Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-11-24
.CRANDARMY ENTERTAINMENT
PuplIc Camp Fire Given by the
Department of Delaware.
HELD THURSDAY IN HIGH SCHOOL
The Affair Largely Attended
and Interesting.


Inc department or DelaWares ". a.
r., gave d public campfire in the as
sembiy room at the High School Thurs
day night, which was decided success.
The attendance was large and the exer-
cises interesting. The room was APP
propriately decorated, the Stars and
Stripes predominating. Daniel Ross
presided and addresses We're made by
William Michael Byrne, the Rev. i.
B. Short, William Simmons Of Phila-
delphia and Adjutant William a.
Reilly. Music was furnished by Smyth
Post Band. Mr.. Reilly made q few
brief introductory remarks, in which
he stated the object of the camp fire
and gave some information about the
Grand Army. He was followed by
Daniel Ross, national Junior vice com
mander, who introduced the other
speakers.
William Michael Byrne, who was the
orator of the evening, spoke rs follows;
"Appomattox is the glory of America.
On that immortal field ii victorious
general refused to .accept tho sword OF
yanauished brother. The chivalry OF
Grant and the courtliness of Lee arc
the rich legacies of a united people.
The same generation that saw the
streams Of tho South running theirH
COURSES Ib lil3= Stit Gttt WIN INV tiHll
blood of our American soldiers now be-
holds tho two sections locked in u love
embrace unseyerahle till the last
| syllable of recorded time. To Lincoln
was tie glory given to prevent the dis
memberment of tbs republic; to Nc
| iSinlay has heNn given the high priv
| Iaga OF healing the last wound of that
| tremendous conflict. An eye less single
to tue general good might have failed
| to perceive the great home potential
| lies of the Spanish war, but Mckinley
| ale. I and wttchful of the profound ms
terests imposed upon him by the voice.
of the people, struck down tho last
barrier of sectionalism by appointing
TO high command in the armies of the
United States those veteran soldiers Of
the South, the gallant Fitzhngh Ice
and fighting Joe Wheeler Tonight
around our peaceful camp fire there
shoulders not spark OF sectional
| hatred, not an ember of bitter memory;
and every Southern soldier can find
beneath the badge Of the Grand Army
brother and friend
'sWars and their rumors have troubled
4 nations from the beginning: but how
| ever DESTROYS we may be for peace, our
4 interests are some times best served by
| convincing the world that we are able
to fight. All American wars have in
creased the glory of the American
cause. Next in Importance to the War
for Independence was the war OF pre-
serva zion we waged with the Southern
| Confederacy. The conflict ushered in
/ by the shot at Sumter resulted in the
4 Punishment of the last yestige Of in
equality under the flag of the republic.
The record of thatymemorable strife
fills the cup of fame held by the Ameri-
can soldier. Your priceless services to
your. country in its hour of darkest
peril have secured to you the undying
gratitude of those loving their State
and their country. In the great strug-
gle with the Southern States grandly
did you sustain the name and fame OF
Delaware. There are those tonight
hearing my voice, who at Reame's Sta
ton, fighting, under, Hancock, the
superb, and shoulder to shoulder with
the brave boys of the Fifth New Hamp
shire, under Col. Cross, faced death
fearless as lions. There and elsewhere
did every opponent soonflearn that the
chickens of the Blue Hen were game
fighters. Again, under little Mac at
Antietam, you fought in fast company
when your bayonets CLEANED where the
fight was hottest, side by side with
Meagher and his brave Irishmep. And
at Gettysburg, where, if ever, the fate
of our republic was hanging in the
balance, you formed part Of the bull
wark that stood immovable against the
oncoming columns of the victorious
South. And Gen. Banks at Sabine
Pass could give a good account of our
brave boys of the Delaware battery,
working like tigers to snatch our boats
from the very jaws of the Confederate
hosts. And SO could the roll be called,
and Delaware's name from the first
shot of the war to the eventful day at
Appomattox, where our boys saw Grant
VIGOROUSLY triumphant, but modest,
will be found high on the honor list OF
the Army of the Potomac.
II congratulate you upon your
splendid organization formed to per-
petuate the memory of your valiant
deeds. In war you served your country
we'll; in peace your organized force
has always been u power for good in
public affairs. In our republic no
organization as powerful as the Grand
Army can fail to influence our public
life. What will be the influence of the
Grand Army, will it be good or will it
J be bad2 It will be what the Grand
Army itself makes it. Never did the
State of Delaware stand more in need
; than now of the hest services of her
sturdy sons. Now If ever must we run
mp the flag of honor in public life. The
people must demand that the State be
| guided not by mere Adventures, nor
those whose only distinction is based
on the low tricks of artful politics.
The need now is for men identified by
family and fortune with this State,
calm in Judgment, inflexible in honor,
respected at home, esteemed abroad.
Will the Grand Army and kindred
societies use their influence for such
standards? Luckily for Delaware we
are not without credit in our public
life.
! EVERY lover of the State reioiced to
behold the judges of our courts in the
recent elections laying aside all tradi-
tions of political attachment and dis
charging their duties with an eye
single to the public good. Incor-
, ruptible, fearless and learned the judi
ciary of Delaware stands the peer Of
any in the Union. The clean, honor
j able and capable administration of the
executive branch of our State govern
, ment reflects honor upon the gentle
, man now the governor of our State and
wins for him the applause of the people
, without regard to party. As the judi.
cial and executive branches of oui
, State government have acquitted them
selves with credit so will also the
! legislative branch. j,
1.-THE first Legislature elected under
q our new Constitution will assemble in
a Dover in January next, and many