Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-02-24

When the governor appeared on the plat
form the house rang with applause.
At 2:45 department commander raped
with the gavel and called the encampment
to order, the delegates rising. The COM
mander then called upon the officer of the
day, with three assistants, TO ascertain if all
those within the hall had the countersign.
It was discovered that they had and tina:
those in the body of the hall were duly
accredited delegates to the encampment.
The chaplain then invoked the divine bless
ing on the assemblsge, after which Com
mander Stewart said the Fifth Annual En-
campment, Department of Kansas. was
ready tor business.
Col. II. W. Lewis Of this city vas then
called on, who came forward and on behalf
of Garfield Post and the city of Wichita de-
livered the following address of welcome to
the assembled veterans:
COLONEL LEWIS ADDRESS.
Department Commander and Comrades:
This is proud and joyous day tor Wichita,
Hers is the honor of entertaining the &C
| credited representatives of twenty thousand
| soldiers of the Union army. These twenty
thousand soldiers and sailors, who constitute
| the Kansas department of the Grand Army
of the Republic represent almost every regi-
ment and company, every battery OF artillery
and gunboat, the united efforts of which
| saved this nation. Applau-e.
An ambitious young city like Wichits.
chosen for time 10 be the camping ground
Of thousand veterans so ilustrious, should
indeed feel honored.
Kansas is great state. Its history from
| earliest infancy to the present time has en-
gagged the attention and Won the applause of
the civilized world. IL claimed the tears of
the philnntbropist in the days of John
Brown. 1t thrilled the heart of every lover
of freedom in the subsequent struggle for
constitutional liberty. 1t won the applause
of every patriot, when, though but an infant
in the si-terhood of states, it marched
grandly to the front with twenty thousand
men to battle for the life of the nation that
gave it berth. 1t enchains the attention of
all lands to-day by its marvellous and sub
lime development in native resources
in education, in morals, in agricul-
tural and commercial prosperity
what Kansas is to-day she owes largely TO
the pluck, energy and thrift Of the citizen
\
pioneers and. amid many privations and
dangers, have turned up the stubborn sod
and covered the land with waving fields of
grain, with trees and houses and railroads
and cities. To make Kansas, standing rs
she does in her glorious pre-eminence-th
brightest jewel in the nations crown-to
build upon the wild prsiries Of the west, in
a few years, a commonwealth like Kansas,
required the labor, the sacrifice and the
fin:y grit, the indomitable. hard-fsted per-
severance and hard-headed pluck which
could alone be contributed by the stalwart
veterans who carried the nation safely
through the storm of shot and shell to vic
tory. GApplause.l And so it is proven
again in your lives that peace hath her
victories no less renowned than war" But,
vet sgain, in a still higher sense, have you
illustrated the truth OF this trite saying.
Through the Div'nely inspired principles
of our organization you are making record
in these later years that shall shine brighter
than any that mas preceded. The plant that
took root in the soil % liberty, that bios
somed with the fires of patriotism amid the
swelling tide of war, has now in peace,
brought fourth in you the ripe, consummate
fruits of fraternity and charity. APP
plause To bare the breast to the shock
of battle, to stand in defense Of freedom,
home and country is glorious. To relieve
the distress of needy comrades, TO feed and
clothe the destitute widows and orphans Of
our fallen brothers, is godlike.
When the great last muster roll shall he
called and the books shall be opened by the
recording angel, the great and noble acts of
the Grand Army of the Republic will blaze
forth in letters OF golden light that shall
iliumine Heaven, like the smile of The Al
mighty.
After the lapse OF another Year, we are
met again in the conrsdeship ami council.
Our ranks have bsen tbinned by the com
mon enemy of all mankind. One by one
We pass To flames eternal camping ground"
The remnant Of that once grand army, more
than u million stronghold bore our blood
stained flag TO victory, low numbers but
tbree-hundrcd thousand men. The last
call has been issued 10y the great rorl,raf.-
der for tbree-hunired thousand more, and
We are fast filling the quota. The great ina
iority of our brothers are on the other shore.
There are Lincoln ard Grant, (!oud APP
plouse) ard Garfield and Hancock; aud
there. ia Abrsham's bosom the thousands of
patriot souls who flied the rank and file.
There glorifed spirits beckun US across the
she dark river and now, rs the frost Is silver
ing our locks rs the sight dims and the
limbs grow weary, rs the sun sinks slowly,
slowly in the west, let Us like true soldiers,
with hearts made light by worthy deeds,
with soul made hopeful by faith and trust
in the great captain OF salvation-iel US
greet our departed comrades once again with
that glorious old refrain.
"We're coming Father Abraham; three
hundred thousand strong" Loud applause)
MY comrades, are We playing the last act
of the great American drsrna? "The BOYS
in Blue" The soldiers of the Union army
will live in history while time endures. Let
us see TO it while we hold the stage of fame
of former years shall not be marred but
rather be frightened by our latter lives; SO
that when the curtain shall have fallen that
hides from earth the last survivor, the uni
versal verdict Of our counirymen, inscribed
in grateful memory, may be,
Gallant and true were the boys in blue
At the nations call to arms;
Brayelv and we'll. through shot and she'll
Responded 10 wars alarms.
They conquered peace. and with laurel
wreaths
Encircling their hero b-ows,
Not labor spurned. but promptly tuned
Artillery into sulky plows
Dry Kansan plains, with copious rains,
Were turned TO fertile soil;
For the angels wept as their vision slept
Der the soldier sons of toll.
Their martial strife, their civil life
And deeds can never die.
\ bcro's crown. and flames renown,
Await them in the sky.
Loud and long continued applause
And now comrades. with due apprecis-
ton of the responsibility that rests upon us.
let us proceed to the work We have in hand.
May divine wisdom guide us in all our
profit and of pleasure. Our hearts and our
homes are open 10 you. In the name of
Garfield Post, in the name of the city ard
all her citizens, her loyal women and warm
hearted men, We bid you welcome, thrice
welcome 10 Wichita.
RULES OF ORDER
The council of administration recon-
mended that the rules Of order governing
the national encampment be observed, which
are IS follows:
/. Order OF business.
l. Opening Of the enesmpmen. in due
form.
>. Calling roll Of officers.
3. Repor, of committee on credentials
4. Calling roll Of members.
5. Reports of officers. beginning with that
of the commander.
6. Appointment of committees, TO consist
of Ave members each. As follows:
lst Committee on credentials for the
following yesr, the Acknowledgement
to be chairman
81 Committee on r,,r,Erts of officers