The National tribune., 1895-11-28
PITTSBURG'S RECEPTION.


An Ovation TO Commander-in-ChiefW Walker.
Old City Hall, Pittsburg. Pa. was too small
to accommodate the crowd which gathered
there the evening of Nov. 20 to pay honor TO
Commandments ]. n. Walker.
One thousand special invitations had been
issued, and in addition to these general invi-
tation had been extended TO friends of the
comrades, aud it seemed that everybody made
the best of his opportunity. The various Posts
throughout western Pennsylvania were repre-
scented. many travelling long distances to hear
and meet the favorite Commander.
To the right and left of the speakers stand
a number of stained and tattered battlefiags
were ranged. Overhead and also ranged along
the main walls of the hall were corps badges
Of the various Posts, while the ceiling was deco
rated with pro!usioD of tri-colored streamers,
which radisted from the center in all direc-
tions. Grand Army uniforms were every
where, and the entire building was under
military guard during the evening. The
whole scene was unique and brilliant in the
extreme.
At D. M a flood of music from the Grand
Army band filled the great hall and announced
the opening of the reception. Past Department
Commander Thomas q. Sample appeared, and
delivered a short address of welcome. He re-
ferred TO the appropriateness of the hall as
place for Grand Army work as during the war
more than 100000 soldiers of the Union had
been fed there, and 20 600 sick aud wounded
cared for in the city. 1t was fitting that such
hall in such city should be made the place
OF welcome to him, who was at the head of the
Grand Army Of tho Republic. He fittngly
welcomed the Commander and introduced him
to the audience
Commander-in- Chief Walker, during his adj
dress said he had heard of the loyalty of
Piitsburg aud was glad to meet the boys.
Reference was made to the entertainment fur
nished the troops while passing through the
city. and he CALAMITY complimented the women
Of Pttsburg for the part they had taken in
that work.
Without the women" he said, the armies
OF the Union could not have saved the Nation"
The country needed no large standing army,
as il had protection in its school-h houses, its
homes and the intelligence OF its people. The
Grand Army of the Republic was simply an
organization of men who had saved the Union
and the duty lay upon them of seeing that not
one of their number ever went lover the hills
to the poorhOuse"
Then the speaker eloquently addressed his
comrades on the experiences Of the tent and
battlefield, and many uniformed veteran re-
sponded with unchecked tears. All the great
army leaders received need of praise and an
eloquent tribute was paid TO the character and
work Of the angel of reconstruction, Abraham
Lincoln. As the Hebrews had remembered
Moses the deliverer. he thought the Nation
would ever remember the martyred war Pres-
dent. The speaker closed with peroraton
which was followed by loud and continuous
applause.
When the audience had exhausted itself in
cheering and was ready for something more
in the way of speechmaking Hon. w. A.
Stone was introduced and made a happy
speech. The heroes of the war of 30 years ago
were eulogized; the charge that the Nation
had been ungratefnl to the soldier was denied
since during the past fiscal year Sl39,000000
had been paid out in pensions; of the six
Presidents chosen since the war, he said, FIVE
had worn the blue and were wearing the
bronze button when elected.
Other exercises followed. Z. T. Austin sang
"Old Guard" Comrade Daniel Ash worth pre-
scented A. p. Burchfield, Past Senior Vice. Com
mander. with gold badge. Col. c. Hazard,
Of MonOngahela, and Maj. J. T. Denniston
spoke.