San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-09-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
| From Our Regular Correspondent. I
WAsHTNGroN SEPT 10 100

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WASHINGTON, SEPT. 10, 1872.
TRAMP, tramp, tramp, the boys
are marching" and other war time
songs are heard on all sides, as some,
visiting or local post of the G. A. r.
marches past, the band playing and
banners waving. The Goth National
Encampment is success of. colossal
proportions. both in point of atten-
dance, which far exceeds that OF any
previous encampment and which will
probably never be so great at any
similar event In the future, and of
enthusiastic welcome to the veterans,
a welcome shown not only by the
elaborate and beautiful decorations of
streets and residences but by the
faces of the people. Those who have
slandered Washington by saying
that her people were selfish and I'M
patriotic should for ever more hang
their heads in shame. Why even
babies in the arms of their nurses
crow periodically and wave tiny
flags, along the streets, and IL is next
to impossible to find man, woman
or child who does not carry some.
where on their person our eountry's
flag.
The first prominent festure of the
encampmeht was the dedication of
Grand Army place this afternoon.
The ceremonies were preceded by
brilliant street parade, made up of
United Statas regular troops, artillery.
cavalry and infantry, sailors, marines,
the entire National Guard of the Dis
trict of Columbia, and the department
of the Potomac G. A. r., which was
greatly enjoyed by the visiting veter-
ans who were conspicuous in the
crowds that packed the sides of the
line of march. The dedicatory cere.
monies were successfully carried out
according to the original programme.
Vice President Morton having very
kindly agreed to take the President's
place. The scene will not soon be
forgotten ny those who witnessed it.
Away in the back ground, looking
to the southwest, the yellow, pillared
portico of the historic Arlington
Mansion presenting o strong contrast
TO green foliage by which IL is sur
rounded. and none who looked for
got that it was also surrounded by
the remains of thousands of comrades
who had fought by the sides of the
veterans today assem- bled i'm a grand
re-union-who can say that the spir-
its of the veterans buried at Airing
ton are not also holding q reunion
this week? Looking directly south
the slender grey shaft of the Wash.
ingtOn monument. extending five
hundred and fifty five feet skywsrd
challenges the admiration of the be.
holder, while to the east looms up
the immense white dome of the CAPT.
tol, unsurpassed In grandeur and ar.
tistic symmetry any public build
ing on earth. Within a stones
throw stands q miniature Washing
ton monument, probable q hundred
fest high, wrapped from its base to it's
summit, from which extends q flag pole
proudly supporting ''old glory" in
red, white and blue, and beautiful
model of the good ship Kearssge, full
size and full rugged, and partly mann
ed by survivors of the crew which
took part in its memorable engage
ment with the privateer Alabama,
which IL sunk as you probably re.
member. Directly north stands the
White house, which reminds the vets
of the trouble, caused by Mrs Harri-
sons sickness, that has prevent ted the
president joining his comrades, as he
had arranged to do; and just west Of
the Executive Mansion stands the
handsomest public edifice In Wash.
ington-tke new state, war and navy
department building. Could q more
appropriate spot have been chosen
for the reunion grounds, or one where
more that Is dear to the old soldiers
heart could have been seen at q
glance?
At this encampment is the first
time that one place for holding all the
reunions, corps, division, brigade and
regimental, has been selected and the
visitors are loud I'm their praise OF the
arrangement by which they can so
easily meet with those who served
with them in the war.
The ladies' reception held In the ro-
tunda of the Capitol tonight, which
was conceived by Mrs. John A.
Logan, was one of the largest, most
brilliant and at the same time enjoy
able affairs of the kind ever held in
Washington. where public receptions
are common events. The arrange.
ments were so perfect that thousands
passed through the rotunda, from
east TO west, without accident of any
kind. although there was more
squeezing at times than was altogeth-
er comfortable.
The regret is general that the presi-
dent is not In Washington to take
part in the pleasures of the week,
which he has been anticipating ever
since Washington was selected as the
place for holding this years encsmp.
ment, and every body has a word of
sympathy for him and for Mrs. Hsr-
rison, and expresses the wish that
she may soon recover.
Vice President Morton was nots