The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-09-02
ut THE CAMpFIRES.
Good spsech-Making and Patriotic
Music Made Them Lively.

terest OF some.
The Delaware Avenue VI. E. Church was
hlied to OVERLOOKING Tuesday night. The
Campfire was opened By the Rev C. c. Albert
son, pastor of the church. The Lords prayer
was repeated by the entire audiencs after
which band rendered music. Dr. Albertson
then babe the veterans aud their friends well
come to Buffalo. John l.. Roner, of this city,
was announced and gave short talk.
President Mckinley, Commander CIarkson
ana the Presidents party stepped onto the
platform. The people were not aware of Mr..
MehIniey's presence until he was in full view
OF everyone, when they rose in a body waving
handkerchiefs. hats. and sauting him with
cheers and cries Of welcome. He responded
by bowling an acknowledgment after which no
was seated. and Commander Clarkson said
My friends, nv comrades where shall
begin? What can | say from an oyeraowing
heart to people who have shown to US such
magnihcent hospitality az the good people of
Bufaio? They tell me that the Grand Army
OF The Republic is getting TO be somewhat stale.
Does this magnificent audience look much like
1t? Oh, no, Oh. no! Down in the inmoss
hearts of the good people Of this country thers
Is a warm spot for the veterans.
= want to say to you, good people of Buffalo,
that from the very bottom of our hearts We
appreciate this splendid hospitality. You
must not think that because we devote our
time here to bugging one another and to bring.
ing up the "reminiscences of the past that wa
are IN the slightest degree overlooking your
hospitality. Not at ALL" He closed by intro
ducing the President
Naj. Mckinley said 81 came to this splen-
did presence tonight that might pay nv re-
speets to my old omrades and lay at their
feet my tribute of love and appreciation and
affection" After speaking of the magnitude Of
the war and the bravery of the men of the
Union, he said: As the result of that great
civil struggle we have the creates, Government
because We have the freest Government and
we have got the freest Government because wa
have got an equal Government. governed
equally by equal citizens everywhere And is
IS the business of the living, it is the business
of the citizen, it is the business of the men and
the women in every part of our common coun-
try to cultivate the highest and the best citizen
ship for upon the highest and best citizenship
rests the highest and best destiny of our Gov
eminent"
President MeKinley also had grand well
come at the Asbury Methodist Church, Tues
day night. So did Gen. Clarkson and the
others in the Presidential party. B. F. SeheIl,
OF Detroit, amused the audience with comic
rendition of Johnny Smoker" Deyoe p.
HodsOn was the presiding officer
When the President came into the church
the crowd stood up, waved handkerchiefs, and
cheered. The party was welcomed by thu
Chairman, who then introduced Gen. Clark.
son. who made one of his happy speeches.
President Mckinley, in part, said: The sad.
dest part of the Reunion of the old sOldier5oi
the army is that at every annual Encampment
we miss many familiar faces. Our comrades
are diminishing with the passing years. They
have passed from association with US here any
longer; they have gone to join the great ma
jority of that army with which they were 80
long associated, and they sleep tonight within
those green tents whose curtains never out
ward swing. Not only have the great COM
nIanders gone, but the rank and file of that
splendid army have joined their old command
ers on the other shore. 1t is our duty. il is our
business. TO perpetuate their memories; it in
our duty, it is our business, to preserve and i'm
prove and strengthen and glorify the magnif-
cent institutions for which they fought and
for which they gave their lives"
As President Mckinley walked out men and
women grasped his hand and shook 10, at the
same time cheering with force that made the
building tremble
=" Can you tell me how they made stoekiugs
for the Union prisoners confined in the rebel
prisons?" school teacher asked of one of her
classes. No one answered until small boy at
the foot of the class raised mis- hand "Oh. you
know, do you. Johnnie? Well. what kind
were they?" Nit" said Johnnie.
This was one of the stories which Charles F.
Sheriff. National Commander of the Associa-
ton of Ex-Prisoners of War, told at the Camp
fire of the Association. held at Camp Jewets.
Commander Sheriff. related his experiences in
Southern prisons. Interesting speeches were
also made by Robert W. Hill, Comrade ]. /.
kilgore Vice Commander of the Association.
Rev. Henry Elliot and Lieut.. A. Cooper, the
author of In and Out of Rebel Prisons" Col.
s. III. Raudebach. of Fremont, o., told of the
of the Steamer Sultana and of ths
terrible loss of life entailed. Enjoyable fea-
lures of the evening were excellent music
given by the 11th Regiment Baud, and recita-
lions by Miss Sheriff. daughter of the Com
mander, whom he introduced as his deputy
sheriff. Patriotic songs were sung by the
crowd. aud the meeting was adjourned.
Campfire of the Toledo Drum and Trum-
pet Corps was to have been held at the Peoples
Church Tuesday night but was called of
owing to the absence of speakers. However,
Maj. John Farquhar, who fought with the
s9th ILL.,, made speech that stirred the
memories and patriotic souls of veterans and
civilians alike. His address was eulogy of
the Union soldier. When he touched on the
question of pensions. Maj. Farquhars words
found echo in the faces of his hearers palmer
than speech could have expressed their senti-
ments. 81 regret the absence of the speakers
but we have met in peace, we have met in
plenty, because prosperity has struck Buffalo,"
said Maj. Farquhar. And the meeting was al
an end.
Owing to the non-appearance of the speakers
and a bicycle parade, the Campfire at the
North Church Tuesday night was Of short
duration. At 8 o'clock there were about so
persons present. Maj. George III. Stowits de-
clared the meeting open. The Orpheus started
the program with q song, after which Maj.
Stowits made few general remarks on the
character of Grant and his bearing in the field
of action. The Orpheus then sang Marching
Through Georgia" with good effect. and Maj.
Stowits declared the meeting adjourned.
At the Delaware Avenue NJ. E. Church,
Thursday night Gov. Black. during his adj
dress, pictured to the large audience the honor
due the old soldier. and said that the memories
the Encampment presented could not be prop
erly understood by the present generation. Col.
James Parker reeited his experience in the old
steamer Saratoga He paid high tribute to
the women of the North.
Gen Lew Wallace stirred the enthusiasm OF
thu audience by his recital of war incidents.
Mrs. Margaret Hull proved herself master OF
the violin. Mrs. Nellie Holbrook Blinn retited
a poem entitled "Old Glory" Gen. GARRISON
was accompanied to the church by his daugh.
ter He made n patriotic address. Col. ID. 8
Alexander was very versatile in his introduc
tions and told many incidents OF the war
During the evening the men OF the S@ngerDunt