New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-13
WAR VETERANS CELEBRATE.
THE 18TH REGIMENT HONORS LINCOLN'S
MEMORY.
Ct CLAIR MKELwAY THE SPEAKER OF THE OC-
CAsION-READINCis AND ADDRESSES
BY OTHERS.


The stirring times when the veteran as
s,eaton Of the seth Regiment. y. Y. V, went
mi in response to Lncoln's call for troops. were
discussed last night by scores of grayhared
veterans in Wilson'S Assembly Rooms in Pierre
pont-st. As in former years. the 56th Regiment
celebrated the birthday of the martyred Presi-
dent with reunion and campfire. Frederick
olsridge who a boy enlisted with the 18th,
had charge OF the decorations which in every
detail spoke Of patriotism. A large portrait Of
lincoln occupied conspicuous place in the quar-
,ers q the regiment. The music in charge
e. Rowland II. Maryland. in olden times the drum
major Of the 56th, and after social hour and
interchange of "reminiscences to one Of the old
familiar marches used for dress parade long
ago. the old veterans filed into the dining-room
and took their seats at the tables
THOSE WHO WERE THERE.
President Edwin Ludlam presided at the
quests table. and his right sat ST. Clair
McKelway There were also there Lieutenant
Colonel John A. Walsh, Captain George ~ Dick.
Captain David 5 Brewer. Lieutenant William
Martin. Secretary James A. Rooney. Lieutenant
George w. Van Mater. chairman of the Execu-
tive Committee William b. Green. John F.
Leary Captain Charles A. Sherman Of the
ed: lie Moyne Burleigh Franklin p Mapes
and Joseph w. Kay.
At the other tables seated the following
members Of the association: ]. Z. Adams. II.
B. Auten. Frederick Aldrdge. William A.
Brown. Police Captain J. A. Buckholz. William
Barber, Henry NJ. Birkett. Henry T. Chapman,
W j. Cheney, James Coleman, Frederick Dick
erson Edward Flood Henry Gugorty. j. H.
Gresham J. W Gilbert Michael Calvin, A. 5.
Hegeman. D. ". II. Harln ]. w. Hayes.
Thomas 5 Holt. II. c. Jones, John F. James.
J. W Kereney. j. J. Keenan,, Andrew La Rosa,
B. F Mead. Charles D. Myers Henry NJ. Nc
Kean. Robert Seabury. w. l. Smith. G. j.
Smith j. W. Wilson. W. c. woolsack. Thomas
Z. Webb. Daniel Baulsir. J. L. Bond Charles
Brewer Edward L. Combs, ]. S. Freeze. Edward
I. Montross Peter H. Ward. Julius 5. Welch, |
IT : DOYLE DR.. ]. y. Ellis. c. w. James, T. A
Landen William Martin. J. J. Ryan. Major j.
/ STYLES A. W. Tower, c. J. Suydan ana u !
W Dunbar.
SPEECH OF MR.. MKELWAY.
: Clair McKelway was introduced as the
guest of honor and speaker of the occasion |
Secretary James 4. Rooney read an interesting
paper on the Pennsylvania campaign ana the
New-York regiments which figured in 1t. the
paper was prepared by General George L. VIM
gate The entertainment programme included
songs by NJ. Van Mater, funny sayings win
Judge" William Green as the talker' ana hu'e
playing by Major Maryland
Mr. McKelway said:
Eiehty-seven years ago to-day Abraham Lincoln
was born and thirty-one years ago he died death
,ns filed his country with despair and shadoweu
the planet with mourning. Now he Is canohizeu'
He is without comparison because without coihPe-
tltion. He is without contrast because ne hiiNse
sets the standard TO which statesmen shouio at
tain What he did for this Nation needs no sugges-
ZION and what United States didfor him was never
forgotten by him and should never be forgotten 10y
hing 10 do with keeping the States united and their
Of service then Is their measure o. no.Oa
Iest source their consciences and their memory !
their interior of fellowship with duty ana WIN
God but also from the admissions ana tributes OF /
country from the annals OF their G3vernleii,, ai n
from the respect and paudits when they recTlNv o
all celebrated occasions. To consider the Dhite!
States and Abraham Lincoln IS 10 nave ,yae}pl
The effect of the United States on AbrahaH lDlncoIh
has been less REGARDED so siuPfnqOuS n on The
United States Yet the States should not be tof-
gotten when the man is mentioned any more man
TONED. The United States made Abraham Lincoln;
extraordinary virtues and abilities remade him
lie was obscure. His circumstances were lhQse S Oa
extreme restitution. There was proVlutncf III w.,
humble birth and environment Of Abraham Lincoln,
It made him tender toward me poor ea in him the
voice of conscience to which he obedient from
nan nf the plain people whom he never forgot.
who never forgot him. whom ne heEeI mn ~
y yeTe a p precious to him with whom he
invincble to whom he was Incompatible ana from
whom he received the highest OF earthly honofs
VERSATILITY OF LINCOLN.
All know the romantic rapidity of his rise the
miraculous adequacy Of his powers, the immeasura-
bic versatility Of his genius his ability TO gid de-
fat with anecdote. despair with philosophy victory
with clemency. power with msgnanimity manhood
with truth patriotism with nartyrdom ana me grave
with the glory of sef-sacrihce. suppose ADraham
Lincoln had been born in Germany. Would bureau
cratic imperialism there have been Transformed transform .!
him into manhood suffrage ana repuuDii can. IT, -
dom? Suppose he had been born al the bottom OF
restitution in Great Britain Would ne nav nn h
mounted and class distinction ana oeeh tne
civil head Of the empire? suppose ne hau oeeh
born in France. Can any believe that any such
OF grandeur and OF glory Wouu & sanae
10 him that tickle. fertile fortuitious ana !ai'a
vronment was az essential 10 Lincoln as Lincoln 10
america AS the United States made Lincoln In
The United States those OF who would consider
the best Interests Of his country should help 10 Keep
soi he PHILOSOPHY by which he ruled his life and
ruled the land II from the bending ana par d,g
not be words Of craftsmanship but words OF hdupn.
atty His solcitude would not be for sorGia ~ oul
for moral standards in society ana in our Gov
eminent HIS counses would not be for contention,
but brotherhood Our millionaire, wouIa L' III.
impress him Our toiling millions would engage an
the anx.etes OF his respondent heart kNerytn,.S
OF good report and intent necessary 10 ,ne d ~
larger and lovelier living in our land conlo we, Te
regarded lesson and duty neqnea'neu ., h e
rlustrous career and character 10 the nation whcn
he saved and which he relaunched. forever one and
forever free the OF the history OF the 'eS
that TO come. - ,,s,..,. ~,
or This dav 80 full and suggestive OF history. on
this lakeland of time looking backward on tne pa
with gratitude and forward on the future WIZ. ~
faith We should rebaptize ourselves In ne spir. VI
tho immortal emancp7tOr. and. as he dd NJ pe'tN'
burg newly dedicate ourselves az citizens OF We
United States OF the States united. to the vow 70
which he was 50 true and 10 the duty Tor Which ~.
gave his lie the VOW and duty that government OF
the people OF the machines for the peon.e' anu
not for the conspirators Of politics ard by the PEG,
pie and not BY corruDters % their sunraee. rhaIl
not with It's entail OF blessings ana OF oblira IONS
BY any default OF ourselves or OF our posierlty'
perish from the earth
~ urpoDv or DpOrESSOP Dt\4