The National tribune., 1892-09-29
snake r. You have come from every section of our
common country and are all thrice welcome TO the
homes and inequalities OF Washington.


GEN. PALMERs RESPONSE.
Tho Commander-in-C Chief responded as fol-
lows:
f;yes of the a6th National Encampment oil the
Grand Army of the Republic return 10 you anu
sbe iza,.s Of Washington their heartfelt acknowi-
ndcmeuts for YOUR kind and hospitable welcome
10 vour beautiful city, Columblas Capnai. AZ -
eminenly appropriate that we should agar, nee. nee.
In q ctv where .? years ago. at the close OF Liat
great civil conflict, the Union armies nafcheo in
review before their gallant leaders, the granoest
and most effective army the woLaa rsnd nau music Of
war wreatica with the garlands of victory. les
terday the survivors OF that grand ohlon H.nS, ,
,rhic6 II, 1896 were reIlete with youthtui Sigor
.nd ,,o,,i. strength marched over the same
ground $40 ior.t.er with muskets on their siouuSis
and sabcr- ity their sides hut Keeping step 20 ,n
elyerv 81 rams IF peace happy IN the tiouSht .hi
fbe Union has been cemenled anew, ana cfiZehs oi
all SECTIONS oC our country look henignly upon our
Festivities a'i rejoice 10 see the SlaIs anu >
floating suurcmely over reunited people aho II
nrosperot;- Nation. To-day we have the repre-
sentativps from Al STATES; strong In themselves,
they are Iae iniehtier because they spehk ioa % ,e
half a mlinn veterans at home Ihey voice Ii'e
sentimen,s of the Nations defenders W hen thsy
laid aside the weapons OF war ihey ehiisleu ,u 't,e
noble WOE, 0f caring for the weak anu ieeo.et ."
layiatinp Ihe sorrows of the widows and orphans
and extei.,lsrr aid TO those worthy comraues Win
whom they stood shoulder 10 shoulder In the heiu'
FOR yol-I KIND AND CORDIAL WORDS
OF welcome know my comrades ieei tfny ErIle @ =
but a reni.t left OF that great army oi o. Ihou-
sands have since passed in review before the Com
mandcrilr- Chief Of the Universe ana no" ihhiis
NAV Ias VIII be left at lie cnG OF another decsde
Many who doued the soldier sarb In the lntl Nlsor
of their ..at,lood begin 10 faiter; the few ha re-
main growing old and ieehhe' anu VIII ;, na
seems 20 be vanishing dream, there VIII soon
come TO "a all that final reunion III the great nero
after Many yisit Washington for the hrst time
since the close of the contest. Its progress ana
beauty is a wonder even in this wonderful age IN
which we live All over this great Nation my
comrades have been looking forward 10 this ocsst,
sion with anticipation Of great pleasure, anu
know from the zeal and interest displayed ny your
committee and the generosity of your ciuzens III
proyjdinr for this event will be source oil en-,
inrnas,,. 20 all who have attended and they will
carry brck 10 their respective homes the most
pleasan and lasting reueTnbrances oil their WISH 10
the Capital cf the Nation. =,
already that we are at home among Triends ana
comrades aud hope our sojourn IN your city viii
be such hat our friends and comrades VIII ieei
tives Of our Order and that we may prove ourselves
not only
WORTHY OF THE COMPLIMENT
you have paid us, but still further commend and
eptle us TO the respect and approval OF our fellow
citizens / know we shall hold this visit IN
cherished remembrance This gathering To-Day
brings back vividly to our memories many OF INC
sad scenes of The past but we are not here TO open
up the closed wounds made in that great struggle
The Union soldiers are the conservators OF peace,
and the men who were brsyest and bore the brunt
of battle are among the first to promote feeling oil
fraternity among all sections of our couRtry Rec-
onciliaiion and forgiveness are as commendaoie
in a good citizen as were heroism and vaor IN q
good soldier and we rejoice in the fact that to-day
we are nj peace with all Nations. But should The
stern necessities of again require the services
of fhe "citizen-soder God grant that time may
never come-you would find the men of all sections
of this great Nation Standing shoulder TO shoulder
IN the ranks of their common country. with such
an army that the combined armies OF other Ma
fions would find it difficult TO penetrate and a
motto that is dear to the hearts of every American
citizen. "0ne country and one flag.
And now Mr., Commissioner, permit me, IN my
own behalf to thank you sincerely and warmly
for this welcome 10 our Order L can offer you
nothing in return, except it be that which now
most cordially lender, a asoidiers remembrance ana
his heartfelt gratitude.
