The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-05-30
THEY WEARTHEGRAY
Father Time Has Silyered the
Hair OF the Soldiers.
spEEch ~ GENERAL ALcER.
nut fss ths Men Whs Rsesivs Pittascs
Ersm The Nsfisn. There would be
No free Ceversment Today.
spEech ~ GENERAL ALcER.

General Alger was given rousing recep-
ton BIZ the Grand Army men Of To.edo,
Ohio, on bis return from his Western trip.
In response TO an invitation he made the
following address:
M Chairman, Mr. Mayer. Mr. Conssondey,
md LADIES' and Geasisgsen: IL some friend
men who have exhausted the vocabulary
in unmefited praise Of me had simply an
n0uDced me here tonight 10 talk to you
few minutes should feel very much more
comfortable than / do nor. When you
call upon man to do that which is impos-
pible. or expect OF him that which is be-
yond his capacity. you always oveFdo the
matter. In this life, comrades, we are bat
trustees. Men are given different stations
20 fill. men have different tasks allotted
them, and whatever may he given them 10
possess ID simply gwen that they may use
IL to the hest OF their ability. 1t matters
not what fortune may come 10 man. the
more he has the greater the responsibility,
and be who negIects 10 try 20 I'LL the place
allotted 70 him in life Is simply failure.
| wish 10 report TO you. comrades. that
during the last four months. rs you may
have occasionally read. have been pretty
nearly I'll over this great country OF onrs.
visiting the different departments and
many OF the posts, and many gatherings
OF old soldiers: and am very glad here
tonight To report to you that IN every de-
partment the organization Is not only
fourishing and increasing in numbers, but
that the feeling Of enthusiasm and OF CON-
radeship Is growing more and stronger
every day. Wherever have heen. through
the great West, through the South, through
the East and through the middle states.
We find that our old comrades are among
the foremost citizens OF every state. and
are eoing their fun share in developing the
country. have found that, in places oil
trstst. where people wished men to fill OH
ces. 10 take care OF great estates, that
among them all. in every city. were the
men who wore the button OF the Grand
Army Of The Republic. Applause.
And comrades, as we came over here to-
night. led by the young men who are with
Us here this evening. there Is no doubt that
every one Of you, a. well as l. turned back
to twenty-five or thirty years ago. when we
were young men like you. boys turning TO
you led as or down the street. you forgo.
somewhat our nges, you marched away
from sis As though you thought our time
bad come. and you were going 10 turn US
down. Now. boys. want 10 tell you, yor
cant do that yet. daughter. We are
very proud Of you; we are very much
obliged 10 you for your escort; but the
tftAh 1aaN t0a tNNb VII ff3y fOtI inASl& -
little slower, take your steps little shorter,
for we are bound 10 follow You great
many years yet. We are very much obliged
TO you indeed for being with us here to-
night. because you. and the Sons of Veier-
ans who are here. must soon take in hand
this great charge al ours.
We regret. Of course. as we look over an
audience ike this, To see SO many bald
heads. so many who wear the grey. -
whose hair was different twenty-five years
ago; hut, comrades, let our lives end when
they may, we will have this To- our credit :
that We have flied place tina; no other
race OF men ever filled oil this present CEN
sary. IAppIaasel. We have very much
yet 10 do.
There are all over this land of ours siiil
many who are in want and in poorhouses
and while xe hear so much talk about rem
sion matters, while we hear so many crit.
cisms. we like TO remind the powers that
he. ana the people who are enjoying the
blessings We Won. that twenty nine wears
ago the government was almost in a state
oi chaos, that IL hsdn't dollar in the
treasury, and IL hadn't any means OF OBJ
tanning money. War was brought upon
rs. aud wc all remember the terrible con
dict from 81 To 6a. But let us look back
comrades, for moment, 10 the beginning
OF that las, year OF the war. We had ther,
what 10 known TO NIL business men a. a
great bill book, On one side OF it Wa
written debt of bills payable debt oil
nearly Si.@a,00.us. On the other side
we're 100000 of sndorsers wearing The
blue in the south: and every man who had
signed nnster-rols said when he signed /,
he pledged all he had on earth thas tina,
Ereat debt that was contracted hv the war
should be paid, smd he would he personally
responsible for IL Great applause
When the war erded few months after
that. We turned over 10 the government d
redeemed country, We turned over TO the
government en- opportunity To SO into
business, 10 pay It's debts; and when We
received our discharge from the service al
the United States. We then les; 10 ready "a
20 into business. And by your yalor alone
and that oi your comrades. this great gov
eminent Was ahse to liquldate that deht
and today is the richest and ATTEST govern
nlent ca earth. Renewed applause And
We want 10 remind these people. when they
talk about our having TOO much Tor oul
comrades. that but Tor your services In The
neld. We would have no country TODAY.
Was out In California a few weeks ago
and ! saw vast audience, numbering, per
harx. three times Is many as there are In
this hail told them that bat for the mer
and their comrades who we're there. Their,
would be no California today. As l went
along UP thai wonderful coast: as saw
che magnificent buildings. the great IN
crease IN wealth, IN population. and in tbs
prosperity ct every man in the country.
said 60 myself. s'ius for those meu Wis
have received a pst,anee, and that only, Al
OF this today would have been chaos.
IAprlAnse.
Aud so. comrades. as have said before
we are nos tFeasury-wueekvFs. bat We sss
mand, $4,000 ssrong, that the govern men
ne saved shall care iog tie men BIO are rsg
longer able TO care for themselves.
Now. comrades. as cur orsier Is increasin.
in numbers. and ne set the rcports OF on,
mortality. can bah Eeel that fsx years
and sew yesrs cnly. viii see the last 81 a.
nsnsteref ent We are passing away aow
. suA divs2ios year. soon II will he a.
army corps. and then az array, aud thers
viii lie Tor ns Simply hsStory, and shs
mighty country we have saved from wrvc
naa ruin. ApT@suse.I And whatever NAV
Re our lots in afe, bee as iii 30 the end 4
the ssst Of oar sbt.Sts. the place thai i.
assigned as. 50 that " hen wr have PASSED
hence. and these yoang aasn take The work
up where we have ieSt ss they VII say and
say truly. These heroes made Cor VS. VIA
we hare
! thank yoa most heartily sor yoag cor,
dial greeting. | do rot take IA Zoe aaaySesf
bat - a repress atssise es sae Gr4ad Asnsy
ct the ksaahsse eeaGx fsesa ere sBsnzrs.
Hlsnt ~ asuthes sgans ens gssAernz