The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-08-25
PRESIDENT TO VETERANS
DELIYERS Il PATRIOTIC ADDRESS
At BUFFALO ENCAMPMENT.

the G. A. R.-BaGquet to President Me-
Klnley-Morc Than Thirty Reunions of
Various Organizati ons-City Completely
Given Up to the Old Soldiers.
Buffalo, Aug. 24--The thirty-frst an
nual encampment of the Grand Army
of the Republic will go down in history
as the greatest in the existence OF the
organization. From dawn to darkness
and from twilight to midnight the great
gathering grew and waxed greater and
grander The weather has been all that
could be wished for. The Grand Army
has turned out more men than ever be-
fore attended national encampment,
and this is true also of the EX-Prison-
ers of War association 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 gath
cred in Buffalo wells up mighty
mingling of thankfulness, of happiness
and of joy.
Thousands clasp hands once a year
wherever the G. A. r. gathers,but the
unanimous voice of the old soldiers is
that they meet more of men they knew
that they see more of each other, that
they meet larger numbers than at any
past encampment. Camp JeWett III d
large measure aids in this.
1t is the grand stamping ground OF
all the veterans.
There is more music there than any
dren marched up to the camp from the
stations behind the village band or the
country drum corps. There are grlz-
zied old warriors with gray haired Wo-
men and children even of the third and
fourth genera ton. Not post came IN
but it brought women and girls and
boys with it. Proudly they marched
through the streets waving responses to
the welcoming shouts.
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 throbs of the drums, the
shrill cries of the flies, the storm of
light from arches and arcs, the crash
and blare of the bands, the echoes and
re-echoes of the music, the cheers OF
welcome, the shouts of appreciation all
combined to make the scene a stirring
one.
The local posts have done noble work
in bringing the old boys close together,
and in breaking down all bars of shy
ness or reserve.
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 pa
rade of the naval veterans and ex-
prisoners of war this morning. During
the day there We're upwards of thirty
corps, brigade, regimental and COM
pany reunions. The naval veterans,
ex-prisoners of war, ladies of the G. A.
R., and the association of nurses held
their conventions and there were many
receptions given by and to the ladies
of the auxiliary associations. A trip
on the lake. participated in by about
1000 ladies, was one of the pleasantest
of the many entertainments. This
evening there were number of camp
fires for the men and receptions an6
musicales for the ladies. An illuminat-
ed bicycle race this evening closed the
days events.
Buffalo, N. Y, Aug. 24.-This was the
day for the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie to pay tribute to the president Of
the United States, one of their COM
rades, and with such fervor did they
perform that duty that the afternoon
will go down in the memory of those
who witnessed it as the banner day of
the encampment. From the moment
that the special train that bore the
president to the city arrived until he
retired tonight it was one glorious and
spontaneous glorifcation, and Presi-
dent Mckinley said that he had never
before half appreciated the warmth of
sentiment among the veterans.
From the depot to the Niagara hotel,
distance of two miles, the streets were
lined with people, and at the hotel the
police and soldiers from the nearby
barracks, even with the reinforcement
of extras, had difficult work to keep
the multitude in position. Even when,
with Mrs Mckinley and Governor
Black, the president had entered the
hotel and vanished from sight, there
followed after him the cheers of the
people until he had to come to the bal
cOny, Wnere dIter some SORT or order
had been restored he said:
"I come to greet you and to thank
you for your generous welcome The
Grand Army of the Republic seems to
be on foot to-day, but not carrying
arms. Those We're long since laid aside
and the Grand Army of the Republic is
to-day DEVOTED to peace (applause) and
the Union forever. l am glad to be in
the city of Buffalo with my comrades
of 81 and IS and my comrades now. 1
thank you all and bid you good after
noon"
Shortly after o'clock Columbia post.
dressed in handsome fatigue coats and
white duck trousers, arrived at the ho-
tel and acted as escort to the president
to the Elliott building, where the post
entertained the president at a banquet
AS the president passed from the hotel
to the banquet hall the police had to
literally drive away the people in order
to make a passage for the presidents
carriage.
At the guest table sat Commander c.
H. Mcconnell of Columbia post, toast
master of the occasion; President Nc