River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-09-19
COL. l. y. WALKER.

tbs most vOciferous in joining in the
chorus when the strains of Rally
Round the Flag" and other northern
war songs filled the air and proudly
the great unarmed army received the
plaudits of theit one time foemen.
Mounted police first cleared the
way. The parade was headed in
front of the first division by two
distinguished ex-confederates on horse
back, Capt. John ii. Weller and Capt.
William H. Harrison. They did not
wear the gray, but were dressed
in black Prince Alberts with silk
hats and red, white and blue
sashes, tho same as the members Of
the citizens committee. They also
wore ren, white and blue scarfs and
rosettes Capt. Weller carried a very
large nag, and the stars and stripes
were proudly borne by him. Capt
Harl ison carried very large white
banner of peace mounted on a staff
like the stars and stripes car
ried by his confederate comrade.
Henry watterson Cheered.
LOUISVILLE. Ky, Sept. 14.-Glad of
the opportunity to rest awhile from
the pleasures and festivities that have
been showered upon them during the
week, the official delegates to the
twenty-ninth er campment of the Grand
Army of the Republic assembled
Thursday morning in Music hall,
which had been handsomely decorated
with national colors and the of
fetal flags of the organization.
Promptly at 10 o'clock Commander
in Chief Lawler called the en-
campment to order. and State
Commander Kelly was presented toex-
tend greetings to the delegates in be-
half of the city and the Kentucky
grand army department. Exon
gresham Warner, OF Kansas City,
responded for the grand army. Then
amid scene of wild enthusiasm,
the delegates rising en- masse, and
cheering and waving of hats, Henry
Watterson, whose Grafton AZ Pitts
burgh last year brought the encamp-
ment to Louisville, was escorted to the
footlights, aud addressed the grand
encampment in speech full of patriot
ism and good taste. lie said:
Part of the Address.
Except that historic distinctions have
long been obliterated here, 1t might be
mentioned that l appear before you the
representative alike OF those who wore the
blue and Of those who wore the gray in
that great sectional combat, which. what
ever else IL did or did not, left no shadow
upon American sodiership, no stain upon
American manhood. But, in Kentucky, the
war ended 80 years ago Familiar inter-
communication between those who fought
in it upon opposing sides; marriage
and giving in marriage; the rearing of
common progeny; the ministrations OF
private friendship: tie all-subduing tnfiu-
ence OF home and church and school. of
wife and child have eliminated In such a
closely-knit web of Interests and affections
that none of US care to disentangle the
threads that compose 1t, ana few of us could
DO so II would
.God Bless the Flag"
''And the flag. God bless The flag! As the
heart Of McCallum More warmed to the tar
tan. do all hearts warm to the flag! Have
you upon your round OF sightseeing
missed 1t hereaooutsf Does 1t make itself
on any hand conspicuous by its absenceY
Can you doubt the loyal sincerity OF those
who froIA housetop and rooitree have
thrown il TO the breeze? Let some sacri-
lcgious hand be raised to haul il down and seei
No. no. comrades the people en- masse
do not deal in subterfUges; they do
not stoop TO conquer; they may be wrong:
they may he peryerse; but they never dissem-
Bile. These arc honest flags with honest hearts
behind them They are the symbols of a na-
tionality as precious to us as 10 you.
Welcome of the South.
1t is with a kind of exultation that I fling
open the gates OF this gateway TO the
SOUTH / bid you welcome IN the name OF
the people whose voice Is the voice OF
God You came and we resisted you you
come. and we greet you; for times change and
men change with them You will find here
scarcely sign OF the battle, not
reminisceuce of its passions Grim yisaged
war has smoothed his wrinkled front. and
whichever way you turn on either side,
deepening as you advRnce-across the Chap
lin Hills. where Jackson fell to Stones
river. where ROSY fOught-and on to Chat
tanooga and Chickamauga and over Mis-
sionary Ridge. and down by Resaca ana
Rennesaw and Auatoona. where Corse held
the fort as a second time you march TO the
sea-pausing lille abO.t Atlanta to look
with wonder on scene risen as By the
hand OF enchantment-thence returning by
way OF Franklin and Nsshville-you shall
Rncosnter as you pass those moldering
heaps. which remind you OF your valor and
travail. only the magnaniInous spirit Of dead
heroes. with Grant and Sherman and Thomas
and Mcpherson and Logan looking down from
the happy stars, as II repeating the words OF
the master: Charity fo= all, malice toward
none
. We too. have our graves, we. too. had our
heroesl A.. all are comrades now upon the
other side where you and must shortly join
them; blessed. thrice blessed We who have
1yed TO see IL fulfilled"