The herald., 1893-08-09

erty the wool OF healthy and vigorous
progression.
ssThe late war was not only conflict
to establish the perpetuity of this union,
but it was q combat between the ad-
vsncing and retroactive forces OF civil
constitutional liberty fiery furnace
which tested the purity OF the principles
on which this government 10 founded.
1t was not only to determine its strength
but the ability of mankind to continue
in the pursuit OF happiness under the
eris of liberty. 1t was an evolutionary
period in the growth OF the grand prin--
ciples enunciated in the declarations OF
| the fathers.
"It was to establish this principle, so
firmly that the convulsions OF future
ages could not jar it. that crimsoned the
brow OF Lookout mountain, deluged the
bloody Angle and saturated the fields OF
Gettysburg with the blood of American
heroes.
at was to establish this principle
that you, sir, are now weighted with
leaden bullets and afflicted with weep
ing wounds.
ut is remembrance OF these princi-
pies that prompts your comrades to loy-
ally open their hearts and command me
again to bid you cordial welcome"
Mrs. Mary f. Hartwell, department
secretary of the W. r. c., delivered the
address OF welcome on behalf OF the
ladies.
"Commsnder- General Weissert, in be-
half of the w. r. O. of department OF
California, and in behalf OF our pres-
dent, Mrs. Abbie E. johnson. take
pleasure in welcoming you to these west
ern shores.
"You, as commander of the Grand
Army, represent the grandest set of men
in the world. It-is more honorable to
be q member Of this army than to be the
chief magistrate Of this great nation and
not a member.
1--WE, as the women of the relief'corps,
are bound to you by strong ties. Our
patriotism binds us to you and leads us
to help the Grand Army and endeavor to
be your right arm.
SIN speaking for the 5000 women of
the department, I not only extend well
come to you alone, but to every Grand
Army man as WE'LL"
The Modoc quartette next rendered
another selection entitled, All Hail the
Flag.
Captain Barrett next introduced the
guest OF the evening, Gen. A.. G. Weis-
q
of the Old Eagle regiment of Wisconsin,
man who had served as private, but
who WAS now commander in.chief of q
grand organization.
General Weissart was greeted with
applause, and proceeded at once to reply
to the addresses of welcome. He is q
medium sized man, and would not be
taken for other than plain business
man. He talked to the point, and
while possessing no magnetism, kept his
audience interested during his remarks.
II have been trying to reconcile" he
said, "the statements Of the chairman
that served as q private, and then
introduces me a. commander-in-chief.
/ am sure the comrades present will ask
how about the pay-whether it iB $13 q
month or $4,000 year.
1t Ia very pleasant to meet persons
on an occasion like-pers0ne with whom
we have trudged along, and with whom
we can talk it all over, but now the
reason why We are here suggests itself.
1T has been 80 years since that terri
BILE struggle ended, and there are yet
million of the men who fought in it
alive. and soc, 900 of them are members
of this grand army. How many times
did the soldiers think, when they were
enduring the hardest trials whether the
remembrance would ever be preserved.
l remember one time when We were
going through most severe march that
the old sergeant said that when
the war was ended we should
meet again and talk it all over. And
that. comrades, is what we are doing
this evening and why we meet at all Of
our camp fresi and other gatherings.
.'The woman's reliefucorps do not,
believe, know how muchwe really think
OF them. IL was not blue coats and brass
| buttons alone that defeated the rebellion,
but the letters and kind acts of our
mothers, Wives, sisters and sweethearts
that made us feel like real soldiers and
made heroes of us and made US toe the
mark every time. We can all rejoice
tonight that we took part in upholding
slaves from bondage.
Snow, in regard to the pension ques-
ton, l desire to say q few words. The
other day at meeting OF veterans the
matter of the pensions was brought up.
The speaker turned and pointed to
comrade, saying, here is 80 and 40. He
appears to be perfectly healthy and
sound and able to take care of himself,
] but do you not see that he has only one
| arm? The missing member was lost in
the war. A number of other comrades
were referred to who were wounded in
various places, and while they appeared
perfectly healthy and able bodied they
were in reality suffering from wounds
and diseases gotten while in the army.
ION the train from Santa Barbara the
otherday there we're Eve in our party.
From curiosity l asked how many had
been wounded and all replied that they
bad. In our wagon going to the SOL
diers' home today, were IL persons of
whom 10 received wounds. They all ap-
pesred to be enjoying geod health, yet
many were dressing their wounds every
day;
The grand army did not mean to do
anything wrong nor do they ever intend
to do so. They are just as anxious
that the laws of this country should be
enforced now az they were in 1861, when
they fought and did preserve them.
They do not ask that the pension laws
be alone enforced but that all the other
laws be enforced as we'll. II there is q
single veteran wrongfully receiving q
pension the sentiment Of the entire or
ganization is that his name be stricken
from the rolls OF the army just as quick
ly as possible.
"What the Grand Army does not like,
however, is that their entire roll should
be assailed because OF few cases.
r L FL