The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-05

zation was intended 70 embrace all the boys and men
who enlisted under the banner of the stars. Why,
that of which you are part, There
marched the battleplains ofearth body
of men so inbued With love Of country and of lib
erty. or who so fully comprehended the magnitude
Of the issues for which they fighting. Ii 1861,
when that great black storm broke upon the Nation,
when the great red cyclone swept through the val
leys leaving IN its track the mangled bodies OF men
and the broken hearts of women; when the young
in the cabins of the North learned that the old
flag hand been torn down IN eleven States that all OF
the treasures of centuries past, which had
been garnered and stored away as the last
hope of the world. were imperied-then It was that
the boys with military ambition, with nothing but
love of country and LOYALTY to the flag went out
from their homes, plncked tho smoking banner from
the fortress of Fort sumter carried Il through four
victory, stamping it for all ages to come as the
Bethany star Of freedom the rainbow of hope for the
world. lGreat applause.l These are the men who
compose the Grand Army of the Republic to-day
the MANNED heroes Of the Republic, the thirty hve
Thousand men who contracted disease in rebel prison.
pens, who faced the demon of starvation for months
rather than desert its flag lapplauseE aye, who
starved and died but died loyal to the Constitution
10 the Union and to this starry banner which waves
over my head tO-nishs lAppause They da moth ;n
pulse than that of kindness of mtless love Tor their
country. They laughed at death when it stood in the
way OF duty. They marched. sung, suffered starved,
fought aud died together. Applause.
You boys and girls have read the history OF the
war you have read the story of battle field how di
how they succeeded or how they were repulsed; how
is 600 fell upon the field OF Gettysburg and yet you
have read nothing about the history OF the
IL those battles. History could only deal with them
IN large bodies and companies. But under the smoke
of those battles along the front line. individual
men and boys-mostly beardless boys-st-Eding side
by side keeping up the touch of the elbow doing each
his part in the great battle. There were deeds
performed which deserved to be perpetuated in MEM
DRY forever Who saw themi Not the historian; no
one but the boy in the ranks alongside of them Who
the 800. 600 men who died. or the 3OO.OOO fall
wounded for lifel No but the boys who stood
side by side with them Nobody else could see them
You could not ten feet away through the smoke
fen.
those memories well to aid each other to exert 1t
possible, moral influence upon comrades less fortu-
who made glorious record fighting for that flag shall
ever die pauper in the poorhouse. Great applause
hear men object to pur organization because. as
of secret society. [I4aughtsr.l The men who fol.
lowed Uncle Billy Sherman through Georgia OF stayed
with Grant in the Wilderness were not ac-
Laughter and applause. They had to give the eoun.
tersign they couldn't get inside the lines AID so
you have TO give the countersgn to get into of
meetings. After ALL everything about the Grand Army
of the Republic is known to the world The pro-
ceedings of our National Encampment are published
verbatim; portion of them is kept secret There
afraid for the whole world to know. Great applause
Nor is the society political organization. don't
believed any soldier believes 1t is Every soldier in it
is more or less a politician, probably; he ought
to be. He ought TO be interested in
public affairs. This is . government of tie people
and every ore of them should take personal inter
est in it. But q man political notions have nothing
to do with his mem bership in the Grand Army. We
have members from every kind of political party
archists. Laughter don't think we have any
Ans/chists, for don't think they could live with
very long; or, If they did, and submitted to our
teachings. they would be cured. There is not
organization in the country, not excepting the
church, which is free from politics. 1t can't
in; nobody wants it and nobody will let il in Zap
course many differences Of opinions but everyone has
his convictions of duty and everyone respects the
his politics when he engaged in fighting for his
country. The only politics which there is in the
Grand Army Of the Republic is loyalty to that flag
You something of the charitable work of our
organization Every soldier ought to be member of
the organization because of the good he would do his
comrades. You'll go down the hill of life in comfort,
for we have passed the meridian and are now our
way the shady side of life-if YOU will mingle your
fraternal love in great charitable organization
The establishment of Memorial day is due to
ganization. That custom is doing more to keep the
fires of loyalty burning bright upon the Nations
hearthstone than any other custom institution in
the country.
We are living here to-day in a great current of
progress, such as the world before. II is
not upon the great commercial enterprises, however,
wealth of produce but in the tendrs of affection
which bind the heart of the living with the memories
of the dead that may look for the preservation of
the great principles OF this government
At the conclusion of the address, General Rea
consisting of Messrs NJ. d. Butler. f. M.
Ketcham. Charles J. Parker aud j. F. Hoover.
then sang couple of selections. They were
compelled to respond TO an encore.
Rev. G. w. Lee. pastor Of Edwin Ray Church,
was then called upon and spoke of the pleasant
side of the soldier life. He would not do with
ont the fun be had had during the war for any
thing. Thank God they had not all died. A
great many were left to do a good many things
that were still left for soldiers to do. fAp-
plause. Almost every soldier who went into
the army went with the expectation of being
killed He laid bis life upon the altar OF his
country. Notwithstanding this fact, how
ever thu soldiers managed to enjoy their life
most royalty There were always . certain
number of lively fellows who kept them in good
spirits One of these men was worth more to
. company than half dozen surgeons, although
the surgeons were all right. Mr.. Lees address
abounded in humorous incidents, which were
told with bluniness that greatly delighted the
old soldiers present He kept the audience
laughing, and left them in a very lively humor.
Mrs. Colonel Walker then sang The Marseil-
laise, and was enthusiastically encored. respond
ing with 'Suwanee River
Rev. Ira J. Chase. past State commander,
was also called upon. and was warmly received.
He said that several of the 'chestnuts" which he
had intended TO perpetrate had already been
told. He accordingly devoted his time to speak
said that much heroism had been displayed
in the log cabins Of Indiana as there had on the
battle-feds Of the Republic. He also referred to
the pension bill. and said he wanted to get every
soldier interested in it. He also was in favor Of
putting every soldier. whether he was ia the
poor-house or not. in place whore be was not
dependent on charity
James Whitcomb Riley was then introduced
as the Hoosier post' by Chairman Vanosdol,
and was received with cheers He rscited in
his matchless manner the character gem,
''Good-b bye, JIM" now quite familiar TO Indian
apolis audiences. The old soldiers. especially,
were delighted. and at the conclusion of the rec
itation many of them stood upon their feet and
waved their hats. while the entire audience APP
plauded uproariously, but Mr.. Riley asked TO be
excused from an encore.
The audience joined in singing America
and was dismissed.
General and ifrs. Rea took the IL o'clock train
last. night for their home in Minneapolis. MINI.
The grand commander expressing himself most
heartily pleased with Indiana, her soldiers and
her hospitality.
Thieves Quite Active.
Several small robberies occurred on the South
Side Thursday night. Thieves entered Mr.
Krucers residence. at the corner OF East and