The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-08-12
THE G. Ar. VETERANS.
experience here viii be one to which they can al
ways look back with pleasure.
Continued from I'd psGe.)


ways look back with pleasure.
THE INVASION" or CALIFORNIA
A special to the Boston Herald, dated San
Francisco, Aug. 2, says:
This invasion Of California by the veterans Of
an army which never campaigned within 1000
miles Of the Golden Gate would have appeared
as among the widest - MUnchausen ventures
in that era when this same grand army wGs
gathering its strength and rising into imper-
ishable TenOwn. When the great rebellion
struggle was begun, such route as q rqir0Id
line to the Pacific Coast existed, if it was seri-
ously contemplated at all, only in the purpose
of scheming men who held il as 4 far-away en-
terpFise. No one else deemed the scheme at all
practicable. IL was not till the star Of the
whilom Confederacy had changed to a depart
ing meteor that the magic iron band tied the
western slope in a certain union knot. This
pilgrimage is indeed a romance even in the
broadcast light Of prosaie facts. This wonderful
journey from the Bay Of the Pilgrims to the
HarbOr Of the ArgOnauts has created notable
impression. Said one Of the Pine Tree vets
81 didn't begin to know how big country we
was ttin' for" and this sentiment has rooted
itself deep in the hearts of thousands of the
boys in blue who never were west of the Mis-
sissippi before; yes, thousands who were never
west Of the Alleganies save, perhaps, for a brief
campaign. No railroad TO this rendezvous Of
the Grand Army when Vicksburg was bat
tered and captured, and when Gettysburg be-
came the Illuminating word on a splendid scroll
Of Eame-whilc now five or six great iron lines
across the prairie5, the desert and the Rockies
scramble for the aarriage Of the veterans who
saved Union upon which this fair territory
hung as at best but an uncertain fringe. The
great mass Of the delegates and visitors have
been transported hither substantially accord
ing TO agreement and expectation. There have
been fewer mishaps and delays than might have
been reasonably expected. The journey was
not so fatiguing as nearly all supposed 10 would
be- and the big crowd is in good humor, and the
vets are ready for some business and great
deal Of pleasure. There is so much of enjoy
ment in the program that the business side Of
the Encampment will not be drawn out to any
undue length.
AS TO PENSIONS.
There arc some important topics Of legisla-
ton in this Encampment. MIR f. p. L0ring
the ubiquitous, irTepressble service pension
advocate. is q delegate from the Department OF
Massachusetts, and he is putting in all the
work possible for his pet measure. He is an
able, adrOit worker, sincere aud determined.
He brings forward some hard nuts for MS op-
poneuts to crack in the shape Of the present
wretched system Of inequality and injustice in
the administration of the Pension Department
of the Government. He shows up the absurdi-
ties Of the present allowances, proofs required
and disallowances to worthy and needy appii-
cauts. He aflirms that all the beats and bum
mers have got pensions because their hos
pital records" are perfect, AMI he says, "Now
let Us make sure that the deserving ones get
pension" He would make sure" of it by
granting every soldier pension. All the way
from Boston COmrade LOrjng has pushed his
scheme. lie mixes truth and sOphistry so
neatly that good many OF the vets receive it
g. good dose.
THE GRAND RECEPTION.
Vigorous electiOneering is already in pro-
gress, although legislative sessions of the En-
campment do not begin until Wednesday. The
different representative delegations are all In,
and the great crowds accompanying the veteran
excursiOnists have pretty much ceased TO bur-
den the railroads. The three sections from New
England reached here early this morning
about together There is already evidence of
such a reception as the Eastern people rarely
experience. So far as the arrangements have
developed, the machinery seems simple and
ample, though in assignment of lodgings the
clerical force was insufficient Everything is
on prodigal scale, and it is the general opin-
ion that the G.. A. K. is here to enjoy the hos
pitality hitherto unapprOached, and a magnifi-
cence of ovation which will probably again
never be repeated. The different local Posts
are to give generous and costly receptions
while the general committee has laid out pro-
gram IOr tuc most etdDOFdJo GROWING o. u
king. There are concerts, receptions, banquets
excursions, campfres, and q most ingenious
round of pleasures, all on magnificent scale.
All day tue great inner square of the Palace
Hotel has resoundcd with the best OF band
music. The Department OF Kansas has brought
on band and drum corps, which is attracting
much attention.
THE DECORATIONS
in the city are marvelously profuse and gen.
orally artistic; but no matter for the art, the
citizens are mad in the bunting and painted
cotton line. The streets are well-nigh thatched
with streamers and the walls are sPangled with
notices and millions of yards of cambric. Sew
eral of the structures are admirable, and good
many mammoth battle pieces, we'll painted
are introduced. 1t looks rs though prices are
TO be reasonable here. The people here are
surprised at the large number of New England
excursiOnists present There are over 1900
from Massachusetts,. The Maine and Connect
cut headquarters are at the Grand Hotel The
New Hampshire is at the Occidental, the YER
mont at the Palace Hotel, while the Alassachu-
sets headquarters was fixed upon Stockton
street, but may be changed. Ii is q comforta-
bic spot when reached, but quite a number of
the delegates are displeased at the locating of
such important headquarters away outside of
the great center of the visiting throngs. There
is TO be a surfeit of parades coming tomorrow.
In the forenoon comes the grand parade of the
Encampment, and in the evening an illumi-
mated parade on the occasion of welcoming
COmmander-in-C Chief Burdett to San Francisco.
Thousands of visitors have inspected
THE GRAND ARCH
over Market street. 1t is the most pretentious
celebration arch ever constructed in connection
with veteran festivities. 1t has inches and but
tresses for the reception of life-size statues en-
blematic of war characters and deeds. There
is no lack of satisfactory accommodations. Sew
eral Massachusetts, veterans, such as COL Law
ellie. are turning their elegant apartments at the
Palace Hotel into social headquarters, where
delightful Reunions are being held. Great
preparations are being made for the parade to-
morrow and it is expected Il, 900 men will be
in line. One OF the notable features will be
hag with a history brought on by the Maine
delegation. When hOstilities broke out in 1861
the daughters of Maine residing in California
made a United States flag of richest silk, cost
ing 81 ,200 and sent it on to be presented to the
first Maine regiment that got into the field.
That regiment was the 2d Me-, and at Centre
vile, July 90, 1861 the handsomest banner in
the whole army was turned over to that regi-
ment by Auditor French, of the Treasury. The
very next day that beautiful flag was riddled
with one shell and 81 bullets, and three men
were shot dead in supporting it. What remains
| of that flag is here, and will be borne tO-mOr-
row by Capt. A. P. Wilson and Coils. Hamlin
and Rogers, of the old ID.
BANQUET AND CONCERT.
| On the evening Of Aug. fully 10000
persons occupied the Pavilion TO listen to
| the grand concert of welcome given by the
| combined vocal music societies of San Francis
| co and Oakland to the Grand Army of the Re-
/ nuhlic The follOWinU was the DrOOram