The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-09-22


Nearly Half Million in the Ranks.
Those who sneer at the G. A. r..
Rebuked.
wAsuISoroN, D. G., Sept. 9l.-The
beautiful ceremonies on Monday, the
mere impressive march Of the Grand
Army veterans yesterday, the ndmer-
GUS reunions, and the fire works, and
ilIuminations were after all only pre-
liminary to the real business which
called the Grand Army men to Wash
invton, and that was the twenty-sixth
annual encampment of the G. A. r.
which was called together this morn
ing. The encampment is representa-
tive body composed of 1,l47 delegates,
one chosen from each OF the various de.
partments, others allotted on the basis
OF membership OF the departments, and
other members oil the encampment by
virtue OF tho present or past office in
the organization. The encampment
met in Albaugh's Opera House and
Commander-iu-Ch Palmer was cs-
corted to the place OF needing, through
n driazling rain, by the Union Veteran
Corps and the cold Guard" of WASH
ington. At that time, the streets were
filed with bedraggled crowd that in
vain sought shelter under awnings and
indoorways. At l0:30 o'clock Adjutant
General Phisterer called the encamp-
ment to order, there being about 500
delegates present when the gavel fell.
After the address OF welcome by Hon.
]. W. Douglass, aud the commanders
response, the encampment proceeded
to business.
COMMANDER PALMER's ADDRESS.
In the course of his annual address
Commander.in- Chief Palmer said:
CoNRADEs:-Tho national encamp-
ment of tho Grand Army of the Repub-
lie brings together representative SOL
diers from all over tho loyal land. There
Is scarcely a battlefield OF that great
civil contest but has its representatives
here to-day. Within its ranks are men
OF all political parties and religious
creeds. The differences in rank which
the army reflected are lost in the equal
tiles OF n free and common citizenship.
The dominating thought is patriotism.
It's principles appealto patriots OF every
name and party.
These annual gatherings Of men who
rendered loyal, devdted and patriotic
service to their country in the hour OF
peril, II they serve no other purpose,
will impress upon the minds Of the ris-
ing generation profounder and deeper
sense OF tho perils through which we
passed to preserve the unity Of the ma
ton. 1t gives renewed strength TO pa
triotism, tends to elevate our national
character and makes us stronger each
succeeding year. We cherish no feel
ings OF animcsityor revenge against the
men OF the south. know ! speak the
sentiments Of every true soldier when l
say whatever pride We have in the past,
whatever pride We brought back from
the battlehelds joyfully laid it aside
upon one altar and gladly merged the
title Of soldier into q greater one-that
ofAmerican citizen.
1t ia peculiarly appropriate that the
survivors Of the Union armies should
gather again in the capital OF the ma
tion, which through four long years of
bloody strife they deionded at the peril
OF their lives.
DIsREsPEcr TO THE VETERANS.
A new generation stands where We
stood. Thirty.fve millions OF people
have been added to the country since
the close OF that great civil conflict in
1865. While the American people hold
the veterans in love that no other
group OF men in the land receive. there
is disposition the part OF few to
sheer at the soldier and call him a men
dicant. They appear to forget the suf-
ferings that made US what We are.
In justice to the men against whom
we contended for four long years, l de-
sire to say that Notwithstanding tho in
temperate attacks made upon mo by
some OF the southern journals, on nc.
count Of my order in reference TO the
flag Of our country, during my visit to
the departmentencampment In Angus
to, Ga, met many eX.Coniederate sol
diers from whom / received cordial
greeting and l believe those who were
bravest in tho field have greater love
ofJustice and right than those who re-
mained in the rear in the hour OF dam
ger, and was glad to take by theNhand
any brave Confederate soldier who ac-
cepted the generous terms of the sur
render at Appommattox, and to-day re.
spects the flag Of the nation as the en-
blem Of a reunited people and a re-
united country.
THE LOUISIANA AFFAIR.
After referring at some length to the
difficulties encountered in the course OF
his term Of office, ho reviewed the
Louisiana and Mississippi affair, among
other things saying: The color question
had tested the patience, skill and en-
duranee OF my predecessors in their
efforts to bring about an amicahle ad.
iustment OF the differences existing in
this department between the white and
colored posts, but every effort failed.
Whom the officers OF this department
absolutely refused to obey the rules oi
the department, had no discretion to
deal with either their motives or reasons
assumed in their refusal. The duties
Of the .commander-in,chiei are clearly
defined. Posts from nine to seventeen
reported to national headquarters that
At the annual meeting OF the depart
mont OF Louisiana and Mississippi, held
The month OF February, they were re-
fused admission or representation, al
though thoir dues were rendered and
declined. They then forwarded their
reports aud dues to national headquar-