The Portland daily press., 1892-09-20

will once more meet and touch elbow
again with the comrades who helped to
add to the fame of your respective corps.
And now, comrades. 1 know you will
share my feelings of profound. regret over
the circumstances which caused the alb
sence of one whom you would all have
been delighted to see and hear and who
had anticipated joining you in all the fes-
tivities of the week, a comrade whose
gallant services to the nation in the hour
of peril has been supplemented by his
wise and patriotic management OF the
affairs of this great republic in time of
peace-Comrade Benjamin Harrison. I
now take pleasure in introducing Hon.
Levi P. Morton, Vice President of the
United States"
The reference to President Harrison
was the signal for enthusiastic cheering,
which lasted some time. The demOnstrar
ton was a striking tribute to the soldier,
President and man.
Vice President Morton
was warmly received as he rose, and,
when the cheering had ceased, said:
"Soldiers and Sailors of theGrandArmy
of the Republic:-A sorrow that brings
us all together calls me to take the place
in these ceremonies of the President, to
&
comrade and as commauder-in-chief of
the army and navy of the United States.
"The President has been lately stand
ing at the gates of the nation to challenge
the entrance of an implaoable enemy
that must be confronted at the outposts.
While we need his high resolve and in
flexible will in defence of the people
from an insidious foe, now that he is
standing at the bedside of one dearer to-
him than life, we may not forget what
he owes to the tenderest relation
of humanity, and chord of affection
ate sympathy reaches him from
every hamlet and home in the land. God
give him grace in this hour of need.
''I see before me the survivors of a
generation of men who have emblazoned
the pages of history and freedom for all
time to come; who have set.the example
for republican France, for united Germa-
ny and reconstructed Italy, and who
have broadened and deepened the foun-
dattons of the English constitution and
of Anglo Saxon liberty. Of this
Great Army of Liberty,
whether they have passed away or are
still present for duty, you are the honor
ed representatives. The president would
speak to you as comrade. It is for me
to greet you in behalf of business inter-
ests affecting the welfare of the whole
people, in behalf of trade and COM
merce, of the husbandman and artisan,
of the employer and employed !; insbe-.
half of all men and women from every.
section of the Union.
II bid you welcome in behalf of the
President and his Cabinet advisers, in
behalf of the National Congress of the
United States and the national judicia-
ry, administering collectively the gov
ernment, you have secured, and in be-.
half of a whole people made illustrious
by your heroism and that of your ad-
versaries, now your friends.
. II greet you in behalf of a stalwart
North and loyal South, of sun-illum-
ined East and commanding West, under
the shadows of the Capitol you have
preserved in this beautiful city founded
by Washington and made sacred by the
services and sufferings of Lincoln, and
in full view of Virginia, the birthplace Of
Presidents and the burial place Of he
rOes,'' i. ...tl 4,sss, .s33 i .t5i5 +.