Telegram-herald., 1889-06-07
SONS OF VETERANS
The Sixth Annual Encampment IL
St Joseph.
The EXERCISES HELD YESTERDAY
FFs14tasat Veterans or ths ~ az Prs<sat-
S4PS- ~ A. GsEsst Delivers Al
aFsss hfeb - " AFEsaiy APpisadsd
An Interesting Letter

Grams encAnIpment- Al - .. ia. there
was grand street parade ~ the sons
of Veterans, q A. K. Posts, etc, re
viewed by Commander Michael Brown,
OF Big Rapids. and other prominent
military men. "A address 0f welcome
Mas made BY John A. Watson AT p.
Ia. ~ which 4 response Was made ~
Col. Fellows. Geofge l.. Iapie and
Congressman O'DOnnell, who were ex-
peetsd, did not come. Capt. ". A.
Gasett vas among the speakers lie
spoke as follows.
Leidses and Gs7.f'enea, Sons q Vetrans,
C0nradss and Frteads- Tie Michigan
sous Of Veterans and thl. beautiful
summer resort city Of ~. Joseph, may
justly feel elaJed over this, the sixth
and most successful eucampment OK il
noble and rapidly growing Organza-
ton. These brave, patriotic and hand
s0ne young men. stand here today A.
q nucleus about winch could speedily he
gathered au hundred Thousand men a.
guard and protect our rights and the
civilization of American treemen.
Whsu / first SAW your program
name u your LIST OF those Who would
b. required % make some remarks on
tins occasion. is occurred u me that
surely these young men know that my
experience In life has been that OF ac-
t,On in the busy world of affairs. and
not that OF an orator or speaker ON
public occasions. Nevertheless, as YOU
have bestowed upon me the title OF "A
staunch friend of the Michigan Division
sons OF Veterans u becomes my
pleasant duty 20 step 70 the front OF
this platform and IL thank YOU, and IN
80 dong, 10 say that you are emlnenuy
correct, for / am indeed proud 10 be
classsd As a friend of Mchlgan's Sons
of Veterans. amt q cOmrade or the
veterans themselves.
Early in the year OF 1861, when but
rs years OF age, some time PRIOR to the
assembling of the National convention
at Chicago, that finally nominated that
pure. brave-hearted patriot and almost
Iuatchless statesman, Abraham LIN
coin, | read in a book or pamphlet
paragraph that 50 impressed my mnd,
as 20 Enger IN my memory yet. Tins
was at the time when Michigan was
about as enthusiastic Tor the great Re-
publican leader, OF New York, Wm. H..
Seward, as it was in 1875, ls,O and
1854. for James G.. Blaine, and a she
Will be tor Gen. Harrison III 1892, If ne
continues - give Us as good an admin
istration a. lie has thus Tar gwen, which
hc surely wall.
The paragraph read about IKE tins.
'sWm II. Seward J. the Daniel O'COn-
nell OF America; not III stature, the
former - petite. the latter, prOdlglousi
..f. -. a.
Greeley, bit he can Urite better letter than
esttcr u ien."
- you see that | am decidedly par
tai 10 L good letter, and having found
one that IS extremely good, | trust you
VIII allow me 20 read an extract from
Il for the purpose Of drawing
parallel.
The letter was written by John W.
FOrney, editor OF the Philadelphia Press,
who was, for many years before and
after the year 1851. Clerk of the United
states House of cprcscntatlves, and
Secretary Of the United States Senate.
"WAsHrSGToN. March II, 1871.
To the Philadelphia Press:
Perhaps the most dramatic scene that
ever took place IN the United States
Chambcr-Old or nCw-Was that be-
tween John c. Brcckinridge, Of Ken
tuC XIV. and Col. +. u. Baker OF Oregon.
on tine Isl of August. Sol, five days be-
fore thc adlournmeut sine die, IN the
darNe-t porod OF the war, when the
rebellion was most defiant and hopeful.
"Erecklur.dge rose to make his last
formal Indictment against the Govcrn-
meut. Never shall | forget the scene.
Baker was q senator and a soldier. He
a.tcruatCd between his seat m the cap
it9l aud hl. tent ~ tbc field. lie came
ln no the eastern door (while Breckin-
ridge was speaking IN his blue coat
and fatigue cap, riding whip IN hand.
Hc paused Gud listened to the 'p0iished
treason rs he afterward called it, of
the senator from Kentucky, and, when
fe sat down, he replied with a fervor
never to De forgotten"
Brccknridge made the following pre-
dlCt.on.
War is separation; is the language
ot an eminent gentleman now no more,
it is disUu0u. eternal 3rd tuN di-uu-
ion. We bIFe separation now. Il l-
only made worse rv war. sut an utter
extinction Of ABB Those sentiments ot
common interest snd feeling which
might lead to n political reunion
faurted upon consent and cons .CtI0n
of fs advantages. let Tho war 80 on,
however. aud sCou ~ addition ~ the
uoans 1T widows 3uj orphans aIi over
th1s lSud. YOU wl bear the Crv OF
distress from those who want food
Ell the comforts of life. The
people VIII De- unable to pay tae grind
ing t8ves which a t2ult.c3l spTl VIII
n