Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-14

Chief Palmer In the Hands
Of the Veterans.

Commander-in-C Chief Palmer In the Hand
Of the Veterans.
The Old Guard always does things wen. Thu
reception given by the company to Com
mander-in-Chief Palmer last night emphasized
this fact. The red parlor of the Ebbitt House wal
the scene of the entertainment. The wall
| were hung with the stars and stripes and the
great bronze g. A. R. badge which the Old
Guard captured in Detroit formed a conspicu-
GUS feature of the decorations.
At one end of the room was a table attended
by number Of colored walters. This table wal
facetiousy called the canteen. This canteer
yielded sandwiches, punch and other refresh
ments. Sixty uniformed members Of the Old
Guard marched from Grand Army Hall to the
| Ebbitt House at o'clock and the reception be-
| gan at once without any formaii,y or stiffness.
A spirit of comradeship prevailed that put
| every one at ease.
Commander-in-Chief Palmer was escorted
| into the room by Lieut.. A. H. Van Deusen. The
| members OF the Old Guard who were drawn up
| in line, received Gen. Palmer with cheers.
Lieut.. Van Deuseu, in Introducing Capt Pal
| mer to Capt. Edgar and the Guard az comman-
derin-chief of the greatest patriotic association
| ever known, said 1T is especially pleasing to
| me from the fact that for more than quarter
OF n century / have known this distinguished
| comrade personally, having been mustered
| by him into Lew Benedict Post, No. s. of
Albany. n. Y, away back in the sixties. And
| now, sir, to present HIM to you and to this
company of veteran soldiers ind leading Grand
Army men of this department in the capital
city of the nation we helped to preserve, sur
rounded by that beautiful emblem We all love,
the stars and stripes, to protect which we
placed our lives OH our country's altar, is
douby gratifying"
Commander-in-ChiefP Palmer in responding
spoke ieelingly OF his pleasure in meeting COM
rades, men of time and tried 10y atty to the
Union. He said he had son who was older
than he was when he entered the army at the
outbreak OF the war. He had given four of the
best years of his life to the service OF the
Union. He appreciated highly the honors
paid him by the Old Guard, which were
honors not TO him personally. but to the
position he had been called to fill. When no
looked around and saw on the breast Of every
man the Grand Army badge he knew he WAS
with comrades. He remarked that the proudest
legacy he could leave to his children Was the
right to say that their father was Union SOL
der and fought for the flag and the Constitu-
ton. lie regarded this reception as one of the
highest compliments paid to him since his cleo
ton.
Capt Edgar spoke briefly in response for the
Old Guard, and the comrades present were
then presented to the commander-in-ch chief, who
received them every one with a hearty grasp of
the hand and a pleasant word. During the
evening Capt. Palmer. sat with Col. Da-
DIR. Huntoon of the Grand Army council of ad-
ministratiOn, and chatted with members OF the
organization. Ex-Gov. Foraker came in for a
few minutes and was given a cordial greeting.
Later in the evening there was more speak
ing and much enthusiasm.
Lieut. Van Deusen, in the name Of the COM
mand. presented the commander-in-chief with
handsomely framed certificate OF honorary
membership in the Old Guard, and the COM
mander -in-chief responded eloquently: Capt.
Edgar, Quartermaster Burger, Sergt. Jacobin,
Private McCabe and Department Com
mander Pipes, who is member
OF the one-armed color guard Of the Old Guard.
spoke, and reference made. of course, to
the recent confederate flag order. Comrade
Burger referred to the ommander-n-chief as
"a comrade who has dared to say that he re-
spected but one country and one flag"
The commander-in-chiefs said that he had ex-
pected the confederate flag order would call
out criticism, but he had this consolation, that
he had the support of 500. 900 men. I'VE cam"
he said, afford to be generous. Some of my
over-zealous comrades think was not firm
enough. Some have said to Inc, why didn't
you give it to them?' believe that the senti-
ment that prevails in the minds of
the boys we fought would not justify
the public display of the confederate
flag. They are Americans. They reflected
credit on American yalor. We met them on
the field and defeated them, and they are to-
day American citizens. don't believe it is the
sentiment of those boys who fought that the
rebel rag-no: the rebel fng-if made any
mistake in my order it was calling it that
should be faunted in the face of the people.
The sentiment that led to such display be-
lieve emanated from the women of the
south, and not from the men who fought
for the south, for the women were always
the mos bitter. do not think that at this
time, when the war has been over for twenty
live years. it is necessary fer me to express
any sentiment OF bitterness. We respected the