Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-01-18
INFORMAL RECEPTION.
Two Thousand OF General HarrisOn's
NeiEhbOEs Make Him a New
Years CaIl-At Night
He Visits
The Grand Army OF the Republic Post
and Talks TO His Comrades-'sA Free
Ballot and a Fair COunt"-An
Affecting Scene.

INDIANAPOLIS, January indianapolis
people gave themselves up to social festivi-
ties and amenities to an extent not practced
here for many years. They were favored
with pleasant agreeable weather. Business
was almost entirely suspended and the
streets were filed with pleasure seekers.
The notice Of the Harrison reception ap-
peared in the local morning papers in its
alphabetical order, simply as follows:
''HarrisOn's, General and Mrs, entirely
informal, 8 to p. m"
The handsome parIors Of the Harrison
residence were decorated with flowers and
plants, but not TO any elaborate degree.
Mrs. Harrison was assisted by her daughter,
Mrs. J. R. Mckee, Mrs. James Bradshaw,
Mrs. Edward Mckee, Miss Lima Mckee,
Miss Newcomer and Miss Riley of Harris
burg, Pa. General Harrison received with
the ladies' and Mr.. Russell B. Harrison par
ticipated for time in the reception. Both
the general and his son wore Prince AIberts.
The reception throughout was, as the no
tice stated, ''entirely informal"
It Is impossible to state how many callers
passed through the Harrison parlOrs during
the six hours but the stream was a constant
one and a moderate estimate places the
number at near 1000.
WITH his COMRADES.
George a. Thomas post No. Il. the Oldest
u. A. 4. post IN the city, held It's regular
annual installation meeting for the purpose
OF installing its newly elected officers. Be
tween 200 and 300 veterans were present.
General Harrison is a member OF this post.
Only members of the post were present.
About O'Clock General Harrison arrived at
the hall.
In a brief address to his comrades he re-
ferred to the fact that many men had gone
IA A,ef k-ear a
that he was about to be mustered III again.
This reference to his approaching assump-
ton of the high Office of commander-in-
chief Of the army eliciged approving demon
STATIONS from the veterans.
He was glad to see them, to be with them,
and he valued beyond expression the broad
cCmradeship of the G. A. R. He felt that 1t
was great honor that the privilege had fall
len 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 baptised
IN the blood OF the revolution, but also de-
Tended and preserved the ideas and princi-
pies of free government as they we're hand
cd down to US from the patriots of old.
he then spoke briefly upon the subject Of
q free ballot and fair count. He feared no
Interference from foreign nations. We are
at peace with the world. Neither did he
fear or apprehend civil discussions. The
only menace to-day to our institutions and
the perpeTulty OF our government, was the
suppression of a free and fair ballot. He
would like to hear a bugle call throughout
the land demanding a pure ballot. A free
ballot, honestly expressed and freely count
cd, was the main safeguard of our institu-
tiOns, and its suppression under any circum-
stances could not be tolerated. He exhorJed
his comrades TO stand up regardless of par
t1san feeling for honesty ana fairness. He
closed his address with q touching farewell
tribute in very near the following words:
God bless you, every one; may God bless
your homes and your families, and finally
we may all be reunited and marshaled in
that grand army above"
AS the general spoke his farewell words,
slowly and pathetically, many of the veter-
ans were weeping, and a silence reigned in
Guided. Then his comrades filed past, and
each man shook hands 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 sOlem-
nifty of the occasion. He returned home
about 10 o'clock.