Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-09-22
OUR BOYS In BLUE
They Are Having a Grand Time
in Washington.
GENERAL PALMER'S ADDRESS
Is Read TO the Assembled
Thousands.
He REVIEWS The GREAT WORK
Reports on the Condition Of the G. A. X.
Indianapolis Selected for the
Next Meeting.
GENERAL PALMER'S ADDRES
He REVIEWS The GREAT W0R

WASHINGTON. Sept. 2l.-Rain began
10 fall soon after 10 O'Clock this morn
ing, not heavily. but still IN sufficient
volume 10 put temporary damper
upon many projected features of the
G. A. K. day. The first incident of the
| day was the parade of the union vet
Grams at 10 o'clock. About 800 vet
erans braved the elements, s,commanded
by Gen. Green Clay Smith. The parade
formed on Pennsylvania avenue and
| Tenth street anu marched past the re-
viewing stand at the treasury depart
ment, where the veterans were re-
viewed by Vice President Morton. Dis
trict Commissioner Ross and Com
mander-in-ChiefY Yoder and staff. The
| line then broke ranks and dispersed
about the city.
/ Settle Down Business.
The business features of the day was
the official meetings of the national en-
campment, which took place at AL
baugh's sopera house. Commander-in-
Chief Palmer WAS escorted to the place
of meeting in the drizziing rain by the
Union Veteran Corps and the "Old
Guard" of Washington. At that time
the streets were filled with bedrag-
| gled crowd that in vain sought shelter
under awnings and in doorways. Al
baugh's theater was decorated with
great profusion of material and artistic
arrangement. At 2:30 Adjutaut Gen
eIal Phlsterer called the encampment
TO order. when there were not less than
500 delegates III the house, and pre-
sented b. IL. Warner of the citizens
committee, who introduced j. w
Douglass, president of the district
board OF commissioners, who welcomed
the encampmentt to Washington. Gen.
eral Palmer, commander.ln-chlef, re-
piled on behalf of the veterans.
Commander PaImer's Address.
| CoNEADEs-The national encampment OF the
| Grand Army of the Republic brings together
| representative soldiers from all over the loyal
! land. There Is scarcely battlefield of that
! great civil contest but has Its representatives
| here today. Within its ranks are men o. all
! political parties and religious creeds. Tne
| differences in rank which the army reflected
| are lost In the equaiities OF free and common
| citizenship. The dominating thought is pat
| r,otism. lrs principles appeal TO patriots of
| every name and party. 1t Is peculiarly beft-
| ting thai we should meet once more in the
beautiful c spItal city OF the nation. where the
| representatives OF sixty-hve millions OF free
| men gather to enact our laws aud 10 look
| backward over the perlls surmounted, and
| deemed land.
Rightly is it named the Grand Army; grand
| In the justice of the majestic cause Tor when
IL fOught grand In the greatness of It's mag
| naninity andiits chivalry; grand n the valor.
| the fortitude and the herolsm which shone
| through all its career Of defeat and victory
| grand la tine fidelity with which the citizens
| were blended with the soldiers memories Ii
| still sustains the principles IL carriei TO vic
| tory; grand. because 1t saved the capital OF
the nation. kept the country undivided, the
| nag unsulied and assured Us a commanding :
| p ace among the nations of the earth. These
| annual gatherings OF men who rendered loyal
try in the the hour Of 'I peril Il Il hsF they sep seqye
| no other purpose Will impress upon the
| minds OF the rising generation. a profound
| and deeper sense OF the perils through which
| thew passed 10 preserve the unity of the nation
| Ii demonstrates TO ali the obligations resting
| upon u.s. Ii gives renewed strength TO patri
otism. tends 20 elevate and aaOrn our national
character and makes US stronger each succeed
| ing year.
Friendly Toward the south
We meet in no spirit of exultsti on or false
| pride. We meet with no desire To boast OF oul
| services In the past. We cherish no feeling.
