, 1890-08-14


good night"
At THE MECHANICS PAVILION.
After tho address the president nnt
members Of tho cabinet, with Admirn
Ghcrsrd and staff. retired and proceed
cd to the reception at tho Mechanics
building. At least $4,000 people availet
themselves OF the opportunity to see anC
hear the distinguished persons whc
were announced 10 be present at the re
ception OF tho Grand Army anC
Woman's Relief Corps In Mechanics
hall. Upon the platform were Mrs
Annie Wittenmeyor, national president
Of the Woman's Relief Corps, Miss Clari
Barton, pres dent Of tho Red Cross As
sooiation, and many others.
Shortly after 0 O'clock General Alge
arrived, followed soon after by Genera
Sherman. General Sherman was among
the first speakers. just as General Shcr
man concluded his remerks the prosi-
Dental party reached the hall.
Mrs Wtitenmeyer then spoke In DO
half OF tho woman's corps. She outlined
the work OF the organization.
General Alger was next called upon
He thanked the city and its officers fo
the courtesy extended.
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
Following General Alger the president
was introduced AS Comrade Harrison
president of the United States, and
greeted with tremendous applause. The
president said:
: IL had Impressions both pleasurable
and painful as looked upon the great
procession of veterans which swept
through the streets of this historic
capital today, pleasurable IN
faces of those who shared
together the perils and gIories of the
great struggle for the Union, sensations
of mourniul sort as 1 Thought how
seldom we should meet again. AS
have stood in the great National ceme-
terry at Arlington, and seen those silent
battallons of the dead, have thought
how swiftly the reaper Is doing his work
and how soon in the scattered Ccme te ries
of the land the ashes of all the soldiers
Of the great war shall be gathered 10
honored graves, and yet could not help
but fee that in the sturdy tread OF those
battaiions there was yet strength ol
heart and limb. and that they would not
be withheld IL q present peril should
confront the nation that you love.
thought II altogether proper that should
take brief furlough from official duties
to mingle with you here to-day as a
comrade, because every president must
realize that the strength OF the govern
ment, as well as its defense in war. the
army that Is to gather under its banner
when our nation Is assailed, Is TO lie
found here In the masses OF our people. !"
On closing the president left at once
and took the midnight train for WASH
ington- There were loud calls for Vice
President Morton and after considerable
persuasion he wus induced to say a few
words. This closed the speech making
and the hall was quietly cleared.
BosroN, Aug. I3.-The convention oi
the Twenty Fourth National Encamp-
ment Of the g.. A. r. came to order al
Music hall at IL o'clock. A prayer was
offered by Past Chief Chaplain NJ. Eos.
ter, and Commander-in.C Chief Algel
then delivered the address, OF which the
following is a summary: He oongrat
ulated his hearers on celebrating the
twenty fifth anniversary Of the end o
the rebellion in the historic city known
as the "Cradle of Liberty" He deliv-
cred warm words of welcome to General
Sherman. and reported the condition oI
the organization to be excellent. The
total membership borne on the rolls wat
ASS, 2So. against 427, ,0sl year ago.
Alter referring to a disappointment in
the ranks that congress had not passed
the service pension bill, the speaker
continued: "Much apprehension ex.
lists, think, concerning the disability
bill, passed June 27, 1880. BY care.
full reading of this law and an official
explanation fit, 1t will be seen that no
matter what a mans financial condi-
tion may be, II he be physically dis
abled from performing manual labor. he
Is entitle to pension, the conditions
being, first, physical disability not nee
essariIy contracted in the service; and,
second, proof of such disability may be
made upon certificate from his ply
sioian and without testimony of his
former comrades. Should any member
Of this encampment to-day receive Il
permanent injury not the result of his
own vicious habits, ne would be en-
titled to a pension. Let us be just to
our lawmakers, even though they have
not given us all we asked. On country
on earth is, or ever has been nearly SC
generous 10 its soldiers as ours"
|, Con cerning the Grant monument
General Alger said: "An ordinary plain
vault on the banks OF the Hudson mark:
the resting place of our great chieftain
This is not creditablc either to us or tc
the nation. There should be erected al
the capital of this government q monu-
ment dedicated to the memory of this
great man, a memorial building such as
will be credit to the whole people.
Not u shaft, not a statue, but a monu-
mental structure, such as has not beer
built In this or any other country
Inspector General Griffith reported
that the order was growing numerically y
strong, and working earnestly and har-
monIously In mrthering the grand oh.
Jects Tor which II was organized. He
presented list showing that the mum.
Der OF posts in the Grand Army June 80
1890. was 1888; number of comrades in
good standing in the posts inspected 10
June 30, 35l, pa; number of posts in.
spected, 900; number of posts not in
spected. lO5l; total amount expended
for charity, $2s2, ,556; amount remaining
in the relief fund. 1915. $50.
The report OF Surgeon General Porter
recommends that the inspector be re-
quired to examine post officers as to
their knowledge of department and gem
eral matters pertaining TO organization,
and the care OF destitute and needy com
rades. The pension law" the report
says, should harmonize with the nat
ural history of all disability cont racted
while the victim was in the service OF
the United States and in the line of duty.
and which is not the result of his own
vicious habits"
THE woMAs's RELrEF CORPS.
The eighth annual convention of the
National Woman's Relief Corps was