The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-10
Reception and Banquet at
The TrOCaderO.
Over Two Hundred Veterans
Enjoyed The Banquet.
Addresses Made BY C0mmander-in-
Chief ClarksOn and Others.

The ceremonies attending the annual
encampment of the Grand Army of the
Republic in this state and the reception to
Comman der -in-Chief Ciarkson and other
distinguished visiting veterans came to
an agreea bic termination in the Irocadero
last evening with reception by the
women's Relief Corps OF the State, and
q banquet to Past Commander William h.
Stone with subsequent social exercises and
addresses by prominent members of the
Grand Army. About 500 guests partici-
pated in the festivities which were full of
patriotism and enthusiasm. At s O'Clock
the veterans, about 200 strong sat down
to the banquet In the large auditorium
and the ladies of the Relief Corps had
their spread in the parlors down stairs.
department Commander Livingston scott
who was elected tc that high Office yes
terdsy, presided at the feast OF the Veter-
ans. at his right sat Past Department
Commander Stone. Ihe singing by the
union veteran quartette was agreeable
and the banquet was first class. Com
mauder Scott began the social features by
saying: "This Is an occasion, comrades,
when we come to honor our Past Com
mander. The Joy Of this occasion is
higb bly, enhanced by the fact that we have
many distinguished guests from abroad.
II is made unusually significant by the
presence OF our Commander-in-Chie In
the absence of the Governor Of the State.
the State will be represented by one of
her distinguished Senators. / take pleas
ure in the honor OF presenting TO you the
Hon. Il. L. Freeman"
Senator Freeman extended q hearty
greeting and closed his remarks by saw
ing: | have no language to express our
good will. / can only say welcome, thrice
welcome. Coming from a large and re-
sourceful State, you must not judge our
hearts OF our welcome by the size of our
State.o
Department Commander Scott then pre-
sented Mayor Edwin ID. McGuinness,
who was given hearty greeting. He
said:
"It is two-iold pleasure for me TO join
with you in paying a. tribute of respect to
the retiring commander, William f..
stone, and to welcome the commander
in-chief. 1t has been my pleasure TO
meet in fraternal gatherings like this the
men of the u. A. X. 4 consider it the
highest honor / have over experienced
when / was made an associate memb Der Of
Prescott Post. It was the grSndest
honor that an American citizen can
kno v,that honor which each one has had
who left his pursuit to save this country
Of ~
then fastened on it's fair body.
s'Death is carrying these men away and
the rate Is increasing each year. Soon we
can mention only with the deepest rever-
snce the fact that this mau was with
| Grant or passed the forts on the Missis-
sippi with Farragut. 1t is great honor to
| bid you welcome to the city OF Proyi-
| dence.
Chief Clarskon was in
.roduced ana he received an ovation.
When the Veterans mad made as much OF
| a demonstration as they wanted to, the
distingu guished guest made an eloquen
| speech. lie said in substance:
| "Department Commander,S Senator Free
man, Mayor McGuinness, my comrades
| nd friends-It was unnecessary for
you TO tell me that 1 was welcome in
| Rhode Island. knew II before the train
rolled INTO the depot. Your hearts are
too big for me, your generosity too great.
/ am only common every day private
in my own State.
"Yet this il but sn affair OF nom ent.
IL is the representative of the erandest
order in the world, the representative Of
a quarter OF a million men yet living that
barred their breasts 10 the cold steel that
Old Glory might never be stained. AS I
look into these faces drawn with wrinkles,
beads hoary with whitened hairs, feel
tnat the lives of the veterans are not long
for this world. IL seems hardly 30 years
ago that. marching to the music OF tho
Union and touching elbow 10 elbow, our
hearts thrilled with patriotism. would
rather Mr.. Mayor, have q right TO wear
this button though q pauper, than be a
millionaire and know that when my
country called / dio not respond. Thess
men did not come from the slums, bat
the student, The CLERK, the farmer, enlisted
to fight, 10 die IL need be, to serve Old
Glory.
"Tbey were proud OF doing tneir duty,
each one conscious OF his own import
sDce. Who shall say aught against the
matter that composed and composss the
Grand Army 'of the Republic? IL their
bravery inspirss our patriotism, what
shall we say for their victory over them
selves, when at Appomstox they put
down the sword ana gave their country
their services as faithfully In pesce as 10
war; You zee in your department com
mandcr a respected citizen, fond hus-
band and father. Tpcy who were once
our enemies ace now our friends, drinking
/ (Ccn,inUed on Page 80