The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-04-16
QUARTO-CENTENNIAL.
How the Silver Anniversary was
Celebrated in Decatur.


Eaily decorated and had general holiday
appearance From countless stats flags tloated
HIGH above the heads OF those who were crowd
ing below, and the visitors were IN the best OF
humOr
The exercises began Monday night, April G,
nj the Grand Opera House, in the presence oil
q vast thronP. The program opened with
America" followed by tie reading OF General!
Orders Is, which had called the meeting III
nc Decatur. Gen NeaZey then delivered an
address, after which was read the history OF lost
THE pioneer Post Of the Grand Army 81 ihe
Republic. The reading OF the history 81 Den
ham Post WAS the next thing, and at its close
the Post was presented with two volumes OF
war sketches.
Gen. George A. Mardon then spoke on the
Grand Army, aud after him Durham Post pre-
scented its contribution, which amountef 10
$500 to the National Memorial Hall Gen, IL,
j, Opleshy closed tile meeting with an address,
strongly advocating The erection Of National
Memorial Hall Rt Decatur The enthusiasm
was intense when Gems Nea2ey and Marden
addressed the assembage.
ON Tuesday a meeting of the Executive
Committee was held at which Commander-ln-
Chief Eeazev presided. Durham Post held n
meeting az its Post rooms, which was well at
tended. Mrs. /. Tolaud Mckee presented the
Post with a silver brick, upon which was IN
scrihed the names of the l2 charter members
OF old Post ]. Gems NeaZcy and Alarden at
tended tlis meeting and were given rousinG
reception, and great applause greeted their
speeches. The Campfire WIS kept MP until the
small hours Of the morning. The Department
Of Illinois MRC. held a reception az the Opera
House, where eX Senator Johns made the nd
dIes, OF welcome. Speeches were made by Gen
Neazey, Adi't-Gen. Goudmg, Gov. Oglesby
aud prominent members of the Illinois WR.C.
The great parade occurred on "Wednesday
During tire preceding night and ON the morn
ia ftIt8 az tTa hR
rounding country came ilOclling into the city,
aud conservative estimates placed the number
81 people ia the city at $4,000 The sidewalks
aud streets were crowded, and the police had a
hard time 10 keep the people out OF the way Of
The procession. House-iulh were occupied With
people, and the windows OF tho houses along
the route Of the procession were also filed.
The weather was perfect. q. r. Steele was
Marshal, sud the order Of the parade was as
follows: Dnnham Post l4l, escort Of Gen.
Neazcy, Gov. Fiier ex-Goy Oglcsby, MATS
john Burst and j. L. Hays; Gov. Fiier's stat /;
Senior Vice Commander Howell, Department
OF Illinois, commanding the first division OF the
parade, followed by original Post ] Depart
ments of Missouri and Wisconsin; Woman 6
Relief Corps Department Of Illinois, with
Commander William Distin; Post J. Rock ford !;
George III. Thomas Post, 3, Chicago Gen.
George Meade Post, asa, Chicago; Abe Lincoln
Post 81 Chicago; Chester Outteu Post We'll
Stevens Post 7l3. Chicago
The second division OF the parade was com
manded by Junior Vice Commander N. b.
IhisteW00d, Department Of Illinois followed
by Gen. Grant Post, % Chicago; Gen. w. T.
Sherman Post Jag bloomington Ia Place
Post 702i Jordan Post 535, Macon; Gerro
GOrdO Post, 2lD: Col. Il. w. Sheppard Post
Quincy; Moultrie County Battalion and Dele.
gates NATION Post iO4 Neopa Post, POP;
huT0a Post BIS; Cv Klcgg Regiment Of
Peoria Pana Post al, Panai 20 survivors Of
tbe Eth lll.
The third division was commanded by Col
George b. Stadden, Commander OF the Illinois
Division Of the Sons OF Veterans followed by
Camps from Springfield Decatur, Bloomington,
and Monticello The remainder OF this divis-
Jon YVES filled by the Decatur Zouavos bicyclists
with decorated wheels aud several Thousand
delegates, who marched in line aud helped to
swell the procession bui no record of them was
kept as they marched as individuals aud not
Hs organizations.
Tile Huuber Of mon Ia line was estimated at
1000, and they made "a splendid showing. The
veterans cheered as they passed the reviewing
eHudr winch WIS it charge OF cE- Senator Johns
and Col q. NJ. Johus. George H. Thomas Post,
OF Chicago. made thc finest appearance OF any
in line Seated anon the REVIEWING stand were
commandments Ncazey, Gov Fifer aud
stan, consisting Of Gen. Vance, Coils Rice.
Hanna, Pierce Pickett Bryan Chaplain J. d..
