Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1897-08-28
GRAND ARMY REUNIONS
A MIGHTY HOST HAS GATHERED
AT BUFFALO,
President Mckinley Answered q
the Toast of "The Country
and Its Defenders"


Army of the Republic waXed greater
and grander yesterday. The Grand Army
has turned out in greater numbers than
before at annual encampments, and this
is true also of the eX-prisoners of war
association, and the naval veterans,
and the women's auxiliary bodies. just
as the songs of victory hoated up from
the triumphant hosts of Sherman as
they marched to the sea, so from the
old soldiers gathered in Buffalo wells
up mighty mingling of thankfulness,
of happiness and of JOY. From early
morning until late at night, Main street
held a continuous procession of posts.
Scores of them brought bands, and few,
indeed had no music
The features of the day were the ar
rival of President Mckinley, accom-
panied by Secretary Alger, and Cover
nor Black of New York; the banquet
to the president this evening, and the
parade of the naval veterans and eX-
prisoners of war this morning.
During the day there were more than
80 corps, brigade, regimental and com
pany reunions The naval veterans, eX-
prisoners of war, ladies of the G. A. X.
and the association of nurses, held their
conventions, and there were many recep-
lions given by and to the ladies of the
auxiliary association.
A trip on the lake, participated in by
about 1000, was one of the pleasantest OF
MANY entertainments. This evening
there were a number of camp fires for the
men and receptions and musical enter
tainments for the ladies.
Mark Hannn's Entrance.
At Gas o'clock, Senator Mark Hanna,
who has Just arrived in the city, came
into the banquet hall. His entry was
noted by applause at the further end of
the hall, and as the proceedings paused,
President Mckinley rose and moved along
to the hall to meet him. There was
shout of applause as the two men clasp
ed hands. Both took their seats amid
applause
Following Hannas entrance it was an
nounced that the president, desiring to
hear Archbishop Ireland and other speak
ers, had decided to make brief visit
to some of the camps and then return,
He left, accompanied by COMMANDMENTS
Chief Clarkson.
The POSTMASTER then announced the
veteran Indian fighter, as solicitor for the
Whitman monument fund.
While Jewett was speaking, and for
a few moments pandemonium relgned
supreme, somebody yelled wheat Sl.O3'
silver 40 a cry that was taken up and
repeated again and again.
The Presidents Speech.
When Jewett had finished his address
President Mckinley was introduced
and for fully five minutes it seemed us
though the roof would have to fall or
the side walls bulge with the roar OF APP
plause and greeting. Then the presl-
dent said slowly and distinctly:
"Mr. Toastmaster and Comrades and
Nv Fellow Citizens: wish l might
frame fitting words to make a hitting
RESPONSE to the more than gracious vel
come YOU have accorded me here to-
niobt, | come with no set form OF
speech: come with no studied phrases
TO present to you, but | come in the
shirt of comradeship to talk to YOU as
we have often talked i'll the past around
the camp fires in war, as well as at camp
fires in peace.
"To me, | see by the program, has
boen assigned the toast, 'The Country
and It's Defenders. My fellow citizens,
blessed is that country whose defenders
are patriots. Blessed is that country
whose soldiers fight for it and are will
inc to give the best they have, the best
that any man has, their lives, to pre-
serve it because they love it. Such an
army the United States has always
commanded in every crisis OF her ms
tory. From the war of the revolution
70 the late civil war, the men followed
that FLAG in battle because they loved
that flag and believed in what 1t rep
resented. That was the stuff OF when
the volunteer army of 81 was made. Ev-
erv one of them not only fought, but
tbouoht. and many of them did their
own thinking, and did not always agree
with their commander. like that young
soldier who in the late war upon the
battle line, ahead with the color guard
hearing the stars and stripes way III
front of the line, but the enemy still in
front of him, when the general called
out to the color bearer, Bring those
colors back to the line and quicker
than any bullet, that young soldier an
swered back, Bring the line up to the
colors.' 1t was the voice of command,
there was man behind it. there was
patriotism in his heart.
$50 nigh to grandeur is our DUST
G.. .,nn, To God Is man.