! ot amnesty or revenge against the men OF
| the south j know l speak The sentiments OF
every true soldier when say whatever pride
| we nave IN the past. whatever pride We brought
| back from battlefelds we ioyfuily laid IL aside
| upon one altar and gladly merge the title OF
soldier INTO greater one-thst of American
! citizens. We were citizens before we became
| soldiers and volunteered az the call of an i'm
| perlled nation that ws might fulfill the highest
| duties of citizenship. and the lessons we
| learned amidst the storm o. battle have made
| Us more mindful OF our dutirs as citizens II
| is "A iaudable pride. therefore. aud not an over
| weaning vanity which impels US TO meet year
after yea 70 commemorate the incidents oil
! cur country salvation. "a part Of which VIC
| were and all OF which we saw" and we can
| never forget the result of all the trials and
dangers through which we passed or cease q
| feel the strength of the ties which bound US
| together rs We trudged along on many aweary
| march on the lonely picket. In the midnight
bvouac the prison AID the hospital. To per
| pctuate thes ties. t. cherish love Of country
| To keep undying the memories OF the loved
| and lost wbo pcr.shed while in service W.
meet today In a spirit OF fraternity. charity
| and loyalty. Invoking heavens richest beSsinl
on every portion OF our beloved country.
Tribute to Abraham Lincoln
tits peculiarly appropriate that the surviv
| ors OF the union armies should gather again
| in the capital Of tue nation. which through
four long years Of bloody STRIFE they defendef
| AT the peril OF their lives: and brings TO ou
minds viyidly the name of that great man
! who. uuder the providence Of God. succ, .,
/ fully guided the affairs of the nation throuEt
the crisls ef Is fule. Whiie the pcsns of vic
tory were Stit sounding n his ea e. he died Z
| martyr for hls country. leaving beh nd him !
! fame which viii brighten with the iapse OF
/ time aud coupled with tbe name 4 Washing
ton, viil be the name ct Lincoln. 50 long =.
| America shal he known among the nations oI
! the earth. Almost within the sound of ms
| voice. there rerosss IN that beautiful spot on
| Arlington ileighis where tne green sol lle,
| gently upon she breast - tn silent Seepefs =
I lr5sn patriotic desd 10 recalls 20 our mind :
/ the enormous price paid By the a H1erlcsn peo
/ uie ( n the preservation ~ the nation. Forty
thousand graves are m sed with the saddesl
81 All nscfipfions-unk a0Wn. we meet f0day
| with the consolation that the nation wa'
I saved and preserved hy the valor % thesr
/ HeB. ana We feel exalted ~ their achieve
I ments . N regenerstei their lies blood.
werk of the Commander
/ Commander Palmer stated that during hi
! oflc = Term ~ hsd visited twenty-five depart
! meufs. attended numerous reunions. ant
puhlfc al her.ngs. requiring months rI tims
SD lstor. ,nt bad travelled nearly 4e.te
Z niles in at ndlug 20 fhe fufles n hii
/ oHCe. tie hsd been greatly side.i ln h's din
cuit task ~ gnvernlng neriy haf = miiHof
/ men ard setfiing ytri0as santed Quest ious
~ ne eTrieat ans zenpr sus support Eiver
hirr ~ fbs nlrn,,eFS af p .xtsr fvarvwhar.
D. bad found th~ SreateSf f~resf and Futhu
sissm o ne -. fare IT the erdpT a state
menr wss IA p hv toF1rnanslrr pa 'r' r fa re-
Earf ~ \ differences * Sting in aerart
menf ~ truiVana a 4 Nlssfss o.. b=fwee-
fra - ZEE 49, en.ore1 3 Sfs 4ad His af-f0a ~
eifler -ee inl fear ar pr- "a ~ Ia d-us~
E wHnt hst aee0 recrEsHi feI and Has
nrel rn1 ag ~ rne PSF. anai enraar EFre.r HI
a laf d@'egstien. vhs sness fer "a tie rau
rsdes n ira trpsrta enf REGARDLESS cf -e ~ e'
I nafiona wifh fre grsf fging assurance
p sss vha esa best serve ere atrreSts ~ fh.
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