrades, and
gather them into this grand brotherhood of
ours. Make your meetings SO pleasant and
your post rooms SO attractive that no
of the order would wish to
'tay away. Encourage where at
Ill practical the work of the w. X. C.
best gift to msn-work as
untiringly and unselashly. for
rs, their husbands, their brothers, and their
sthers, who dared death for them.
Unite in all efforts to advance our COM
non cause until our beloved Kansas shall
,e the banner state in our great work OF
charity and loyalty.
want to disabuse your minds in one par
ocular. Compis;nt has reached department
that the present government
f Kansas was not properly recognizing the
Id soldiers by appointments. This my
omrades is not true. l know that three
onrths of Governor Martins appointments
ave been from the ranks of the soldiers.
III you should do or demand is justice. and
, this instance ] know you have got it.
Now, comrades, in conclusion congratu-
We you on this magnificent success. and
ope you may be blessed with many returns
this memorable occasion, and that when
on each are finally mustered out you may I
Yin that reunion where none will object 70
continuous and eternal encampment, and I
here croakers will have no place.