The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-06-19
THE GRAND ARMY.
Successful Opening of the Third An
nual Encampment of the Cannon
Valley Association


Successful Opening of the Third An
nual Encampment of the Cannon
Valley Association.
The city has been handsomely dec
grated. Almost every business house
and many private residences are show.
ing their colors in artistic profusiOn.
The flags, banners, badges ami bunt-~
ing displayed all over the city bear
witness to the lively interest Mankato
people take in the G. A. r.
The encampment has been COM
plete success SO far in spite of the
rain. The exercises this forenoon be-
gan at 1890, with music by the band
and prayer by Rev. L. L. Corey Conn
mander Jacoby announced that May
or Willard was absent on account of
sickness, and introduced Rev. F.>M.
Rule to give the address of welcome.
Mr.. Rule said: | am sorry the mayor
and various other representative gen.
tlemen are absent and that the duty of
giving the address of welcome falls on
me: but [ am not unwilling to give it,,
and l welcome you to this encamp-
ment, The heavens have favored you
by cooling the earth and air, and /
trust the rain will not return but that
we may have pleasant day, and that
you may long remember this time of
friendship and patriotism and good
feeling.
Commander Jacoby spoke briefly
and earnestly of the causes of the war
and Of the spirit of fraternity and
patriotism that inspired such gather,
ings as this, and extended on behalf
of the Mankato post, hearty well
come to the visitors.
Lieut.. Gov. Ives was introduced
and spoke as follows: / was to re-
spond to an address by the mayor,
but respond to substitute instead,
but in the war the substitute did
about as well as the volunteer and in
this case he has done glorious service.
The commander has said that we
would have the more literary part of
the program this afternoon so I'll not
attempt anything in that line, but
will only talk to the old soldiers. On
occasions like this we pay too much
attention to eloQuence and not
enough to the stories and incidents of
the war. We used to have a good
time swapping stories with rebel pris-
oners. We would brag about this
fight and they about that. Work
and business cares tend to erase these
old scenes, but times like these tend
to renew them. The welcome for the
old soldiers that has been voiced here
to-day has been extended to them
ever since the war.
Comrade Reynolds, of Eagle Lake,
spoke next: How carefully the gov
eminent is reckoning how long we
will live. 1t has been estimated that
by the year 1915 they won't have to
pay us any more pensions. I'm glad
the board Of examiners here don't try
to cut down the soldiers pension as
they do in some places. We haven't
lost our patriotism on the farm or in
business; we are glad to honor the
flag as citizens of the United States,
but 1 hope our children will never
have to shed their blood as we have
shed ours, but that the principle of
arbitration may prevail between ma
tions. This nation holds the balance
of power and should lead in such
movement. 1 am glad to meet you
to-day, and hope you will all have
good time and go home-sober.
The number of visitors is larger
than anticipated, and the weather
could hardly be improved, though the
ground is a little muddy. The old
soldiers are having very successful
and pleasant encampment.