The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-25
VOLUNTEER VETERANS.
They Dlned and Listened to Speeches
Last Evening.
GOV. BROWN WAS PRESENT.
The Annual Banquet at Tiliinghasts Par
lors-About $50 Present-An Associa-
tion OF Old Soldiers who Did Not En-
list In Rhode Island Regiments.


tion with its guests gathered in Till
inghast's Assembly rooms last evening,
the occasion being the semi-annual meet
, ing and annual banquet of the associa-
tion.
Ats O'Clock President Charles ii. Ba-
ker called the business meeting to order
in the west parlor. Secretary George III.
Pettis read the records OF the last meet
ing which was held at Rocky Point last
July. A number or comrades were ad-
mitted TO membership and the compa ny
adjourned TO the supper room where n
banquet served in the caterers best style
awaited the veterans.
The guests OF the evening were Gov.
Brown, Alderman Olney, exCongress-
man Spooner, Councilman Miller aud
Others who were seated TO the right and
left of President Baker a the he nj table.
The We erans we're evidently living over
the scenes of the war and imagined that
they were at Appomattox again, the re-
suit being the complete annihilation OF
everything in sight that WAS eatable or
drinkable in snort time.
Cigars were ligh ed, and the pres idept
called on Thomas w. Manchester TO act
as toastmaster. The toastm aster call, d
upon Gov. Brown Iirst TO speak for the
estate OF Rhode Island" Gov. Brown
spoke as follows:
During the past year, | have attended many
meetints OF gallant Veterans. but must con ess /
have Always ieit soms nat sa.barrassed wien
sbly know, am unfortunately unable @ swap any
OF oraiory, unable 10 fily express tie fee'ing
OF gratitude, mration and respect TIA, have
while ON, Others more % eioquenuy convey the senti-
b en- trained 10 readily respond.
But tonight there are two things that make m
co Is d ho MnS sera s&S SGSr IN other
than Rhode Island regiments In the war of the
ia other states II 50 there Is Que common ground
NV reentnr "poa tpe my tha n
20 our adopted state because of our migration
Again my friena Capt Pettis. IN conveying your
klnu invitation Informed me that 1 mignt only
the restriction 50 far as am concerned. thlnk
zee zee another point OF agreement II fall 70 take
time limit shall ask that tbs balance OF my allot-
friend the speaker of the House OF Representatives
have been as2sd 90 ropr s.nt the state Wha.
the veterans Deeds speak louder than words
During the last five Years the state has spent
welfare OF her loyal sous aud neighbors who rail-
peril or that sum 5i7 rs has been spent in pre-
serving the records OF her heroes, ana was in
Island Is the first state TO have complete set OF
records In the form adopted by the department
years past been engaged in the laudable work OF
erecting ssns tantlai and useful memorial 70 their
without dissenting vota the House OF Represen-
enable them 10 dedicate tnat memorial, ! would
not have u understood that think In this there s
ANY sqqaring OF accounts but II indicates that any
: ing the 50 der asks for he can readily have 80
far as the state Of Rhode island is concerned.
,k shoulder musket and march by your side 70 the
your camp .nres and taste your hardtack and salt
pork. We regret It how. and l iesl sure that our
while 10 some extent the old soldiers reputation Is
suffering somewhat flom certain few of your
LOYALTY stae day e coming when the proudest thing
man a can rs say WIZ be M foreather rougnt 10 ae.
much as the faded coat OF blue, the old weather.
beaten knapsack aud tne battered cantesn.
Councilman Millen spoke for the "City
OF Providence. He said that i'm me-
diately after the war the city did not
seem to be in a hurry TO redeem its
pledges to the soldiers, but in 10 er years
more bad been done for them. lie hope d
the city would never feel ashamed of
the way her boys in blue were treated.
Secretary George III. Pettis read letters
OF regret from Lieut.-Gov. Bull, Mayor |
Potter, Judge Rodgers. Aldermen Bal |
lou and Others.
The toastmaster then called upon Col.
John Z. Wyman. Col. Wyman said he |
was glad that speeches were to be but |
flve minutes. He hoped that he would |
not repeat himself on this occasion as he |
had spoken Oh his subject so many |
times before. In the grand celebration |
which was TO be held this year the men |
who had slved the countrJ we're entitled
TO as mucn fame the men who dis |
covered IL. The word ''comrade" had a |
grand meaning for men wno can use |
IL with reference To the great struggle that |
threatened to dismember tue Union. The |
contest Is finished. IL is true, but there |
are great questions TO b. settled The |
common people are asser ing themselves |
and tue time Is not far distant when "Nox |
Populi shall b. "Vox Dei.n
Col. OlDey Arnold was next introduced |
as Rhode Islands Poet" lie said he |
always felt at home among this gather.
ing, though he was not one OF them. lie
felt that tue veterans were as glad to see |
him as he was to see them. He read sew
eral selections or poetry
The toastmaster called upon Hon. Adm
B. Capron TO respond to "fhe House OF
REPRESENTATIVES Of Rhode Island" !"
Speaker Capron felt taat he could add |
little to the grand sentiments which had
been expressed, but he wished To speak
or one thing that interested him The
soldier Of the republic GU ght to have the
fullest pardon ia heaven. 1t was puz-
zle to him why the soldiers had accumu-
lated so little wealth when they hal had
30 great power in affecting the value
or securities ali over the country IL was
probably because they nad been obli yed
10 fall Ia on the left OF the line when they
returned from the war since the places
Nv VIC htoh ~ tuc lOE WtdlIu were
all occupied. lie wished that some
OF the newspaper men who wrose the at
tacks on the old soldiers, could see
short period OF the service and then see il
they could not appreciate tue positions OF
the veterans who were asking for peu-
sions. lie did not know Of "A soldier now
receiving pension who was not entitled
10 more than he received and the veter-
ans who do not need the pension should
not accept 1t.
Comrade 4. c. Fisher, superintendent
oil public schools of Pawtucket, re-
sponded to the toast, "Ihe Public
Schools OF America" The army OF
school children is closely connected with
the army OF veterans. The children aid
In celebrating the aiemo ORAL Day in the
nnveiiing OF soldiers monuments, aud in
honoring the flag at all times. lie spoke
ot the Hawail matter, AID hoped the
United States would decide @ aunex the
little republic because provisional Presi-
dent Dole was AN old frien of his lie
closed with an appeal To the G. A. X. to
stand by the schools, as in them lies the
fate OF the nation.
The Hon. Henry J. Spooner when called
mn IN r.IcT M IN ef... |