St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-02
BLESSED BY BENJAMIN.
His Address to G. A. R. Veterans In
cludes a Touching Sentiment.
OLD SOLDIERS SHED TEARS.
The President Elect Urges Veterans to
Demand a Free and Fair
Ballot.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Jan. 1.-GeOrge
81. Thomas Post No. II, the Oldest g.
A. r. post in the city. held its regular
annual installation meeting tonight for
the purpose of installing its newly
elected officers. Between 200 and 800
veterans were present. Gen. Harrison
Is member of this post, and Comrades
Robbins and Spaahr were appointed a
committee to visit Gen. Harrison's
residence and escort him to the
hall. Only members of the post were
present. The following officers were
installed for the ensuing year: 81. G.
Allen, post commander: Julius E. Cra-
vens, senior vice commander; John A.
Baker, junior vice commander. About
9o'clock Gen. Harrison arrived at the
hall. He made brief address to his
comrades, explaining that he could not
remain and participate in the installa-
ton ceremonies, as he would like to do,
but before taking his leave he desired to
talk to them few moments. He then
referred to the fact that many men had
gone into the army and gone out of the
army, and that Ire was about to be
MUSTERED IN AGAIN.
This reference to his approaching as
sumption of the high Office of COM
mander-in-chief of the army elected ap-
proving demonstrations from the vet
Grams. He was glad to see them, to be
with them, and he valued beyond eX-
preston the broad comradeship of the
G. A. r. [This expression was loudly
cheered.] He felt that it was a great
honor that the privilege had
fallen to them of defending the
flag and it was an honor that
should be valued above all other honors.
They had not only defended the flag of
their country, born and baptized in the
blood of the revolution, but also de-
Tended and preserved the ideas and
painciples of free government as they
were handed down to us frOm.the patri-
OTIS of old. he then spoke briefly upon
the subject of free ballot and fair
count. He feared no interference from
foreign nations; we are at peace with
the world; neither did he fear or appre-
hend civil dissensiOns. The only men,
ace to-day to our institutions and per-
petuity of our government was the sup
preston of
FREE AND FAIR BALLOT.
He would like to hear a bugle call
throughout the land demanding pure
ballot. A free ballot, honestly ex-
pressed and fairly counted. was the
main safeguard of our institutions, and
it's suppression under any circum-
stances could not be tolerated. He ex-
horted his comrades to stand up, re-
gardless of partisan feeling, for honesty
and fairness. He closed his address
with a touching farewell tribute in
very near the following words:
''God bless you, every one; God bless your
homes and your families, and finally may
we all be reunited and marshaled in that
grand army above"
AS the general spoke his farewell
words, slowly and pathetically, many
of the veterans were weeping, and 81
lence reigned in the big hall for several
seconds after he concluded. Then his
comrades filed past him and each man
shook his hand cordially. But few of
them trusted themselves to speak as
they passed by and grasped his hand,
and the general was equally affected by
the solemnity of the occasion. He re-
turned home about 10 o'clock.