The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-02-18
THE GRAND ARMY.
News From The Departments---NeW
Posts, etc.
HONORING TIE CHIEF.

Col. Palmer Meets With a Rousing Reception at
Providence, n. 4.
The Commandment Chief WAS accorded rousing
reception by the comrades Ia Rhode Island on Sat
The distinguished party was met NJ the depot In
Providence hy Department Commander *. :. Ray,
accompanied hy lass staff and large number OF
comrades. The party was at once escorted 20 9 9
% hold Rn informal recenilun,w hich WAS continued
Tor over AN hour
Al4.l5 lc was escorted TO Infantry Hall, where a
banquet was held.
The tabes were quickly filled by the comrades,
nuu ihc galleries contained many ladies. Alter
eating, Department Commander Ray called the
as.anih,a- to order and nficr bidding All present
O cordial welcome announced that Campfire
would Immediately begin. The Slocum Post
Quartet rendered song, which was written Tor
thc occasion entitled " Tie Grand Old Flag"
Gov. H ~. Ladd was introduced. lie made a
brief speech, in which lac bld the Commandments
Chief cordial welcome, and said That - Rhode
Islands Grand Army, as D. demonstrated by TINS
large us-emhlage. is q body OF men that the
State i proud Of The poor aud unfortunate
among them the State Is lcndery caring Tor to-
dny, Hud will protect them alike from the pangs 81
poverty aud from the iguumy ot the almshouse.'
Cumrade Daniel D. BallOu made the next speech,
end Ice was Interrupted several times 10y applause
Gen. Omey Arnold was called on, aud deliy-
erred poetic greeting. General Orders No. were
neNt read, aud during the reading there suddenly
uniUldcd from the ceiling directly ln front 81 me
Commander mischief. q new American nhEi NJ the
same moment the electric lights were turned on
the widest enthusiasm, applaudiug and cheering
tle band playing Tho star SpanRled Banner :
and Aud Lang Syue.' Communicating mel
Palmer was thcu introduced as tie author OF mat
order, Hud was received with round Of applause
and with hearty cheers
The rom,uRnder-in-C Chief first expressed appre-
citation of his welcome, and, continuing, said lie
brought frRternsl greetings from Vermont, New
Hampshire Rnd MHssacuu setts, and also from the
South the assurance that those who had once
fought the flag were now the friends OF the Grand
Army. said lac: II have SAID ttle men who fought
against AZ in Georgia were faVornbly disposed TO
AZ. ID had become custom TO bring out the
Tebei Gag on all occasions Ia the South. thought
~ ui over, End thought 10 time for someone 10
speak ont. ] thought II the rebel flag was TO be
galvanized into life, d was worse than the surren-
der 81 Grant 10 &c al AppomnttoE would have
been. We had never trOddeu on a constitutional
right 81 these people since tle war aud 30 ieit they
should know that we believed there was bu' one
flag. } ISSUED the order, aud then was united TO
the South. ] had already received the comph-
menis OF The Southern press. Laughter kne"
that the men Of tie South were not towards.
but some OF tle anonymous communications
received were not from gentlemen.
As come together iR these gatherings we
scarcely realize the war occurred 80 years ago.
Aud set can we forget that day that WAS the most
important in our lives, when we put on the uni
form % our country FOR the first time2 Tie soldier
LAS been called ego,isiicai. The greatest service
60 our country las been done by volunteer sol-
dlcry. hey now united by maternal affection,
and are engaged in noble task as they ever
were RcapiHg what the living and tie dead have
Eown, trey are giving strength 10 patriotism, and
making the country stronger every year.
let tlc memories Of tie war be forgotten No
but 90 such occasions these let the mother bring
her children, the father bring his SONS and 20 long
tie sun bnghtens the hills over which the
mounds above our soldiers are spread 80 long VIII
We meet a. tell the stories Of our common dangers
and eEult in cur common gloros" Applause and
cheers
William s. Wells. OF Hartford Conn, Com
mander 81 the Naval Veteran Association delivered
the next speech. aud followed 10y Hon. Adm
d. CHpron, Speaker 81 the Rhode Island House Of
If
the Rhode Island Sons OF Veterans, made brief
address. The other speakers Rev. II. l..
Green and Commodore ID. s. Osborne, Of the
Naval Veterans Association.
Gen. Palmer was presented with q handsome
cane aud he responded briefly and feclingly, nssur.
ing the comrades that he should carry away from
Rhode Island Tie most pleasant recOlections.
Afer musical and literary program the pleasant
gathering broke up.