New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-31
THE PRESIDENTS TRIBUTE
HE TAKES PART IN THE MEMORIAL Elk
ERCISES AT PHILADELPHIA.
AN ELOQUENT INTERPRETATION OF THE MEAN
ING OF THE DAY-ENTHUsIAsTIC RE-

CErI0N By THE CITY.
Philadelphia. May 3o.-President Harrison. secre,
tery Proctor, Secretary Tracy Postmaster ''enera
wanamaker the Presidents private secretary r. "
Halford arrived here at IL :15 this morning over '
baltimore and Ohio Railroad for the purpose Oh 's"
part In the ceremonies Of Memorial Day. INC >,
dent and the members OF his Cabinet were the e"es "
George G.. Meade Post No 1. In "ai'hS ~ w
station TO welcome the President was oeeea''o" ~
the post headed by post-Commander Louis sanger, 80
.oon a tho train came 10 standsti It was boarded by
The delegation and Commander sanger weicoineu .ie
President in behalf Of the Post, and with the ioho"t
words pinned on his breast Post oadse. NJ.
GAS the representative of George G. Meade fost'
desire 10 decorate you with this badge ana 10 pin ~
over as loyal a heart as beats In the uid"u 1NS =
Thc president bowed his thanks TO Comnanuci
Sanger and taking his arm, left the car follower W
The rest OF his party The President passed down 'no
platforrn between a Of the comrades Oh ono Pc"
who were drawn up on either SIDE Witnouo te So, -
surging crowd that was with difficulty restraneu ',
a large platoon Of police, rushed forward wheh IL
o.uohi sight Of the President and set up d hearty
cheer to which the President RESPONDED Oy 'ai'iis ms
hat b x.... r,,,
Drawn up outside the station was the nis'o9io CioS
Troop Of cavalry Who from the day that washne.n,
entered this city to take his inaugural oath nave so
as An escort 10 every President who has been guess
=. pbfadslnh,a The troop bugler blew the Presidents
call hundred ssbres flashed in salutation to the Clei
Magistrate. and the line Of march was taken up ior
Independence Hall.
The entire coute was profusey decorated with bunt
ing and lined with crowds Of people, whose repeated
cheering compelled the President 10 go over most Oh
the route with his hat in his hand. The m@rcn
took the Pr sdent past tho headquarters OF
Meade Post and here. drawn up in line on the sue
walk were the comrades OF the post. Every MANS
hand went 10 cap, and the tatteed batte1ags vert
dipped and the President bowed in response. When
Independence Hall was reached the President was
nd
"A yayor Smart who with number of prominent citi-
sens in waiting to welcome him IL behalf OF the
kxv .efy Mayor stuart welcomed the PRESIDENT,
EMbo replied as follows:
9Mr Mayor comrades Of the Grand Army Of the
tReuublic and Fellow Citizens: esteem IL great
pleasure to stand in this historic edihce and IN TINS
Historic city, and to take part to-day, as comrade
of the Grand Army of the Republic. in these most
instructive and interesting exercises, which have been
Instituted TO keep alive in our hearts memories OF
patriotb past and sacrifice 1t Is evidently ap-
propnae that we shall stand for little time, before We
20 to tho graves of dead In this edhce, where the
foundation declarations of independence ard of civil
government were made and put into that course OF
development which has brought our Nation to It's
present great position of prosperity and influence
among the nations of the earth.
81 have recently, in an extended trip, been able 10
see what the flower is OF the seeds thai were pidu
here. We have here in Philadelphia community III
among men, and yet community that has gwen
consuouous ilst alton of the fact that the fruits Of
peace may sometimes need be defended by the vaor
of soldiers. (Applause). You did not at all depart
from the great lessons which were taught Dy iie
founders Of this colony when, united with your COM
rades from all the States you went out INTO the bei
10 hold up this and to maintain peace whlch
should be perpetual and apervadng in all the states
(Applause).
obedience to the law is the first element Of do
nestle peace and social order. (Applause0 You
went out to maintain that. and have established as
believe again In the affections Of our people the old
flag Of our fathers. and have settled the perpetual
Question OF LOYAL submission to the Constitution and
the law all the States. 1t has been settled TO the
great oontcntment and happiness OF all our people.
No other could have ever brought prosperity to
any section TO any State.
IT appreciate most heartily this generous well
come you extend to me to-day. and shall take part
In these exercises Of the day with sense OF
their fitness of the great events which they COM
memorate have never been able to think of the day
as one of mourning. have never been quite able to
feel that hamasted flags were appropriate on Decora-
ton Day. i have rather felt that the flag should be
OF the peak that those who have died for us. and
whose memory commemorate, would rejoice TO see
1t where their vaor placed it, (Applause) We
honor them with JOY and thankfuncss in triumphant
pommemoration of what they did. We mourn for them
as comrades from whom have departed, but feel
Tn, glory of their deeds and the glory of their
achievements as gather by their graves and set
them in an imperishable roll of honor
With this President Harrison ceased and the ap-
pluse followed loud and prolonged. The doors
were then thrown opcn and for an hour the President
shook the hads of the people of Philadelphia.
At the conclusion of the public reception the Presi
dent eas escorted 10 the Reading Railroad station at
Thirteenth and Callowhn and took the train for
Laurel Hill Cemetery, where he participated In the
ceremonies the grave Of General George G. Meade
lows:
"Commander comradel Of the Grand Army of the
tg,opublic and fellow citizens have neither the
strcng or the voice adequate to extended speech
ko-day TO you comrade, TO take part III the
Interesting exercises of this memorial day. gives me
special pleasure to combine with that tribute, which
have usually been able 10 pay since this day was in
sttuted to the dead Of all armies and a special
mark OF respect 10 great soldier who Gettys
burg 1t Is impossible to separate some impressions
of sorrow from these exercises for they bring To memory
comrades who have gone from u.s.
How vividly there to my memory many
battle scenes not the impetuous rush of conflict but
the hour Of sadness that followed victory. Then 1t
was our sad duty to gather from the field the bodies
of those who had given the last pledge of loyalty.
There is open to my vision more than one yawnns
trench in which laid the dead Of the old brigade.
We laid them elbow touching elbow, in the order in
which they had stood in the line of battle. We left
them in the hasy sepulchre, and marched on. Now
we rejoice that "a grateful Government has gathered
together the scattered Of all these comrades and
placed them In beautiful and safe places of honor and
rpose / cannot but feel that if they could speak
TO US to-day they would say Put the flag at the top
Of the mast
81 have recently returned from an extended tour Of
the States and nothing so impressed and refreshed me
as tho universal display OF this banner Of beauty
glory waved school house, it was in the
hands OF the school children. As We sped across the
sandy wastes at some solitary house. man, woman.
child would come TO the door and wave IL in loyal
greeting. Two years ago saw sight that has
ever been present in my memory AS we
were going out Of the harbor Of Newport about mid
night on dark night, some Of the officers OF the
torpedo station had prepared for beautiful sur
prise The flag at the top Of the station was unseen
IN the darkness of the night when suddenly electric