The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-04

headquarters for years. Comrade Holcomb
took charge OF the matter on the 10th OF
January and made report Of the work al
ready accomplished.
In connection with this Office of custodian
Of archives, | believe that it would prove
beneficial to the work at national headquar-
ters, and make quite a saving, IL the Office
of the adjutant general and quartermaster
general were consolidated, and supplies is
sued by the custodian of records at Phila-
delphia, under the direction of the adjutant
general, as most of our supplies are manu-
featured there. He could do this for the
salary now paid, and the duties of adjutant
general would not be materially increased
by the change.
Patriotism.
We meet today in a true spirit of fraternity,
charity and loyalty. These annual gatherings
Of the men who rendered loyal, devoted and
patriotic services to their country In its hour
of peril, gives renewed strength to patriotism,
tends to elevate and adorn our national char
acter and make us stronger each succeeding
year. We meet with no desire to boast of
our services in the past. We were citizens
before we became soldiers, and volunteered
at the call of our imperiled nation, that we
might fulfill the highest duties of citizenship,
and the lessons we learned amidst the storm
OF battle made us more mindful of our duties
as citizens. The men who saved the nation
can be depended upon to defend its integrity
and honor when assailed. The Grand Army
stands for the rights of property and the
supremacy of the laws. 1t stands for law
and order and justice everywhere and at all
times.
Comrades, the trumpet of God is sounding.
1t is not the bugle call to battle. The roar
of cannon and the rattle of musketry have
ceased. The sabre and the bayonet flash only
on parade. The bivouac, the camp, the march
are only a dream. The battalions hear no
more the hoarse ~orwar The shattered
and glorious banners which you followed are
carefully folded in legislative halls. The
grass grows green over the soldiers lonely
grave, and the bitter means of sorrow mel
low into a song of sadness. The conflict of
arms is over, but not the conflict Of ideas,
nor the. trials of the people. The field is
changed, and now in the workshop, the home
and at the capitol, through the press and on
the platform we must insist upon the main
tenance of law and order for which our COM
rades SO nobly fought and so bravely died.
We are called upon by the sacred memories
Of the past, in view of our needs and auspi-
cious hopes, to cherish a lofty faith in the
republic. We must have courage to meet
our difficulties. We must remember that we
have outgrown the past and that we have
entered upon a new and higher national life.
There need be no rancor nor needless re-
elimination. We must be inspired by hope.
We must stand together. We must forgive
and forget. We must rub out old animosities
and take fresh, unstained parchment, fit to
receive the ideas and lessons of later times.
We must carry hopeful hearts and cheerful
brows. We must fill the veins of education
and the organizations of industry with the
spirit of liberty regulated by law. We must
mould the life of the nation by the force of
great moral ideas, and rule through the
IA hiN NC 01o-
crowned.
In MemOriam.
Comrades, it is fitting ere we enter upon
the duties of another year, TO pause upon it's
threshold, and, with one more backward
glance, take leave of those who have thus far
accompanied us on our march. Many who
one year ago answered to the roll call, hold
their encampment today in the halls of heroes
in Valhalla, with Lincoln, Grant, Sherman,
Sheridan, Thomas and Logan. AS we run
O1rr onor 'fbo old ro14ar ~ J;roroa
with age and burnt with tears, we sadly
realize how many a star has shed Its fatal
ray upon those we've loved long since. and
lost awhile" Few posts have escaped the
invasion of the Great Conqueror, and to many
of us He has come very close and torn from
us those to whom we were bound by close
encircling bands. More than 1000 of our
number. within the short twelve months,
have crossed the star-lit line, and ere an
other encampment ASSEMBLIES some in this
presence will join their comrades on eternal
camping grounds. National, department and
post officers have often been called upon to
perform the last. sad rites over their fallen
upon their breasts, they have laid them
away upon their shields. I speak of many
you are thinking Of one. Long had he served
you and his state and nation faithfully; long
had his firm, quiet character been a positive
factor in public affairs. You learned to love
him, you learned to trust him, you raised
him to that high position for which he was
SO fitted. In the midst of his usefulness the
Supreme Commander him to a
higher service. Death came suddenly, and
you laid him away at Madison amid the flow
ers moistened by the tears of many friends.
But, comrades, he is not dead. A patriot
never dies! His spirit moves among us to-
day! We see him not. but the inner soul
catches the sound of his voice as in years
agone. He comes not to claim his wanted
place, but in our hearts he asserts his rights
and while today we deliberate for the welfare
Of his comrades, may we still give heed to
the guiding counsel Of our departed but ever
living friend and comrade-Lueiu Fairchild.
Comrades, our work for this year is nearly
completed and in returning to you unimpaired
the trust your SURFACES imposedggI desire to
express my profound sense of appreciation.
| hope that amy efforts in behalf Of our great
organization have not been in vain, but that
some lasting good has been accomplished.
Permit me to again thank you for one of
the greatest honors of my life, second only
to that of being permitted to stand by your
side in defending our country in it's hour of
peril, which service made it possible for
me to become a member of the Grand Army
OF the Republic. When your duty here is
performed and you return to your several
homes, may you each and all be constantly
under the guardian care of Him who shielded
you in. the hot flame of battle, and, finally.
may each one of you hear from the lips of the
Supreme Commander the "Well done, good
and faithful servant"