The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1892-09-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.


The greatest week in the history of
that great organization, the Grand
Army of the Republic, ends today.
Within that week has been crowded
much that will never be forgotten by
those who came to the encampment,
either as participants or spectators.
The big parade was alone worth travel
ing around the world to see. it can never
be duplicated, as many of the $4,000
veterans who proudly marched up his
toric Pennsylvania Avenue will never
attend another encampment; it was a
living lesson in our country's history to
the rising generation, that will always
be remembered with pleasure; and think
you that anybody who saw that living
U. ;. flag formed of nearly 1000 school
children and listened to the songs of
patriotism and welcome with which
their tireless and fresh young voices
greeted almost continuously for seven
hours the veterans as they marched past
can ever forget the scene? This singing
flag idea was so unique and withall so
enjoyable that it's originator ought 10
be specially honored in some way by the
6. A. r.
Washington is proud of its encamp-
ment record. as it has every right to be;
it has disappointed the croakers at
home and abroad and shown that it
has no superiors and few, If any, equals
as host, and mind you, it is no small
task to satisfactorily entertain a crowd
that more than doubles city's popula-
ton. Hundreds of veterans who are
regular attendants at the annual en-
campments say that other cities have
treated them we'll, but none have ever
treated them so we'll as Washington has
done. The veterans were made to feel
that Washington belonged to them. and
during the entire week there was good
natured rivalry among Washingtonians
to see who could do the most to enhance
the favorable Impression made upon the
veterans when they arrived. The work
Of the local committee has been wonder
full; it exhibited to the visitors the most
handsomely decorated city they had ever
seen; 1t furnished comfortable free sleep.
ing quarters to $4,000 veterans and ar.
ranged for an ample supply of food for
them at reasonable prices; it introduced
for the pleasure of the visitors an entire.
ly new method of fancy electric illumina
ton for streets; it arranged system o.
reunions, with the aid of Gen. Palmer
and his staff, that was decided i'm
provement in that line; it gave an exhi
bition of fireworks as fine as ever seen in
Washington; it stationed courteous
clerks wherever it was thought informa
ton might be desired by veterans. In
short if anything was left undone that
might have added to the comfort Of its
guests it was because nobody had sug
gested it to the committee.
Partisan politics were tabooed during
the encampment, but it required nc
special effort to ascertain that Mr.. Cleve
land and his copperhead associate on tn.
democratic ticket has few if any, friend.
among the rank and file of the G. A. r
The veterans cannot forget, if they want
! ed to, the treatment of hundreds of thcil
poor and deserving comrades, at til,
hands OF Mr.. Cleveland when he wa.
president.
The simplicity of republican institu
tons has never heen more fttingly exem
plifled that when an ex-President o
United States-Rutherford B. Hayes
marched on foot in the great parade, il
the ranks of the Ohio post of which h,
is an honored member. Many think h,