Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-06-10

About nine o'clock the veterans
and a portion of the throng assem-
bled on the east side of the city
ball to Join in the camp fire, which
was opened 10y a few appropriate
remarks by Capt. Baxter, president
of the evening. he was followed
by Gen. +. 5. Allen, Lieut.. Gov.
Smith, Of Illinois, jolly Phil. Cheek,
Hunt of Sparta, DR.. Byers, and
Others, happy songs by comrades be-
ing interwoycn. When the camp fire
exercises terminated the midnight
hour was nigh, and there was gen
eral retreat for bunk and .
Thursday was the big day, how
ever, in the point of crowd. Fully
fifteen thousand people were present.
The weather was simply perfect.
At o.3o o'clock preparations for the
grand parade were begun, and by
] 0 the procession moved up High
street. 1t was a grand sight. \
beautiful and imposing scene was
upon the return Of the procession
down street. In the grand stand
were station a large number of little
/ girls bedecked in the red, white and
blue, who sang a national air while
the procession passed through, and
when the veterans came up boquets
of flowers were showered upon their
venerable heads.
Exercises were then commenced
at the speakers stand, opened by
music. Mayor Gilman followed
with an address Of welcome in these
words
The pleasant duty devoyes upon
me, as the mayor of this city, to eX-
tend TO all our guests upon this
festive occasion a hearty welcome.
To all Of you, young and old, great
aud small from near and far, | de-
sire TO speak words of pleasant
greeting. / hope the day may be
filled with pleasure aud enjoyment.
| There are present a certain number
to whom | must speak a few words
especially. They all carry the marks
| of advancing age; they are a gray
headed set Of fellows. Some have
I been crippled; some have lost an
arm, some leg; some have been
mutilated in one fashion, some in
another. All of them carry about
them a certain soldiery manner.
They are the men who twenty-five
years ago, were the pick and flower
of Southwestern Wisconsin. They
are the men who fell into line when
the drum beat; the men who follow
ed the stars and stripes for years;
the men who endured danger; the
men who faced death; the men who
fought for the Union Of these states,
that you and | might have a Country
To these | address myseIf-these
veterans who have earned our graf
| itude-to these old soldiers for
whom we can provide nothing that
is too good; to them extend spec
/ ial welcome. / welcome you veter-
ans in the name Of all, Of every man,
woman and child, not only Of this
city, but all who have come here
from other homes TO participate In
the pleasures Of this reunion.
/ have heard it said that our
schools teach learning, that our
churches teach religion, but that
there iS 10 special temple either Of
I learning or piety whore is taught
patriotism and loyalty. il may be
so. II may be true too, that this
very Organization supplies that want.
! Ii may BE that each annual reunion
will heget an increased love Of
! Country and a more exalted patriot
ism. IL r to be hoped that this will
1 be 80. Anything that will keep
alive the fire of patriotism is worth
all 10 COST
should feel taat | were trespass-
ing upon your time if ! should de-
tain YOU any longer. You will have
/ longer and better speeches to listen
I 20 than l. can make. / hope you
will all enjoy the Mineral Point
reunion. I trust it will occupy a
pleasant place in your minds and,
long after this day shall have faded
into the past, you will recall it as
one of the green spots Of your
memories.
In closing nay brief remarks l
caunot help saying that, while ]
could wish TO have spoken better,
/ / could not, either for myself or the
community which | am proud to
represent, have spoken more freely.
Again, extend to you, one and
all, a hearty welcome.