The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-09-20
Veterans Of tho Republic Again
March Through the Streets Of
Washington.
the Place OF Stirring
Scenes Of Which They
We're Part.
The Address Of Welcome by vIce-Presi,
dent tMorton--candidntcs for Head
Of the Organization.

night. The question of who will be the
next commander-in-chisf Of the Grand
Army IL one of absorbing interest TO .
great number Of Grand Army men here.
Three candidates for the honor are in tho
fisld-Col. Charles r. Lincoln, Of Washing
ton. Col. A. q. Weisert. Of Wisconsin, and
Gen. s. II. Hearst, OF Ohio.
Twenty-six years ago q loyal orRanizs-
tion. known a. the Grand Army Of the Re-
public. was formed with b. +. Stevenson,
of Illinois, as the first commander. Since
then yearly reunions Of the men who
fought to preserve tire union have mst In
reunion, but never in this city since the
close of the war Of the rebellion until to-
day. For days the griZZled comrades have
been gathering from every part Of the
union. until the attendance surpasses any
thing ever seen in Washington. All hotels,
tented camps, school houses. and Z large
number of private residences are thrown
open to them, ana are crowded with men
who defended the capital against invasion
in the dark days of frateHnal strife. Every
available resource is drawn on. and In spite
of the vast thronQ everybody ID cared for.
sheltered and fed.
As the hours of the night wore on, the
hustle and stir which characterized the day
and evening subsidized and the statement
"All quiet on the Potomac" became 40
true az in the days when some OF these
same patriotic men slept on their 6rms
under the open sky on the banks OF the
historic river. To-day broke bright and
as the sun mounted the east there was
genial warmth like that of early autumn
or belated summer.
1t was just the day for going about and
enjoying life out of doors. The camp was
early sstir and ablutions and breakfast
attended to and the visitors were ready TO
enjoy the day. Decorations of the city
were elaborate and tasteful throughout, but
along historic Pennsylvania avenue. from
the capitol building to Twenty second
street. along which the union armies
marched with aervice-worn uniforms and
battle-scarred flags at the close Of the war,
was particularly brilliant.
l gRnblic buildings received special care in
| this regard and the white house and treas
ury department were conspicuonsly1 y1beauti-
| full aud elaborate. The feature of the day
was the Inauguration and dedication Of the
Grand Army place. as it IL called. II ia \
maRnificsnt stretch of green sward, lying
just south of the white house grounds. On
| this, by arrangement of tents and stands.
had been laid out reproduction of the
closing of the cam paign war. with Rich
mond in the center. surrounded by groups
of tents representing the various army
| corps which assisted to wind up the war.
A prominent feature on tho grounds 10
| the model of the old war vessel kearsarRe.
Some portions Of the original vessel. such
| as the rudder post, port holes and dead
latch being from the old vessel itself. The
dedication of the Grand Army place was
preceded bv parade of members Of the
I'M MAJ nf
interest to ths veterans affordiug them an
opportunity to contrast the arms and ao-
coutrements now in use with those carried
during the war.
The procession consisted of Ave brigades,
including troops of ths regular army, naval
batteries and marines, the District national
guard. the posts of the department. of thu
potomac, G. A. R., and Sons of Veterans.
The procession marched from Second street
up to Pennsylvania avenue to the treasury
building. whore it was reviewed by Vice
President Morton; thence to the Grand
| Army place.
Commander in Chief Palmer dwelt on
| the glorious record of the union armies;
referred feelingly to the absence OF beloved
dead comrades; spoke regretfully of the
enforced absence of President Harrison.
paying tribute to him az soldier and presi-
dent, and introduced Viee-Pfesidens Nor
| ton. Having first read the Presidents tele--
gram of regret at his absence Morton then
delivered the formal dedicatory address.
After the parade Vice Presidsns Morton
was escorted to the Grand Army place ana
| was received with a salute ftom the guns Of
the kearsags, and took his place ON the
stand beside Commander-in.C Chief Palmer.
MIR. Morton began the address Of well
come by referring in sympathetio terms to
the domestic reasons which Caused the alb
sence of President Harrison and prayed
| God to give him grace in the hour of need.
'.he who had been standing at the gates of
the nation to challenge the entrance of an
| i'm placable enemy that must be confronted
at the outposts." Turning to the matter
| directly in hand the speaker continued: II
see before me survivors OF generation of
mon who have emblazoned the pages of his
tory and freedom for all time to como; who
| have set the example for republican France
| for united Germany. Tor reconstructed
Italy, and who have broadensd and deep
sned the foundations Of the English consti-
this great army OF liberty whether they
have PASSED away or are still present for
duty, you are honored representatives. The
president would speak TO you 40 oomrade.
| 1t 10 for me to greet you III behalf Of the
business interests affecting the welfare Of
commerce. of she husbsndmsn and arti-
san, employer and employed; on behalf Of
l. all men and women from every section who
love the union. bid you welcome on be-
| half of the president and his cabinet ad-
visers, on behalf of the congress OF the
United States and the national judiciary.
administering collectively the government
you have secured. and on behalf of the
whole people made illIstrious BY your
heroism and that of your adversaries, now
your friends. ] greet you on behalf OF the
stalwart north and the loyal south, of the
sun- llumined east and the commanding
wost; under tho shadows OF the capitol
in this beautiful city. founded by Washing
ton, made sacred by the services and sacri-
foes of Lincoln, and in ful! view Of Vir-
GINA, the birthplace of presidents and tho
burial place OF heroes. r
! "ln the o der of time this may or may
not be your last grand review, but express
the hope of II grateful people that heaven
will bounteously lspgthen out your lives
before YOU are allied to the other shore to
rsioin the ranks of your companions Aud.
my countrymen. on behalf OF the whole
American people dedicate this Grand
| Army palace, and the commemorative
memorials which, it 10 believed. will DO
hereafter erected upon IL, TO the everlasting
gloriss of the Grand Army Of the Republic.
Cob bless all. and those who to-day unite
with you in strsngt gthenina the union Of the
great republic"
After Morton there were very brief In
formal speeches BY Secretary Noble. Astss-