Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-09

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cities. Ii you see anything you wani
taake it. If you don't see il call fol
in extending the welcome on behalf
in eXtendinw the welcome on l.ehali
of our community. | extend right
royal welcome on behalf of OH
state. \ state that furnished 20 the
World, the immortal Lincoln; to his
tory. its greatest general, Grant and
10 the volunteer soldier its peerless
leader. John 4. Logan.
Every tradition of our history. ev.
cry tie or comradeship. endears YOU
to our people. And We all join in The
hope that your visit to us. and youl
stay in our midst viii be most pleas.
ant one
A vocal solo. "A Thousand Years. -
was well rendered by :. j. Collins, the
male quartet singing the chorus.
The next number on the program
was to be response by Gen. II. l..
street. commander-in-chief. but wa.
deferred until the close of the morn.
ing session, the general briefly ac.
knowledging the greetings.
Gen. Leake Speaks.
MAYOR Medill announced that Hon.
Joseph Graft. of Peoria. and Gen.
Thomas j. Henderson had not arrived
and the addresses and "reminiscences
to have been given by them would
have to be omitted.
After song by the quartet en-
titled, The Flag" the mayor intro
duced a gentleman well known IL
many of our townsmen-Gen. j. b.
Leake. formerly of the state of
Iowa, but now OF Chicago. who
addressed the encampment. Gen.
Leake spoke of his en- listmeni
in the army from Davenport. and OF
his having served through the war
and of his pleasure at meeting old
soldiers. He had come to hear Gov.
Tanner and General Henderson. and
was disappointed. He spoke of the
emotions that he felt in standing be.
fore and addressing old soldiers. of the
reverence he felt for them always.
Il see before me to-day" said General
Leake, "men whom | know that wear.
and years ago. in the heat Of youth,
when life was opening fresh before
you, when the prospects of life seemed
happy, for the sake of others. that
Others might live in prosperity and il
happiness in this free land. and that
this government might be saved from
destruction. that it might be con.
tinned a united. prosperous country
whether You We're here or gone he
yond-l see before me. | saw. such
men, who volunteered freely and Of
fered to surrender Your lives. if neces.
sary. that posterity might live in this
country, free. prosperous and happy
1t is the pride of my life. and ALWAYS
will he. that | was willing to do that
and join YOU"
1t was an address which. while be.
ing impromptu. was eloquent. and il
delighted the veterans in the reminis.
cent, happy strain that ran through it
The Presidents Remembrance.
Gen. Dryenforth, of Washington.
d. c., was then introduced, and pre-
scented to the encampment the greet
ings of the president of the United
States. He said he had a long inter.
view with the president just before
leaving Washington, when he ex-
pressed his affection and regard tc
the old comrades, but was compelled
to express his regret at his inability
to be present. Under the circum-
stances, of which we are all
aware, | don't think it requires Il
great deal of reflection to con-
slider the absolute impossibility
of the president leaving the helm OF
the ship of state now when peace ne
gotiations are pending. But COM
mander-in-chicf and comrades of the
Union Veterans Union. have very
much pleasanter duty to perform than
that OF expressing his regret. On the
morning on which ! left Washington.
the president handed me a commits.
sion in the United States army fol-
our commander-in-chief as captain
and commissary of subsistence of the
army. as mark of his regard and
affection for his old comrades. and
particularly as mark of his feeling
for the L. V. L., of which he is a
member. ! have now the honor to
| present this commission from the
president, and l hope Gen. Street will
not fill tie position too long, because
| want him to be promoted" Gen.
Dyrenforth then presented Gen.
Street the commission. which was
gracefully accepted.
Gen. Street then formally convened
the encampment, taking the gavel.
REMARKS OF HORTENsE WHITE.
National President of the Woman's Auxil