The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-08-27

The Republic, the conspicuous honor and
privilege has fallon upon me to welcome
on our soil the comrades from the other
members of our sisterhood of states. We
maintain distinct commemorative each
Governing in its own sphere, but all con-
Shutting one nation forever indissoluble,
with one flag, and one superior allegi-
ance. This great fact had it's demonstra-
tion in blood and fire, on many famous
fields and finally forever established at
Appomatox. You come from the Pacific
slope: from the regions where rolls the
Oregon and that once heard no sound
save it's own dashing-from California,
from states traversed by the Rocky Noun
tain chain, from the Middle West, from
the South and from the East. You come
representing a great host of survivors of
the mightiest military conflict that the
world has ever known. But today you
do not come from ensanguined fields with
exultant shouts of victory and bearing
of conquerors, but you come from peace
full scenes, leaving a vocation of industry
and in happy mood to join in fraternal
greeting and once more give proof
through speech and pageantly that the
love of liberty and the spirit of patrio-
tism still dominates your hearts. New
York welcomes you with generous, hearty
welcome, and though justly pre- eminent
as the Empire state, she pays sincere and
thousands Of other citizens and comrades
most cordially greets you. This queenly
city, the gem of the great inland lakes
this entire port of trade and commerce
opens wide her gates and bids you well
come. Some of you were once her chill
dren, and today you return as grown up
sons to receive mothers blessing
In the name and on behalf of the 10000
comrades of this department., I extend
to you soldiers warm greeting. / well
come you as comrades, worthy of every
blessing, and I know you will feel at
home in this hospitable city. 1t was a
fortunate thing for the Virgin West
that there was New York, and it was
happy fact that the overflow from our
state largely people the prairies with a
civilization as grand as the domain was
boundless. We meet as veterans on the
soil of our common mother, on whose
bosom fell the bloody dews of death when
the nation was rocked in the wild waves
of Civil war. We met in glory and in
ioy in the greatest age in the life of man.
Our work as volunteer soldiers is a part
of the noble history Of our immortal
epooh-and will live in the grateful mem
DRY of all true Americans through COM
mon ages as equal to the present. reach
ing forward to the future. l trust and
believe that this national encampment
will so conduct it's deliberations as to en-
large the bounds of comradeship and
strengthen the sentiments of peace and
righteousness throughout all borders. AS
we near the sun set OF our lives, let us SO
live as to prove that we are as patriotic
and faithful to every responsibility as
citizens in peace, as we were true to every
duty as soldiers in war. Let us stand as
one man for equal rights and equal
privileges and do our best to uplift and
safeguard our common heritage-a gov
eminent of the people, by the people and
for the people.
Comrades, this is the last time vast
majority of the comrades present will
ever meet in a national encampment in
the State of New York. Before it can
come here again, death and age will
have made it impossible for such small
number now living to attend. And to
this precious meeting has pathetic
meaning to us all, and we will enjoy 1T
to the full; we will be happy while we
may. And so l again bid you welcome,
thrice welcome, and may God bless you
every one.
Comrade Foster of New York was called
to the stage read the poem entitled New
York greeting to the Grand Army"
Hon. Edward W. Hatch of Buffalo, JUS
tice of the supreme court of, New York
for the eighth judicial district, was next
introduced. Justice Hatch spoke in o
vein of picturesque eloquence.
The report of Chairman Annie Whiten-
meyer of the board of directors of the
National Woman's Relief Corps. showed
that the institution is in it's usual pros
porous condition.
The Naval Veterans completed their
list of officers for the ensuing year.
The 18th national convention of the
Woman's Relief Corps, auxiliary to the
G.. A. R., opened in Music hall promptly
n - al M hall IaI f,yll
1900 ladies being present. The national
president, Mrs. Agnes Hit of Indianapo-
lis, was in the chair. after the announce
ment of the usual committees, a delega-
ton from the ladies' local committee were
introduced, headed by Mrs. Jewett, wife
of the mayor, and Mrs. Fulton. Ad-
dresses of welcome to the city were made
president, then delivered her annual re-
port.
Cincinnati's triumph in securing the
national encampment for 1898, and Penn
sylyania's victory in winning the com
mander-in-chief of the Grand Army were
the features of the encampment. Both
battles were hard fought.
The struggle was precipitated immedi-
ately after the executive session was
called to ord err by the report of the COM
mittee on rules giving as the first event
in the order of business the selection OF
the place of the next encampment.
Delegate Dowly of Toledo, moved that
the rule be suspended. VIM. ID. Stauer,
past commander of the Department OF
Pennsylvania, moved that the convention
proceed under the rule. Dowley's motion
was not seconded. Stauffer's was and
the question being put was declared car
ried by Commander in-Chief Clarkson by
viva voce vote.
A division was called for and when 6lO
delegates had been counted for proceeding
under the rule, the count was discontin-
ued and the selection of place for hold
ing the next encampment was taken up.
Cities desiring to have the next oonven l..
ton were given a hearing. The citizens
committee of Cincinnati were admitted
Mr. M. e. Ingalls, presented the claims
and attractions of the city in happy
speech and the committee retired.
Delegate Woodruff of California present.