National Republican., 1888-01-11
JOLLY SOLDIERS REUNION.
Enjoyable Evening Spent With tho De
partment of the Potomac.

partmont of the Potomac.
The camp fire Of the Department OF the
Potomac, G.. A. r., given last evening at the
G. A. Hall, was one Of the most pleasant
events Of the season, due chiefly to the
efforts of Department Commander j. b.
Burke and staff. The floor and gallery were
crowded to the utmost capacity, aud among
the large audience were many prominent
persons In political and social life
On the platform, which was artistically
draped with flags, were seated Gen. Jos. r.
Hawley, Hon. Samuel j. Randall, Gen.
Nathan Goff, jr., Col. G. c. Letter, Com
mander j. b. Burke, Past Commander In
Chief S. s. Burdett, Geo. E. Lillebridge,
Surgeon General Donohue, E. @. Town.
send, and j. T. Layton.
Col. &. s. Burdett delivered an interesting
address Of welcome and introduced Gen,
Joseph A. Hawley, amid deafening cheers,
as the first speaker Of the evening.
Nothing was worse than great war, said
Gen. Hawley, except a cowardly peace,
The war, with all Its terrors, had Its COM
pensation resulting in the union of greater
people and resulting In higher type OF
could do.
ave are specially happy in this coun-
try,n he said, Sand actually are becoming
so good that we find we will have to shut
out the rest OF the people because 1t Is too
good country. We either have to make
ourselves worse or shut the gates" Ap.
plause.
Col. Burke, turning to Hon. Samuel j :.
Randall, presented him as 'Pennsylvania's g
sop,n and ordered him to the front.
Mr.. Randall laughingly replied: "My
habit is generally to go the 'front.'" and
said: ~ have great admiration for the Or
ganization known as the Grand Army Of
the Republic, where men who stood to-.
gether In the trying times Of 1861 congre-
need be, for mutual help, free from the
motives which sometimes actuate ambitious
men In politics, and entirely free from the
| petty littleness incident to partisanship.
| [Applause.l You may well be proud OF
| your organization. There ia a sort Of sentl-
ment and impulse attaching to the soldiers
| OF the Union which is almost indescribable,
| yet IL partakes really OF the affection which
| is often seen between man and woman.
| [Applause. Pennsylvania did her duty
during the period Of the rebellion to save o
free government, the like OF which the
world has never seen, and which stands be-
fore the nations to-day tho great
est Of them all; lApplauss,l Too much
records no superior of, and the American
people want the greatest amount Of libe.
rallty expended to every soldier, widow,
and orphan who may be In the least degree
In want Applause. When my children
shall come to look at my record they will
| find at least, while may have overstepped
In my economic notions as to some matters,
there are three things that | have never
chopped at. One isscience, another charity,
and third, what the soldier asked" zap.
| plause
Gen. Nathan GoiT, jr. In an entertaining
| address, said he delighted to attend the
reunions, and yet sad thought presented
itself, that in few years the brave saviors
| OF the Union would be no more, but the
Grand Army would be perpetuated in the
hearts Of the people BY the rising genera
tion.
Hon. Mr.. Mckinney Of New Hampshire,
In response to urgent calls, complimented
the q, A. Il. on the good work done the
past year in relieving the distressed.
| "Marching Through Georgia. was sung
with spirit BY the audience, who dispersed
well pleased with the evenings entertain,
| mpnt