GEN. PALMER PRESENTED WITH GAyEL-
Comrade T. d. Yeager, Department of the
Potomac presented the Commander-in-Chlef
with 3 silver mounted gavel, made from his
toric wood He addressed the COMMANDMENTS
Chief as follows:
CoMMANDER: The members of your staff in the
Department of the Potomac desire your attention
for g few moments, for the purpose OF presenting
to you a slight testimonial Of love and respect anu
their great appreciation of the work performed by
you during the past year, which mas resulted Ia
iunpressing upon the people of this country the
noble principles upon which this great organlza-
ton is founded, and the patriotic work 10 winch
the Grand Army is pledged.
Your administration of the affairs of the Grand
Army OF the Republic has been highly successui.
and the position ably filed by your predecessors
has had ia you faithful servant ever watchfui OF
the best interests of the Order and actuated by The
patriotic instincts that have brought this organiZa
ton 10 The high standard which it now enjoys.
We thank you for the many acis OF kindness and
the cheerful words with which you have always
encouraged us in the performance OF our duties
and clIerish Our association with you as one OF
the happiest events Of our life.
As a Testimonial OF our high regard for you per-
sensy aud officially. 1t Is my privilege TO present
TO you. on behalf OF your Aids in the Department
of The Potomac, this garel, which embodies IN Its
different parts OF The most interesting events
that marked the period Of the gres. conflict out OF
which grew ting vast Organization OF brave and
patriotic men which you now command.
The head of his garcl IS composed of foar pieces
OF wood. This section OF yellow pine formed
part OF tie mortar battery that hsed the first gun
at Fort Sumter April H. 1861, al 4:30 n. IN.
The see,ion Of white walnut was cut from Q tree
which stood in The field OF Gett, sburg.
The piece OF red cedar cut from a tree stand
ing in the angle formed by The crossing at Five
Forks. Va, being the point around which the
battle OF Five Forks was fought. As this was the
battle IN which your bravery won the special COM
mendaiiou Of your commander, it was deemed
fitting that il should be included.
The piece or walnut was cut from The body OF a
tree which stood in the courthouse yard at Apo
mattox at the time OF the surrender.
The haudle is made Of two separate pieces. one
of which ~gas cut from a tree which stood on Snod-
grass Hill at Cckamauga, while The other formed
part of ;bai glorious old ship tie Kearsarge, who
helped ia a remarkable degree 10 establish the
progess of the American Navy.
Commander, in severing oor official relations
with you. take bSme with you our best wishes for
your future success IN life and accept Cur assur-
that the friendship that has existed between
will always be one of the most pleasing memo
ries OF our work In the Grand Army.
GEE. PALMER ACCEPTS THE GAvEL.
In accepting the gayel the Commander-in-
Chief said:
Comrades. thank you sincerely for the kind
thought which suggested the gift of this beautiful
gayei with which am TO preside over the de-
liberatioEs Of the 26th National Encampment
of the Grand Army OF the Republic To my Aids -
OF the Department of the Potomac let say that
you could not have given nee anything more appro-
PIRATE. Eienneato OF your regard that will be
more appreciated. not SO much on account OF It's
intrinsic value bat lor cherished memories carries
with H. When leave behind me the pleasures OF
this gathering and return 10 the quiet surroundings
OF my home and family il will he OF the cher
ighed ad0Tnmenis ofIDy house. IL will remind Of
the kindness i received al the hands Of my COM
rsdes ali over this broad land. IL will recall the
time when there flashed from the Southern sky the
red flame Of civil war. Sumieg's guns were first
heard in defense OF the Union IL Will also recall
20 my mind that the men over whom i am 20 pre-
side with is gayei rolled back tie egions Of brave
ConfederHiez whose intTepidty that historic
field. Gettysburg stands unparalleled in the his
tory OF civilized warfare; that the gallant Thomas
was the rock OF CbckEmauga, while the brave
sailor boys OF The kcarsarge made clean work Of lie
Alabana; and during that four long years OF evil
strife with its alternate gloom and glory. my
rades braved all the vicssindes of war aud a. last
under ;he providence OF God, victory rested upon
the Stars ad Stripes, and the great coBfic ceased
al Five Forks. name ] have had reason 10 G.
member every day o! my life. IL was a happy
Thought which prompted you 90 combine "a fili-
gaVei 20 naaBy memories. and let assure yoH
comrades. TINT will endeayor 20 use il with That
same bgmness that marked the career OF my com.
rades la time Of peril, and in iiie spirit o.
IAgnauigiIty and fairness which has characterized
gE- 4 m Rssfg