The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-06

CONGRATULATIONS.
Now that the Grand Army encamp-
ment has come and gone, and all its
glories are faded to a memory, we
wish to extend to the people of st.
Paul the heartiest congratulations
upon the unmeasured success that they
won by their efforts to play the per-
feet host during the past six days. We
do not believe that the public spirit
and enthusiasm displayed here and
the magnificence and sufficiency of the
preparations for the G. A. r. meet
ing were more appreciated by our Wis
itors than they are by those of our
own people who had felt some doubt
Of the ability of the city to entertain
properly at this time so immense
host. The conditions were not favor
able to this great undertaking. At any
time it would be certain to tax the re-
sources of a city of this size to the
utmost to receive and care for the
tens of thousands of people who are
focused at one point by each annual
Grand Army reunion. Such an event
requires a canvassing of resources and
a union of forces like the provisioning
of trains for an army in time of war
Moreover this event came at date
when our people, in common with those
of all other cities, had been strug-
Cling against industrial depression.
and when their natural generosity had
been limited, if not chilled, by the
necessities of the times It was not
possible to secure the liberal contribu-
tons that could have been had for
the asking a few years ago, and it
was equally out Of the question to
rouse in people who had braced them
selves against the shocks Of manifold
misfortune the same lightness of spirit
and readiness for gayety that come
naturally in times of better prosper
ity. To most of us, indeed, it seemed
during the past few weeks and
months as if comparatively little in
the way of preparation for the Grand
Army meeting was going forward. We
heard of canvassing and committee
meetings and schemes for the bestowal
of visitors in a general way, but so
quietly did the people move about
their work that it seemed as if the
great day would come and find us still
far from readiness.
Instead of that, we can see, as we
look back over the past week. very
little that could have been amended
or better arranged for in advance. 1t
is impossible to bestow particular
praise in any one direction, because
we fail to find any of the agencies
that made our city ready for the G.
A. K. and entertained them royalty
who have not done their best The
decorations certainly surpassed any,
thlng that was ever seen in this part
of the country. The conception was
fine and carried out in good taste
Anything more surprisingly beautiful
than the line of march on Summit
avenue and on Sixth street we have
not elsewhere beheld. And the general
lavish display of decorative emblems
throughout all parts of the city pro-
duced total of the happiest effect
Those who had this in charge will ha
grained to know that not only did
the visitors express their wonder and
admiration, but that already the press
or this and other states is according
to st. Paul, in their printed accounts
Oh the celebration, the palm for the
nnest display Of street decorating that
has been seen on any such occasion.
The bureau of accommodation
though less in evidence, discharged.
probably, the hardest duty Of all. To
nave so organized the work of securing
accommodation and distributing the
incoming tide of visitors among tbe
public and private places of enter
tainment, that no one who annIied
failed to secure what he desired was
SO stupendCus an undertaking that
those who carried it through deserve
the warmest praise. Never was there
better organization, or one that
worked more effectively to secure the
comfort OF our guests and to main
tain uhtdFnlshed the honor of our
city's hospitality. The arrangements
for the various reunions and camn-
fires, and particularly for the great
parade, were equally felicitous and
we'll composed. There was no hitch
anywhere. Everything moved accord
Ing to the programme, and the
immense procession of last Wednes-
day was in perfect array and moving
with precision along it's route within
few minutes of the estimated time.
Most Of all. We think, is credit due