The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-08-26

the G.. A. II. at Buffalo. aud II is prob
able that 1t will be many years be-
fore the National encampment will be
again held in the State OF New York.
BY the time 1t again gets around for
the Empire State to have the meeting,
the ranks of the veterans will have be-
come much thinner than they are at
present, and the encampments will be
far less in number Of attendance, al
though 1t is probable that they will
hold for the survivors even more OF
interest than they do to-day. The at
tendance at Buffalo Is estimated to ex.
ceed 10000 persons.
A royal welcome was extended to the
President. and the people Of the city
have left nothing that would contribute
to the comfort and happiness OF the
visiting veterans. great wave of pa
trio,ic impulse is created by these meet.
ings of the men who fought the ene-
mics of the Union, and established the
doctrine of our indevisible character
at the point of the bayonet, and it is
especially gratifying to the old soldiers
TO look over the country that their val.
or saved, and behold not only no foe.
but to see those lately in arms vieiug
with them. in cultivating the arts OF
peace.
There were strong advocates of the
proposition to hold the next National
Enoampment in city south OF Ma
son and Dixon's line, and the discus
sion OF the subject has brought out
more fully than ever before the great
fact that the animosties OF the war
have nearly all died out, and We are in
fact, as we'll as in name, one people,
and all loyal to one flag.
To the student of history this re-
markable fact almost passes compre-
hen ion. Where in the history Of the
past can such a fact be found as the
cenenting together again of the bonds
between the States that were severed
by the war? But We are a peculiar
ieople. We have created more wealth
IN the past thirty years, than ever be-
Gre ir all the history OF the coII try.
and our people have intermingled and
ihtermarried. People from the Sunny
scuth have come into the North, and
have made fortunes, while Northern
capital and enterprise has done much
TO develop the resources OF the South.
The stormy period that preceded the
war; Is a memory only to the Oldest
inhabitant, and the new generations
which have come on the stage Of ac-
ton, have neither knowledge or inter-
est in the affairs which lead to the
great conflict. We are making history
at too rapid pace to permit our peo-
pie to hold postmortem examinations
continually. The past is behind us, and
there let 1t remain.
But the memory OF the heroes who
wrought for God and country with
deeds OF heroic grandeur, will endure.
long after the forces of nature have
beaten down the proudest monuments
which art can rear to honor them
The choice of Point Bluff as the
Presidents summer home has natur.
ally attracted unusual interest to this
part OF the country, and certainly no
other section has received more at
tention than this. Every foot OF
ground in this vicinity Is rich in his
| toric memories. 1t was in this valley
that the revolutionary patrols rallied
In their mighty strength which was
born OF he justice Of their cause, and
| at Bennington battle in this very
month of August repulsed the naughty
foe. AS Gettysburg was the turning
point in the war Of the Rebellion, SO
| Bennington was the beginning of the
end of British control in America. Sar-
| atoga, Bemis Heights, and Oriskany,
| were subsequent events which gave the
| triumph to Patriots cause, and made
of the declaration Of independence the
| most momentuous act in all the history
| OF the world. save only the birth of the
Savior OF men. 1t has been said that
| the one act which stimulated the en-
| oattled farmers at Bennington battle.
and the one which alone brought VIC
| tory to their tattered banners. was the
| widely published threat OF the British
| commander to turn loose upon the pa
triots, their wives and families, the
| savage allies OF the Kings forces. THIS
| inhuman proposition shocked the bet
ter sentiment In the Mother Country,
| and aroused the patriots OF America to
that height Of indignation and desper-
alton which made them invincible in
battle.
In choosing this delightful section ef
the country in which to spend his sun :
mer vacation, the President has avail
ened new interest in the precious meu =
ories which cluster around Benningto !.
Ticonderoga, Fort Edward and Sar,-
toga. And he leaves them only to
mingle with his battle-scarred COM
rades In their reunion at Troy and
Buffalo.
There has been nothing slow about
Saratoga. and would not have been
even II the Presidential party had noe
been there, or In the immediate vicini-
ty. The races. the drives, the hops and
for many the club, where the betting
has at times been fast and furious,
holds for many attractions which can
not be resisted. But very soon the sea-
son will be on the wane. People who
| make Saratoga gay are inseparably con-
nected with the races. 1t Is diffcult to
see how people can be so carried away
with the excitement of the track as
Don't Tobacco Spit and Smoke Your Life Away.