The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-09-12
RILEY READS A POEM.
6. A. r. Veterans Listen to Wat
tersOn and Riley.
The Former Speaks and Riley
Recites a Poem.
DOWN TO BUSINESS.
Woman's Relief Corps and 6. A.
r. Hold Business Sessions.
Eighteen We're Frustrated by
the Heat Yesterday.


twenty ninth annual encampment be-
gins its business session at 10 a, N. today,
also the Woman's Relief corps and the
Ladies' Circle of the G. A. r. Those
meetings were attended only by dele
gates. Meantime the veterans met in
corps. brigade and regimental reunions
all over the city.
The oampfires, with fireworks and 9TH
er demonstrations continue every night
during the week, elaborate programmes
with music and recitations being
announced up to Saturday night. The
army nurses were entertained today and
the Daughter of Veterans gave brill
liant reception to G. A. r. veterans and
other visitors
There were eighteen marching vete-
rams and dozens of others prostrated by
the heat. All are now reported as doing
WE'LL It is hotter today than ever. In
stead of the visitors leaving today the
railroads report that they are still COM
! ing in for the fireworks tonight, the bar
! becue tomorrow and other events.
! The tomb of President Taylor and vet
/ Grams of the war was visited by thous-
ands today. AS many go from here to
/ the encampment of the Sons of Veterans
| at Knoxville, the dedication of the mon
uments and the national park of Chatta-
/ nooga and Chickamauga and to the At
/ lanta exposition, the tide will move fur
! ther south next week, instead of north
ward.
The Woman's Relief corps mot today
at Library hall Mrs. President Wallace
presided.
/ The total membership, at the present
! time, according to the reports, is no. TIA,
| or gain of 1896 members over last
year.
! By far the most interesting function of
/ the week began today at 10 o'clock in
Music hall 1t was the meeting of the
encampment for the election of executive
/ and commanding officers for the ensRiug
! year and to decide upon place of meet
! ing for the next year. The hall has a
seating capacity of $3.50. and every seat
/ in the house was occupied. None but G.
! A, r. men and accredited delegates were
! admitted to the hall.
| Gen. Lawler, the chief,
/ was loudly cheere1. As soon as quiet
was restored he formally called the meet
| ing to order.
| He said as this was the first national
I meeting of the national g. A. r. south of
the Ohio river, the executive committee
! had changed the usual programme. The
citizens of Louisville desired, he said, to
! give expression of their pleasure in
| having the honor of entertaining the
| bows in blue sYou will be glad to
! know" he continued, ''that the man who
| is to give the address of welcome is no
other than Henry Watterson, editor of
| the Louisville Courier Journal.
At the mention of Mr.. Watterson's
| name there was an outburst of applause,
and when it had died away Mr.. Waiter
son stepped to the platform and spoke as
follows:
| THAT promissory note drawn by the
| city of Louisville, endorsed by me, and
discounted by you in the city of Pitts
! burg a year ago, has matured and l have
come to pay it.
Except that historic distinctions have
! long been obliterated here, it might be
mentioned that l appear before you as
! the representative alike of those who
wore the blue and of those who wore the
gray in that great sectional combat
left no shadow upon American soldier
ship, no stain upon American manhood.
But in Kentucky the war ended thirty
years ago. Here at least the lesson
has been taught and learned that
You cannot chain the eagle.
And you dare not harm the dove;
But every gate hate bars to hate.
| Win open wide to love.
sand the flag! God bless the flag!
Can you doubt the loyal sincerity OF
those who from house top and rooftree
have thrown it to the breeze? Let some
sacrilegious hand be raised to haul it
down and see. These are honest flags
with honest hearts behind them They
are the symbols of nationality as pre-
| cious to US as to you.
/ "And why not? What is left for you
and me to cavil about, far less to f1ght
| about? Slavery is gone. Secession is
dead. The union, with its system OF
statehood still in tact, survives. 1t is
| therefore, with kind of exultation thar
lifting open the gates of this gateway te
the south, I bid you welcome in the name
of the people, whose voice is the voice OF
God. You came and We resisted: yoU
come and we greet you; for times change
and men change with them.
! ssYou will find here scarcely a sign o1
| the battle; not reminiscence of its pas
sions. Grim visaged war has smoothed
his wrinkled front and whichever way
you turn on either aide you shall en-
counter as you pass those mouldering
heaps which remind you of your valol
and travail and only the magnanimoui
spirit of dead heroes with Grant snt
Sherman and Thomas and McPher
son and Logan looking down from ths
happy stars as if repeating the words oi
that great master, 'Charity for all
malice toward none.'
Mr.. Watterson was frequently anc
loudly applauded during the course o
his speech.
In response to this address Past Com
mander- in Chief William Warner o
Kansas City. No., spoke.briefy. He sail
the boys ia blue would never forget tn,