L1zirfp hieeden, Reeves, Warner and Mat
thcwsi ez-G0v. OHe-by, Gen. j. s. Martin,
Gen. LEO l.assicur Past Commander OF Mis-
souri, Past Illinois Commanders J. W. Burst.
p g. LAWYER l.. r. Dickinson. a. q. Swertzer.
hna hcu. 4. o. Post Secretary Of State Pictson,
Attorney 6enerl Hunt, Auditor Pavcy Con.
gresham Busey Of Danvilic; j. 81. Weight Of
Arbana Capt tlOkcy Mi. II. T. Hayes. Rev.
Horace Reed, Of Clinton The survivors OF the
oHein.A charter members Of Post No. ], and a
lew nlHep.
bOv Ficr. OF Private Joe az tile Comrades
called hlm, and cZ Gov OgIesby were kept busy
bowling g. Io veterans After the procession
had passed The stand the crowd CLOSED in and
called upon Gov. Filcr Tor 4 speech uut he re.
piica thb thc GROVE WIS 20 great that IL would
o. impossible Tor ali 10 hear him. aud refused
20 speak. Uncle Dick Oglesbv paid no at
ttuiiOu 10 tic cries iDT linn, bur a. the crowd
lelt tie stand Gcn. heHzcy, Gov. FIfcr and
T" DICK Ogcsby hold an impr0mpiu recepiion
hh1 general HaHdsAak ing 10 HlI Who could get
nraT enough 10 reach thum.
AZ the corner Ul Mood and Water streets a
large tent had been erected IA which 10 hold
lHe grand campfire "Wednesday night. Every
hsHllHDlc inch 81 space in IL was occuUief and
several thousands were turned aWay Tbe
campfire opened with music followed by prayer
~ Department Chaplain Josiah Moore After
thih Mayor hHnau in "a brief speech welcomed
TIC Veterans. 10 which Commander Dsgtiu ne.
tponaedt aud among other things be said:
iu Tie name ~ tiIr Department Of IIIfnni- liza,
lhf" iiie honor " represent thuuk YOU Tor ~.
ANiN'H Nfit'ii'- Nr arc Elhd o. RECEIVE yuttr
NclcoHHe islha % bc ueuilers OF the Grand Art,y
lhu itjulrC Dee title our 18TH utnlerrsHry ~
hrf iltfuN ~ tItr record Ne made tn 1GI ma .y
p"hi uI N4e achievements wc have attained Sinner
ttti iHnf proud ~ Qua organization. S, gIyfy
% srhE ltc rtlVT lit pUIfmc4fl 10 lr Grand rtt
Mt2 D. % Ns h"hr lui forgotten those d..yE--rsr.
h"'tFii oar nir-riuHiesf Nhy2 Because al tIte
'rHhd Army t4lc Republic, broaus, tllc iies tgt
It ID ma fI III I'D 4..H
talhlr hHd Nl Iiilruu-ue layo blen IBcfrtutt.I
AhfpNEN UuT brIDAHl Dfurf. tlfs f-ruUataf tr.ft-r
hopa tae world hur ever known. We nf,ur,r5 49,
49, you h.Fe done fIfa Hre doing to nuke nm.
DC is4"h 49, "iJ YyHolc Huh A. most memorable one
hud we WISH 3uu success it an ,uur 49,.
nAd assure you Wr viii carry 81 ,JIr li.,,. -,
hil inFiiinIlcr ~ ile days -Ycul M youf no-fitlll.
tilat celebrating ntu silver Huu vrfrFrv D
ia 1op OEiushy then delivered an address
81 welcome lH behalf ~ Durham Post which
I0st De- ihc outEroWth OF the original Posi-
Gov. Filler was introduced aud made a briei
speech, in which he sad
u Ihc Order} pnys out $3.50 600 annually In aid
81 cptHghaCs. Through if powerful. Influence 80
nltft llHlurh hHFr bacon Duilt. C0mrudr, saved fr,
lUyflNNsrr nuu made lIDAurcd pueHt- Of ts Ntnt.
IhnaA-t lir power AL Influence much pet.sfou leg.
lrihAou liur been ublHiucd. This y only "a su1gI
iIHrfUu ui NIH AH- brsi done We r.aIizr tlt,i
ht AHNc lcurhtn Qua zenith, We will decline
HoM hnh i4I' Grand Army Wil. soon cease Grant
sherman sheridan md toe immortal Logan hnys
R"dra llie N.HRisu River aud climbed tile ds iae,
nh lHf a4str eide. N a should lIE 10 Elrpurttrr
Ale DiN.t litbUynT ~ years since lee surrendered
toIe There VIII newer bc another war If tller,
y h'thr hoii-e hoW iFi you won't get me into ID
AlHelcalih make liic best soldiers in tlt,
N#s-a fUr N.f.rr az. a.. 4. a.. a.