St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-09-13
ST. PFUL REHDY FOR THE G. Fl. r. IN 1895.

the board of trade, Mrs. Gunlock
presiding. It's opening session was
also devoted to hearing annual re-
ports, which showed increased men,
bership and good conditions gener-
ally. The ladies of the circle, how
ever, showed no disposition to unite
with the Woman's Relief corps.
THE G. A. R. MEETING.
BY far the most interesting function
of the week began at 10 a. m. in Music
hall. It was the meeting of the en-
campment for the election of eXecu-
tive and commanding officers for the
ensuing year, and to decide upon
place of meeting for 1885, The hall has
a seating capacity of $3.50, and every
seat in the house was occupied. The
delegates entitled to vote occupied
the main floor, while visiting veter-
ans remained in the galleries. Gen.
Lawler, the commander-in-chief, was
loudly cheered. AS soon as quiet was
restored he formally called the meet
ing to order. He said that, as this
was the first national meeting of the
Grand Army of the Republic south
of the Ohio river, the execu-
tive committee had changed the usual
programme. The citizens of Louis
vile desired, he said, to give express
sion of their pleasure in having the
honor of entertaining the boys in
blue. You will be glad to know he
continued, that the man who is to
give the address of welcome is no
other that Hon. Henry Watterson, ed
itor of the Louisville Courier-Journal."
At the mention of Mr.. Watterson's
name there was an outburst of ap-
piause, and when it had died away
Mr.. Watterson stepped forward and
spoke in part as follows:
''It is, therefore, with a kind of ex-
ultation that l 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 a sign of the battle;
not Renaissance of its passions.
Grim-viSa ged war has smoothed his
wrinkled front, and whichever way you
turn on either side, deepening as you
where Jackson fell, to Stones river,
where Rosy fought-and on to Chatta-
nooga and Chickamauga and over Mis-
sionary Ridge, and down by Resaca
ana h6nn0SdW, ana AlldlOOn, Wner6
Corse held the fort" as a second
time you march to the sea-pausing
awhile about Atlanta to look with
wonder on a scene risen as by the
hand of enchantment-thenc return
ing by way of Franklin and Nashville
you shall encounter, as you pass
those moldering heaps, which remind
you of your valor and travail, only
the maSnanlmous spirit of dead heroes,
with Grant and Sherman, and Thomas
T -iT1cr
down from the happy stars as if re-
peating the words of the Master
Charity for all-malice toward none
We, too, have our graves; we, too, had
our heroeSi All, all are comrades now
upon the other side, where you and
must shortly join them; blessed, thrice
blessed we who have lived to see full
filled the psalmist's prophecy OF
peace"
Mr.. Watterson was frequently and
loudly applauded during his speech.
In response, Past Chief
William Warner, of Kansas City, Mo-,
spoke briefly. He said the boys in
blue would never forget the generous
and loyal hospitality of the good peo-
pie of Louisville.
THE HOOSIER POET.
Commander Lawler then introduced
James Whitcomb Riley, the Hoosier
poet, who spoke as follows:
I'm attempting any answer to the
invitation to prepare a fitting poem
for an occasion so memorable in our
history as the present, the writer has
felt that he could only trust to the
long prior inspiration of another-that
inspiration evoked by the once-alasi
exact opposite of the sectional feel
ingS and conditions of today. Then,
high above the havoc of civil war,
rang out The Battle Hymn of the Re-
public: Now, in faintest echo, yet
most grateful fervor, is offered
A PEACE-HYMN OF THE REPUB-
Lie.
There's a voice across the nation like
a mighty ocean hail,
Borne up from out the Southwark as
the seas before the gale;
Its breath is in the streaming flag and
in the flying sail,
AS we go sailing on.
'Tis voice that we remember ere it's
summons soothed as now
When it rang in battle-challenge, and
we answered vow with VOW
With roar of gun and hiss of sword
and crash of Prov and prov,
AS we went sailing on.
i Our hope sank, even as we saw the
sun sink faint and far
The Ship of State went cropping
through the binding smoke of
Through blackest midnight lurching,
Yet sailing-sailing on.
AS one who spake the dead awake,