The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-26
here todaysin the camp of the Grand
Army of the Republic presenting it with
a Peace Flag?

here todaysin the camp of the Grand
Army of the Republic, presenting it with
a Peace Flag?
The holding in 1896 of the encampment
of the Grand Army of the Republic in
| Kentucky, was q great historical event
in the annals of the nation, as well as in
| thu history Of your organization.
| You did not come unbldden. We sent
you most pressing Invitations which were
delivered by our most persuasive orators
! You accepted the invitation in the spirit
in which it was extended, and then 1t
| was that every man, woman ana child IN
| Louisville, approaching the honor con.
ferred by your acceptance, ard the gooo
| results that would follow your coming,
We'd with each other to make your Slslt
| as pleasant and eventful as possible
| The part that I took in it was purely ac-
cidental. 1t seemed that the Department.
of Maine had been unsuccessful in secur-
ing suitable quarters at q reasonable
price, and for this reason, had about de-
termined not to attend the grand encamp-
ment at Louisville. 1t SO happened that
Mr.. Middleton, the Vice President of my
Company, was in Maine about that time
and learned the state of affairs which
he communicated to me Immediately on
his return to Louisville
Now we all felt that in order that the
encampment should be the success hoped
for by the people, it was necessary for all
the northern states to be represented, and
Maine being situated on the extreme
north eastern part of the Union, and her
soldiers being second to none. we felt that
her presence was, to say the least, rs
necessary to the success of the encamp-
ment as that of any other state.
Moved by considerations of this sort,
invited the Grand Army of Maine to be.
come our guests, using this language:
'sfphaoa D10dQttnnG will cost
nothing, and we offer them to you freely,
provided you are willing to accept the
hospitality of an old confederate soldier,
the writer having served four years in the
confederate army, but he begs to assure
you his greeting will be as hearty as II ne
had fought with you instead OF against
you.'
leave it to the gentlemen enter
tanned, to say whether or not redeemed
this pledge.
Our people received the Grand Army
with open arms, and I believe it is now
part of your history that it was one OF the
most successful and enjoyable encamp-
ments that has ever been beld. The 1ndi-
vidual part 1 took in the entertaining
will always be a source Of great pleasure
and pride to me, because formed ac-
quaintances and friendships then Wnlch
will live as long as I live, and its memor.
les shall be bequeathed to my children.
am here today for the purpose of renewing
and enlarging this Acquaintance, and
emphasizing my friendship with my COM
rades of Maine of the Grand Army OF the
Republic. My only regret is that l have
not with me all the attaches of our es-
tablishment, who assisted me with such
ability and fidelity in the entertainment
OF our guests. All of us, however hope
to meet you at the encampment to be
held at Cincinnati this year.
nd Y,ou comrades q G n further teStl-
monial of our regard, and as an evidence
of the fraternal feeling existing between
the soldier of the North and South,
have the honor of presenting you with
this flag emblematic of Peace and Good
Will.