The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-25

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idezt q America"
The Passing of the Veterans
President Mckinley visited the campEres
curing me evening at two - The local
churches. and the crowds that greeted aim
were tremendous. re spoke brieay az one.
saying:
ladies' and Gentlemen. TIE sadaest
FaFt OF the reunion q the old soldiers q
the army = that a. every annual encaMg-
HaeGt We miss many familiar faces cur
comrades are diminishing With the passing
years the circle IS narrowing. and every
annual roll call Giscl0ses one ard still an
craeF nor present. bat accounted for. They
have gone from human sight; they have
passed from association with - here any
!0neer- they have gone 70 Join The great
majority CT that army with which they
were 50 long associated and they sleep to-
Elg1t Nit6tZ those green tents whose cur
tairs never outward swing. Grant has
gone sherman. and Sheridan, and Thona-
a.. snc Mef'hsrson. and Logan and long
not only has : the great commanders gone.
but ire rank and Gle Of that splendid army
have joined their old commanders on the
other sncEe. They are gone Who seemed 50
great. their glorious work Is done. and
tnsy wear a pureT crown than any man can
weave them. Speak no more ~ their re-
n0E1. hut IN the vast cathedral leave
~ tsnd accent irSnn. Christ receive
them. /, Is our iusy Il is our business, 70
rerpeEuate their memories Il IS our
OATS, Il Is cur business, TO pre-
serve and improve and strengthen and
gloglfy the magnificent Institutions FOR
which they fell and foT which they gave
4 thank you for this moment that you
have given 10 me 20 pay my respects 70
thar noble army Of volunteers the sacri-
fetal giants who threw darkness asunds-
and thus insured our national existence
tlsreat appiaase.l
BuanIo's Great Preparations
For weeks Buffalo has been making
preparations TO entertain the Grand
Army IN such style as 10 show its de-
votion to the survivors OF the Union The
town has been swept and garnished-
Streets have been placed IN fine condi-
ton and asphalt pavement donated 10
localities which would never have heard
Of IL within a quarter OF a century 10
cone If Il had uot been for elis sneanlp-
rnent Nothing IS considered too good
for the veterans bless them. Never did
their tired feet find pleasanter ways 10
tread nor were their gray hairs given
more profound respect than here in this
pretty city that smiles on Lake Erie.
The pride Of the town. however, IS
known as the Main street arch In let
ters six feet in length, sixty feet from
the earth. blazes Bu~aio's Welcome 10
its visitors a welcome that Is straight from
tire heart Above the word welcome
Is placed an exceedingly realistic picture
OF the American eagle. The arch is IN
q
midst OF the parri-coIOred bunting that
covers its ten feet Of thickness and sixty
nine feet q height, glitter $50 mean
descent lamps OF various coloTs.
Along the top OF the arch's front and
fust below the word Welcome are the
letters &C A r" IN red white and blue,
each letter being thirty feet high h-lec-
trfc lights have been so arranged that
the veterans see their national mono
gram by night as well as BY day. In
fact the letters &c. A. r." ara fairy
plastered over the city II Buffalo had
taken all the bunting which she has used
on July Fourth during the last quarter OF
a century. 81 would not make as great an
asEregafe as that whirh wraps Itself
about the city during the encampmeaL
Roster Of the Parade.
The Official estimate Of the number OF
veterans IS Afis. Here II is almost
thirty-two years since the rebellion w7s
crushed forever. and vet more than
- GO OF the defenders Of the Union viii
be in line August .. They are old fell
lows. the majority canes are rot To-
rarded as ornaments by mast Of them.
Old wounds make IL very difficult for
some OF them 10 keep up 10 the march Of
their comrades Still they form a mighty
host and ore which would be capable
OF doing infinite damage Yet 20 those
whom they consider the enemies OF their
country. This. too. despite the fact thar
every year ths ranks Of those who can
70 longer answer the roll call steadily
increase.
ms - where they come from. and
marx well the fact that many a state
which they first entered In bright olne
uniform = now on the national roster
as the place WHERE they ~ present live ii
peace ard prosperity;