The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-09-21
Twenty-sixth Encampment Of
the G. A. II. Opened.
THE COMMANDERS ADDRESS
An Able Review of the Work Of
the Organization.
GRANT PARADE OF THE VETERANS.

Numerical Strength-An Electric
Light Display of Remarkable Bril-
1iancy Delights the Visiting Thou.
sands.
WASHINGTON, Sept 21.-Nearly all OF
the Grand Army veterans who came to
the capital to participate in yesterdays
great street pageant, together with the
visiting thousands who came to witness
that event and last nights electric dis
play, have departed for their homes, and
the city has resumed its normal con-
dition. The delegates to the twenty
sixth annual encampment are now down
TO business, and when the encampment
was called to order at o'clock this fore
noon at Albaugh's Opera house nearly
all the delegates were in their seats.
Commander Palmer was enthusiastically
greeted on calling the gathering to order,
and after the veterans had vented their
enthusiasm the work of organization
was proceeded with, the entire forenoon
session being consumed in preliminary
work. After the appointment of COM
mittees on credentials, etc, Commander
Palmer delivered his annual address,
which was in substance as follows:
Command er PaImer's Address.
CoMRADEs-The national encampment OF
the Grand Army of the Republic brings to-
gether representative soldiers from all over
the loyal land. There is scarcely u battle field
Of that great civil contest but has its repre-
Bontatiyes here today. Within its ranks arc
men of all political parties and religious
ereeds. The differences in rank which tho
army reflected are lost in the equalties of q
free and common citizenship. Tho dominat-
ing thought Is patriotism. Its principles ap-
peal to patriots Of every name and party. 1t
IL peculiarly befitting that we should meet
once more in the beautiful capital city Of tho
nation. where the representatives of sixty-five
millions of freemen gather to enact our laws,
and to look backward over the perils sur
mounted, and forward to the growing great
ness of a redeemed land.
Rightly 1t is named the Grand Army; grand
in the Justice Of the majestic cause for which
II fought; grand In the greatness of its mag
nanmity and Its chivalry grand in the valor,
the fortitude and the horoism which shone
through all Its career of defeat and vctcry;
grand in the fidelity with which the citizens
obligations were blended with tho soldiers
memories. II still sustanS the principles it
carried to victory. Grand because 1t saved
the capital of the nation, kept the country
undivided the flag unsulied and assured us a
commanding place among the nations of the
ekrth.
mn
is peculiarly appropriate that the surviv-
on Of the Union armies should gather again
tn the capital of the nation, which through
four long years Of bloody strife they defended
al the peril OF their lives; and 1t brings to
minds vividly the name of that great man
who,under the providence of God successfully
guided the affairs OF the nation through tho
crisis of its fate While the peans OF victory
were still sounIing in his ears he died, mar
tyr TO his country, leaving behind him a fame
will hrt tan Nytt tha lam nft lima
and coupled with the name OF Washington
will be the name of Lincoln, SO long as Amer
lea shall be known among tho nations of the
earth. Almost within the sound of my voice,
there reposes In that beautiful spot on Arling-
ton Heights, where the green sod lies gently
upon N4e breasts of the silent sleepers, $1,000
patriotic dead, 1t and recalls to our minds the
enormous price paid by the American people
for the preservation of tho nation Four thou
sand graves are marked with the sAddest of
all inscriptions unknown.
The precepts of this great order appeal to
the patriotism of every man who wore the
Union blue; every Union soldier should give
IL his influence and support and wear at all
times the badge of loyalty, the bronze g. A.
r. button. This emblem is silent protest
against "sneers" at the old veteran; 1t Is the
honor mark of the republic. It rivets atteu-
tiOn to the fact that men still live who de-
serve to be remembered with whatever bo-
longs to the prosperity, Iberty and renown of
our country.
The Distinguished Dead.
As we look back over the long line of dis
tlnguished comrades whose patriotic devotion
TO their country and inspiring presence upon
the battlehelds oftontimes stimulated us to
deeds of vnlor, but who no longer answer to
roll CALI in our encampments, we are torci-
bly, reminded that death has been busy in our
ranks; but the memory of their heroic achieves
ments and manly virtues will live long after
Tho Grand Army of the Republic ceases to ex-
tst- Let the example of their lives be an
Incentive TO us all so TO live and discharge our
duties as citizens with that loyalty TO country
and fidelity to duty, that when we shall
have reached the end of life's journey and
Joined those gallant comrades whose lives
were sacrificed to their couutry's liberty,
future generations will read with wonder how
two great armies contended for four long
years, where nearly u million of men on one
Sds and the other yielded up their lives in
that great civil conflict, and when the contest
snded those great armies melted away like tho
SNOW on the hill tops under the beams OF a
monday sun. Resuming the peaceful voca-
lions of civil life, the nation moved on once
more In a career of unparalleled progress.
prosperity and happiness.
During my visit TO the department encamp-
tnent in Augusta, Ga, met many ex Confed-
srAte soldiers from whom, received cordial
greeting, and believe that those who were
brayest in tho field have a greater love OF JUS
rice and right than those who remained in the
rear in the hour of danger, and was glad to
lake by the hand any brave Confederate SOL
der who accepted the generous terms of the
surrender at Appomattox, and today respects
the flag of tho nation as the emblem of y re-
united people and a reunited country.
The Columbian Exposi ition.
An invitation has been extended to the
world to visit tho Columbian exposition, and
the thought comes to me that the dazzling
sonquests of tho heroes of ancient times show
no such fruitage as the discovery of new
world by a uenoese sailor. He brought no
plundcr from the treasure houses Of the east,
but he found for the people of all nationalities
the citadel Of liberty, and as look into the
faces Of the men who furnished many of the
Erandest pages of our country's history feel
impressed with the fact that without the
heroic services of these men and their COM
rades in arms that which Columbus made pos
sible would long ago have perished from the
face of the earth.
cannot speak with too much fervor Of the
bensacent work done by the loyal women fol-
- the needy veterans and their families. As the
Seterans each nearer tho end OF life's Jour.
ney they become more feeble and need the
care of some friendly hand, and the noble
women, who by their acts of love and devotion
70 suffering humanity-many during the wal
and greater number sinee-msrit our CRATE
full Acknowledgements and unbounded praise
For many years they have worked assIduouslJ
to secure for the women who braved all tht
horrors Of the hospitals during the war a sim
pie act of Justice, and at last their efforts havi
Detn feWhVueu u} tne granting OF a pension &c
all Rrmy nurses.
With Memorial day comes the expression oi
knstiou's gratitude for the brave men whc
suffered death that their blood might seal ths
unity of the nation The ceremony Of strew
ing the early flowers Of spring upon the gravel
of the men who laid down their lives for thell
country Is a beautiful and touching one. AL.
though time has In measure meilowed th'
grief Of the country for Its dead, still Memo
rial day retains It's original characteristic'
and increases in interest each succeeding year
THE GRAND PARADE.
Fully Seventy Thousand Veterans oil
the War Marched in Review.
tna I