The National tribune., 1886-01-07


UNION SOLDIERS ALLIANCE.
The seventh annual Reunion and banquet o
this organization, at the Riggs House, on The
evening of December %, was one of the mos
enjoyable affairs of its kind ever given il
Washington; in fact. mine host Spofford ex
ceeded himself in his efforts to make the he
roes of scores of battles perfectly at home and
happy. After an hour spent in the spacious
parlors of the well-appointed hotel, exchan-
ing greetings and relating experiences of q
and more years ago, during which many of the
! great battles of the war were refOught, without
casualties, the well-remembered assembly "
was sounded and cries of Fall in" were
| heard from the Proctor General Charles Har-
| tel. The comrades fell in, and after dinner
call D." the command "Fours right march! For
ward guide, left " was given, and to the music
| of one of the prettiest selections from the
" Mikado," by the Regular Army band, present
for the occasion, the honored representatives OF
an hundred regiments, from every State in the
| Union-including the Regular Army marched
down stairs, through the hotel Office and into
the large dining room, where elegantly-ap-
pointed tables, placed on three sides of d" hol-
. low square," caused the eyes of the veterans
| to glisten. Mine host welcomed all to his hos
| pitable board, with hearty shake of the hand
and suggestion, which sounded like an order
! 10 Go in and make il lively, boysi"
As n the days of war each s0ldierly gentle
| membership and his duty also. The Alliance
being seated the roll-call was proceeded with,
/ as customary upon such occasions, and as each
answered "Here." it reminded the writer of
many rol-call in the field before going into
action of a far more desperate nature. The
! President, Mr.. Charles c.. Royce, presided, and
when the name of Otto Schuetze was called
! there was no response. "Otto Schuetze ~ called
| the President, and gave a loud rap on the table
| with his gavel. The comrades arose as one
| man, and the President said "Our comrade
has answered his last rollcall and is mus
| tered with the innumerablc host above, where
! he awaits us at the ford with our other de-
ceased comrade to signal our passage through
the valley of the shadow, and welcome us on
the other side of the dark river" As the roll
call proceeded the name of Robert NJ Reynolds
late First Auditor of the Treasury, was called
and the same beautiful tribute was paid to the
memory of the departed.
The roll-call ended, the covers were removed
and the assault ordered Never did soldiers do
their duty better. When every man was ready
to affirm that he had done all that could be
reasonably expected of him, the recall from re-
treshment was sounded. and the band, which
had been reported hoarse and exhausted, was
ordered in on the reserves" which had been
held for the emergency.
Mr.. Spotford invited the members of the
Alliance to consider the Riggs House their
headquarters and official home. The liberal
terms were accepted quick as thought, and
resolution of thanks passed with three rousing
cheers and tiger.
The toasts were then proceeded with, and
were responded to with eloquence and w.t. as
follows:
"The President of the United States" was
responded to by COmrade (Genera) John S.
Crocker.
"The Union of States: One and Inseparable,"
by Comrade District Attorney A. S. Worth
ington.
Once Armed for Strife" by Comrade (ColoneD
A. S. Holt.
The Hospital Service" by Comrade Sur
geon) J. 0. Stanton
The Heroes of the Rank and File. whose
Nalor and Patriotism Saved the Nation," by
Comrade tMajor) Geo. A. Bartlett.
The Loyal Press: Ever Sounding the Praise
of the Patriotic Men of the Sword, >" by Comrade
Captain w. p. Seville.
"Our Gallant Dead" Drunk in silence.
The Loyal Women of the Nation: Their
disinterested labor and sacrifice entitle them
to the sncerest gratitude of soldier hearts," by
Comrade Captain w. II. Webster.
THE Grand Army of the Republic" by
Comrade (Captain) Wm Gibson.
At the conclusion of the regular toasts the
President called upon Hon. Matrice F. Holihan,
of New York, one Of the invited guests for
short speech. After congratulating
the members Of theAlliance over the success of
their annual banquet he delivered an appropri-
ate address, which was several times interrupted
by well merltcd applause. He alluded in
complimentary manner to the heroic sacrifice
OF the veterans during the progress of the war,
and explained why the people at its close could
not appreciate fully the Importance of success
or understand the cost Of life necessary to pur-
chase that success. His reference to the spec
tacle presented after peace was declared and
he nt nris and hoe ito1c
thrown open, and the dying and crippled SOL
diers dragged their mutilated bodies homeward
was touching and generous and occasioned ap-
plause. He next alluded to the action of the peo-
pie when true realization of victory and its con-
sequences became apparent, and predicted that
the beautiful custom of decorating the soldiers
graves, would be proud privilege that would
be faithfully adhered to by the present and
succeeding generations. He alluded to the
strong public sentiment prevailing in every
section of the United States which induced
Congress to omit from its measures of economy
any interference with appropriations necessary
to settle equitable pension obligations: also to
the fact that State Legislatures controlled by
both parties had also been induced by the same
public sentiment to enact laws which gave to |
honorably discharged soldiers advantages not |
enjoyed by ordinary citizens. He next paid a |
high tribute to the magnanimous and patriotic |
action OF the Grand Army of the Republic, which |
to revive for selfish purposes the memories of |
the late conflict.
We omitted to mention in its proper place |
the transfer of command from the retiring to |
the new President, Comrade Saml S. Burdett, |
Commanders Chief of the Grand Army of the |
Republic The other newy-elected officers
are: First V.-P., A. III. Holt; Second V-P., NJ.
5. Hopkins; Third V.-P., VIM A. Short Sec,
John l.. Heupel, who has been the faithful |
Secretary since the organization of the Ali
ance. The mention of his name reminds us
that just at the hour of midnight, an elegant
mantel clock of marble and bronze was placed
before him a small token Of the esteem the
Alliance has for him. He was taken COM
pietely by surprise, but was assisted to his feet
in time to present his feeling words of thanks,
just after the II musical strokes had ceased
TO vibrate.
The committees for 1886 are: Executive
Comrades Chas. c. Royce, VIM. Gibson and
VIM. III. Morgan.
Arbitration - Harrison Dingman, N. NJ.
Brooks and VIM. G. Moore.
THE CABINET LADIES.
Mrs. Manning and Mrs. Whitney will be,
next to Miss Cleveland, the recognized leaders
OF Washington society this Winter. With am
pie means at their command, they will enter
tain on a liberal scale. Mrs. Bayard and Mrs.
Endcott will do all that can justly be expected
Of them, but both are somewhat advanced in
years and IN feeble health. Mr. Lamar and Mr.,
Garland have no wives. Mrs. Villas, while