Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-23
GRAND ARMY PATRIOTISM
The Department Of the Potomac Honors
George Washington's Memory.
Rev. DIR. stafford Reads the Farewell
Address and Cen. Sickles Makes
Good Speech.

The Department of the Potomac, G. A.
R., celebrated Washington's birthday last
night by holding patriotic services at the
Metropolitan church. The Interior of the
edifice was decorated with bunting and
Grand Army emblems, the gala appearance
being increased by the uniforms Of the
members of the Grand Army present. The
Marine Band was in attendance, and, to-
gether with the Grand. Army Musical
Union, rendered Appropriate music.
The services opened with invocation by
the Rev. Hugh Johnston, after which De-
partment Commander Nathan Bickford
submitted few Introductory remarks He
said that one of the principal objects OF
the G. A. X. is to foster the divine in
stincts of patriotism. With this view it
was the policy of the organization to hold
aloft the name of Washington noble
example of what the statesman, soldier and
citizen should be. Only few men In each
century survive in history, but the name
of Washington gathers new luster and re-
nown as time goes on.
Mr.. Bickford introduced the Rev. DR..
Stafford, who read the farewell address of
Washington. At the conclusion of it Mr..
Stafford said he had been asked to add a
few words, but he realized that TO attempt
such a thing would be to gid refined god,
to paint the lily or throw a perfume upon
the violet. He said he hoped that the
spirit of Washington, so broad, so Amer
lean. SO true and SO conforInable to reason,
might descend into the hearts of all Amer
lean citizens and public officials, SO that,
according to his prayers, America may
have the choicest OF heavens blessings.
Gen. Stckles. Address.
Gen. Dan Sickles was then introduced.
The immense audience applauded and
cheered him as he strobe to the front Of
the rostrum upon his crutches. He said it
is pleasure to address the Department of
the Potomac, because 1t is the most repre-
sentative organization of its kind in the
United States. This arises from the fact
that 1t contains in its membership represent
tatives of more regiments, brigadeS and
corps then any other department.. He an
nounced his hesitancy to attempt an ella bo-
rate address, and said the characteristics
and achievements of Washington are so
familiar to every American as to make it
unnecessary to dwell upon them. He said
TINS government was founded by gentle
men, men OF culture, of intergrlty, of a
high sense of honor and devotion to law
and order. A government thus founded by
a CODY OF cultured gentlemen would ma
tIraily produce institutions wherewith
nDerty and love of order are associated.
Anarchists and socialists had no audience
IN those times; this government was not
established for those people. and the SOON
81 'ney illu IL OUT ana go somewhere else
the better IT shall be for them.
AS TO Washington, the Americans are
nero,worshipers and our admiration tor
Washington now approaches alteration.
Inere are two Washingtons, the real and
the ideal. The real Washington can be
held up to the emulation of our youth,
but the ideal is unapproachable. The real
Washington was a man of passion he
loved his friends and hated his enemies
and was abused like pickpocket by the
part!sans OF his town. The ideal Wash
1ngton Is simply a model of perfection
There Is no advantage in this continual
idealization of human character.
Ii Washington had not been human as he
was. he could not have fulfilled his mission.
1t is well to blend with the virtues of men
some of their weaknesses and by this
means they ure capable of being emulated.
Pensioners and Their Treatment.
Turning to the subject of the soldier, Gen.
Sckles seemed more at home. He said a
soldier with an honorable discharge has
a patent of nobility, which renders him
worthy OF the best this country can give.
He paid high tribute to the soldiers of the
late war and deplored the fact that they
are vanishing rapidly. Twenty-Five years
hence II will be hard to realize that IN the
year 1895 there were 100000 of them and
their widows upon the pension rolls. The
chronicler of those times Will write that in
1895 when these heroes were upon earth
and drawing pensions the government of
that day found ii necessary to employ 800
or 400 detectives to scour the country to
find frauds, not being willing to believe
that there were so many real heroes on
hand. Gen. Sckles made many sarcastic
references to the administration of the pen
sion laws and the treatment of the old
soldiers and his speech was loudly ap-
plauded.
The services of the evening closed with
music by the band and benediction by the
Rev. j. d. Smith.