The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-18
GLOWING CAMP-FIREs.

Z 0Aa AhaO
Masonic and Lyra Halls were both filed to
their utmost capacity last night ct the campfire
of the Grand Army of the Republic. Not merely
that. but hundreds went away, unable to find
even standing room in either place. The pro-
grammes of both places were alike, with but
slight changes, and heartier or more appreci-
lative audiences were never seen in this city.
Department Commander D. N. Foster, of Fort
Wayne, was master of ceremonies at Masonic
Hall; that Office being filled at Lyra Hall by j.
A. Closer, of George H. Thomas Post, Of this
city. The entertainment began at Masonic
Hall half an hour earlier than at the Lyra Hall
camp fire, thus enabling the speakers to address
both audiences.
Prayer was offered by the department. chap
lain, Brother Alexander Blackburn, Of Lafay.
cite.
MAYOR DENNIS SPEECH.
Mayor c. S. Denny then welcomed the mem
bers Of the Grand Army. He spoke as follows:
Mr.. Chairman and Members of the Grand
Army of the Notwithstanding to the request
moments of your time. When Sumter fell I
was o boy less than eleven years old, and hence
was not a soldier myself. And / want to thank
the members Of the Grand Army for this invita-
ton to be here tonight, because 1t affords me
an opportunity to address an organization of
&he old soldiers Of the Republic for the first
time I'm my life, and to bid them welcome to this
loyal city. The boys VIII wore the blue have
always been welcome to Indianapolis. They
were welcomed when they came here from the
happy homes, from all over the State.
In 81, and '62, and 63, to put on the blue,
and they were welcomed in 1865 when they came
back to put it off. Many received the first well
come who never heard the last. Many received
both, who have since gone to their final rest,
whore wars are unknown. Let them not be
forgotten. Let their graves be kept green for
generations to come. Let rs remember that the
brave boys who went forth at the Nations call
and never returned did more than battle for
the Nation-that they both .battled and died for
1t. Let the people who meet on occasions like
this, both soldiers and civilians, honor the mem
DRY of the dead heroes who fell in battle or have
gone to their rest since the battles ceased. as
well as speak words of praise and welcome to
the living. In doing this, we do honor to the liv-
ing, as we'll The nation that forgets its defenders
and ceases to honor it's heroes. soon dies itself.
So long as the people of this Nation remember
and revere the memory of Grant, and Lincoln
and Mcpherson, and Farragut, and Morton, and
Hancock. and delight to scatter roses on the
graves of the boys who wore the blue and carried
muskets in the war. SO long will the Nation live
and prosper.
am proud to speak tonight in behalf of the
" d 6iQ OLuE u ills Clty WIN
the memory of the Nations defenders who have
gone, and rejoice to honor those of you who still
survive. The people of this city will be glad to
see your membership in the State increase and
your organization flourish, and above
all they will always be glad to see the
Nation which you saved do full justice to you
and to the widows and orphans of those who are
no longer with US to recsive justice for their
deeds of valor themselves.
Let us all hope that these campfire reunions
TplI ha haIH from wear fn uQaT qg limo az nnn1Oh
of you survive to meet together. to renew the
sentiment expressed in the lines
There's never a bond, old friend like this:
We have drunk from the same ~canteen.
In no city of the land will the old soldier boys
be more kindly received than in this. in the
name of whose people l bid you all thrice vel
come, and wish you a very happy time.
Department Commander Foster, who has
hardly recovered from a severe illness, explained
to respond in his behalf as department COM
mander to the hearty welcome of the Mayor.
MAJOR HoLsTEIN's ADDRES
Major Holstein spoke as follows:
Mr.. Mayor and Citizens of indianapolis: An
accident having happened our most worthy de-
partment commander, 1t has been made my duty
and it is my pleasure to accept on behalf of the
Grand Army your most hearty welcome. We
fully appreciate the kindly sentiments to which
his Honor, the Mayor, has given ute rance. We
are pleased to know that the services Of the
Union soldiers are not forgotten, and that
twenty years have not dimmed the remem-
ibrance. We feel that Indiana is proud Of her
soldiery and in cordial reciprocity, we know
her soldiers are proud of Indiana.
When thedeath n of Washington was announced
in the Congress of the United States. q grateful
government at once resolved to erect a monu-
ment to his memory. The monument. so
promptly and auspiciously begun in the last year
of the last century, has just been completed in
the closing years of this one. This fact is q
striking contradiction of the truth Of the proyerb
,Whioh makes il gratitude the vice of republics.
While it is true that no monument yet honors
our dead comrades in the State Of Indiana, it ia
also true that twenty years Is only the fifth of q
century, and, judging by the past, there is still
plenty of time. And if it be true, as is sometimes
said, that time is money" there are plenty of
funds! None of our comrades may live to see the
monument, which is to be for them a testimony
TO the future, yet we shall all die in the faith
that the time will come when the monument
will stand a realized fact-sa thing of beauty
and a Joy forever make haste slowly" is an
ancient and wise saw, and the Indiana soldiers
monument Is its modern instance. for surely we
are making haste slowly in that direction.
Alas! Mr.. Mayor and fellow-citizens we are
few; our dead are many. The majority of the
two million of men who. under the flag of our
country, battled for its life, are now sleeping
their last sleep
ssThe sleep that knows no breaking,
Morn of toll, nor night of waking"
We, the survivors, are the minority-the ever
kssening remnant. Our dead are halted on the
wide plains, on the big mountains, by the sweet
watered rivers, and by the salt seas. Their
graves are scattered over half a continent. Nay,
net scattered, they are close together, side by
side. thick as the stars that brighten the dark
nights. Many 'won the glorious prize of death
In battle;r many, wounded and diseased, i'm
gered yet a little longer ere they departed, and
day by day our dead are multiplied. The years
will not be many and the time is not far when
the last comrade win cross the dark river.
Fellow citizens. we b~equeath our memories to
you. We feel that the name and fame OF the
Union soldier are safe in your keeping. We
know that the loyal people of this country will
not willingly let them die. Modern iconoclasm
may succeed Ia celebrating the war inscriptions