The National tribune., 1897-08-26
Commander in. Chief T. S. Clarkson's address
to the National Encampment is as follows

COMRADES: Once moro we have assembled
in annual Encampment to render an account
OF our stewardship, to renew old associations
to legisate for the present. to plan for the
future. We meet in Fraternity Charity, and
Loyalty, and may all hearts unite rs one
in sustaining the great objects of our Order.
Thank God, we still live to enjoy in peace
and prosperity the land we helped to save!
The last National Encampment did well in
selecting, as the place of holding the 31st En-.
campment, this beautiful city of Buffalo, so
represen tative as it is of the business and social
interests of the great Empire State No city
and County in tho country responded more
promptly and more enthusiastically than Buff
falo and Erie County when help was most
needed, and this City, where we are to-day as
sembled, is the central point from about which
more men joined the ranks of the volunteers
than from any other point in the country, and
thus is accounted for the great number OF vet
Grams that return here to-day and her citizens,
always loyal, proud Of their City and State,
have worked incessantly to make this Encamp-
ment most successful one. That they have
succeeded need not say. 1t remains but Tor you
to enjoy to the full their nnbounded hospitality.
Comrades when at the Goth National En-
campment, held ut St. Paul, you unanimously
selected me to be your standard bearer, said
to you that you had placed me under double
obligation to you. You had selected me from
among anumber of your most faithful servants
whose ambition to be n-Chief L
admired. You had required me to follow In
the footsteps of long line of magnificent
leaders who had most successfully administered
your affairs. felt my inability to meet the
great requirements of this high position. L
have tried to do soldiers duty, with an eye
single to the best interests Of our noble Order.
You have one and all, as ] asked you. strongly
sustained me, aud, by your splendid comrade-
ship, have lightened the responsibilities ana
made the work pleasant. | can never find
words to express to you my deep sense OF
appreciation of the honor conferred upon me.
At the close of my stewardship | can only
pledge to you my faithfulness to my successors
and my continued service in the ranks. Fhavs
given the entire year to the work of the Order,
have Travelled somewhat over 30, 900 miles, have
visited every Departments that | could reach
as their Encampments, some at other than their
Encampment dates, besides very many Posts
and Reunions, and have been splendidly re-
Gel we'd every where by veterans and all other
citizens, and by reason of these visits have
been greatly impressed with the spirit and
enthusiasm of the comrades and the very high
position the Order occupies in the hearts of our
people The work of the volunteer soldier
from 1861 TO 1865 Is a matter of history. and
can he read by everyone. In my public adj
dresses ! have confined myself to the work of
the Grand Army to-day and have been graft
remarks
VISITS TO THE SOUTH.
may be permitted to make special sllusion
to my visits in the Southern Departments
where l made it point to come in contact, as
much as possible with the men who wore the
gray aud their friends. My receptions there
will ever be warm spot in my memory; my
conception of American manhood and American
bravery has been greatly magnifed. met no
warmer grasps, no heartier Godspeeds in patri-
otto work than from our once enemies, now
friends / found Old Glory floating as high,
her stars as bright. her stripes as broad in the
Southland as at home. My sentiment, Zone
country, one flag, one people, one destiny,
met as hearty response In Georgia as IN Massa-
chusetts, and more than once, after my public
receptions there, / repeated to myself, over the
work of tho GAR. in that country, the dox-
ology, Praise God, from whom all blessings
flow" The Grand Army of the Republic can
do no grander work for their country to-day
than to strengthen i'll those good people their
devotion to the land we all so dearI : lOve-to
help to blot out the resentments OF the past
TWO GREAT PATRIOTIC EVENTS.
1t has been my proud privilege during the
year to participate in the last tributes TO two of
our great military leaders and comrades. On
April 81, in New York, commanded the GAL L.
division in one of the grandest pageants ever
seen in this country, at the dedication of the
memorial tomb of Gen. Ulysses $. Grant This
great tribute showed the high position occu-
pied by him as soldier, statesman, citizen
ana patriot in the hearts of these people
II tomb on those beautiful nights by the river
will be the Mecca for future patriots. The
number OF participating veterans on this occas-
ion was large and most creditabo.
On July 90, at Chicago, participated in the
unvaiing of an equestrian statue OF our Past
COMMANDMENTS Chief and comrade, the ideal
volunteer soldier OF the war, Gen. John A.
Logan, erected by the State of Illinois Here,
again, commanded the very large and most
creditable veteran division in the presence of q
great outpouring Of the patriotic people as
sembled from all parts Of the great West to pay
tribute to his memory. 1t makes ones heart
swell with pride TO witness the devotion of the
people to the living as we'll as the dead who
responded to their cOuntry's call for help.
Upon this latter occasion the great interest
was added to by the invitation to pate
in the parade and exercises, extended by the
Com mittee of Arrangements to the COnfeder-
ate veterans and accepted by them, quite q
large number marching in the parade under
the escort of a Post of this Order. Their
brave soldier.
Upon this occasion / invited Gen. John B.
Gordon, COMMANDMENTS Chief of the Conf eder-
ate Veterans, to ride with me, that all the world
might see that the war was over. 1t was q
source of great regret to US both that other
engagements prevented his attendance. l also
in vited him to come to Blu 6al0 and assist in the
review of the column and speak at our Camp
fires. | know you wonld have made him vel
come. | know your broad American spirit
would have given him q warm reception, but
he could not come. He was engaged in good
work elsewhere.
THE PRESIDENT.
the attendance at this Encampment Of Com
United States, believing that his presence
would add much TO the interest of the occasion,
and to the high position occupied by our Order.
His acceptance of my invitation was SO prompt
and cordial and he entered into every detail
with such apparent pleasure, as to more than
ever convince me that there is no tie so strong
as that of coHradeship welded in the fire CT
battle.
Comrades, this is q wonderful country of
ours. One who fills the high position of Com
mander- in Chief, and visits the various De-
partments, and studies our varied and wonder.
full resources, cannot but be convinced that if
we only knew one another better, if we only
realize how great we are in everything that
goes to make up a great country, we would
indeed be one country and one people, before
whom the world would stand in awe.
The duties of this position are so varied and
so great that no man could master them unless
aided by strong men in every department of
the work, and in this regard | have been pc
culiarly fortunate IN having in my official
family men of brains, courage, and enthusiasm
for the Order wiLhuut whose cordial cn-nnera-