The times., 1897-04-28
GRANT POST CELEBRATES.
Patriotism, Reminiscence and Re,
Joicings at Their Hall.

c. s. Grant Post. No. IL, G. A. r., De
| birthday of the .'old Commander - from
| whom tie organization obtained its name,
last night with appropriate services at
G. A. R. Hall, No. 14IO Pennsylvania
avenue northwest.
The program embraced select music,
furnished by the Grand Army Musical
Union. and including a solo by Mrs.
Susanne Oldberg; patriotic addresses, and
reminiscent and historical sketches, and
lasted from o'clock until 1890
Added interest was derived from the
presence of fDepartmen Commander Thomas
S. Hopkins and his staff, Pension Comnis-
siOner Henry Clay Evans and number
Of visiting comrades. Mr.. Evans was
drafted into service and made a brief
speech, which, while not strictly based
upon the text OF the evening, was never
theless received with great enthusiasm.
He said. in part. and referring to the in
PRODUCTION given him by the presiding Of
ficer, that he had come to Washing gton
to take charge Of an important function
Of the Government He had come to do
his duty to the old soldiers-to carry out
the law. 1t is not his mission to send out
spies, he said, to see how he might pre-
vent the granting Of pensions, but, SO far
| as he could. within the law, to grant such
pensions as are prescribed by the law.
The principal address of the evening
q tribute to Gen. Grant-was made by Com
rade Joseph Smolinski, q member of Grant
Post
1t was an eloquent production, and was
greeted with frequent applause Among
other things advanced by Mr. Smolinski
was the suggestion that Grants birthday
should be made national holiday 1t
has been made a holiday in New York
he said, and why not, by Congressional
enactment, make it national in character,
holiday or day of prayer and rejoicing
He also referred to the patriotism of the
American people as in sympathy with the
struggling patriots everywhere, and said
that those who revere Grants memory
would be glad to see Cuba achieve vic
tory over Spain; Poland over Russia,
Hungary over Austria, the Greeks over the
Moslem, and Ireland over England.
The remainder of the program embraced
"Reminiscences of Grant," by Comrade
Albert f. Il. johnson, who served Secre-
tary of War Stanton as his private secre-
tary during the war period; remarks by
Department Commander Hopkins, a BARI
tone solo, Red, White, and Blue by Mr.
Frank Reside; and an address by Depart
last named exercise, though last on tie
program, was eXceedin gly entertaining, and
was received with hearty piaudits.
The addresses all had special reference
to the life and character and the achieve
ments of the hero of Appomotax, to Lin
coin, also, nd Sherman, Sheridan, Thomas,
Burnside, Meade, and the numerous others
of Gen Grants compatriots Of the memor-
able Civil War.
The post was out In force, and many
ladies graced the occasion. Among the
assemblage, in addition to those men
toned, were: Department Commander Tet-
rick. of the Department OF Alabama and
Georgia; Past Department Comma nler
Green, of Kansas; Senior Vfce-Com:nander
Raub, Junior vice-Commander McCabe,
Chief Mastering Officer 81. II. Martin,
Medical Director c. v. Petty, Chief In
spector j. E. Clifford, and Assistant Ad.
Iutant General Hendrix, all of the De-
paTtment of the Potomac.
The roster Of Grant Post, embracing
| tn. officers present, is as follows: VIII
liam II. Henning, comman DER r. I.
| Cation, senior vice commander; William
| O. Harvey, junior vice commander; Horace
| H. Brown, adjutant. George Wheeler
| Quartermaster: James M. Thompson, sur
geon: John w. Dutton, chaplain; Viii
| liam A. Mann, officer OF the day. ana
| Peter Gallagher, officer OF the guard
| Past Post Commander H. M. Gilman
presided and served as master Of GER
enoliies