Evening star., 1898-08-26


selves.
War seems to be required to develop the
resources and show forth the greatness of
a brave but quiet people. We have not
only astonished foreign nations, but we
have surprised ourselves; and, as in 1862,
we revolutIonized naval warfare, we have
revolutioniZed it again in 1898. The great
naval powers of Europe are expending mil
lions and hundreds of millions of dollars to
come up to the advance in naval warfare of
the United States.
THE President the commander-in-chief
OF the army and navy of the United States;
the chief executive of the greatest nation
and thus the greatest potentate on earth
the man filling for the time the most ex-
aited station of any living being, is mem
Der OF this, the most glorious, organization
OF genuine soldiers in the wide world; and
those VINO desire to follow his example
may, II they are eligible, send their names
10 me TO be enrolled among the revered
battle veterans of tn Union. They will be
welcomed, and, with the lid of all my COM
rades, and by the grace of God, this shall
be the greatest military order-that ever ex-
listed.
In addition to the loyalty and fealty
which Is with us all in common for the
head of the government in addition to the
warm feeling of oomradeship of the soldier
toward the President, l feel especially near
to him, for We were in battle together. On
the 10th of September, 1861, pretty early in
the war. the 23d Ohio was in the assault
on the earthworks at Carnifex Ferry w
Va, held by the confederate forces under
Gen. Floyd and William Mckinley, then
an enlisted man, was there with the boys.
L, too. was there in Illinois company
and not far from his side.
Presidents Regrets.
Mr.. Stratton read the following letter of
regret from the President:
"EXECUTIVE MANSION.
IL;
my Dear Sir:
Il have received the courteous invitation
extended to me TO be present at the recep-
ton and campfire to be given in honor of
Gen. Robert q. Dyrenforth on Thursday
evening next, and very much appreciate it's
cordially. While l had hoped to be able
to make arrangements to attend, l find
that imperative engagements will prevent
me from doing so, much to my regret
Please express to the guest of honor of the
evening my best wishes, and believe me-
Very sincerely yours,
civilian MCKINLEY"
The following letter was received from
Commissioner John w. Ross:
Il acknowledge with many thanks the
receipt of your il vitation to be present at
the reception and campfire to be given in
honor of General Robert G.. Dyrenforth,
commander-in-Chief of the Union Veterans
Union. Ny respect for your honored or
ganizauon and for the eminent gentleman
lately elected commander-n-chef of your
organization would induce ME to use every
endeavor to be present in accordance with
your inv itation, but the labor imposed upon
me of late, together with the excessive
heat, has rendered it impossible for me to
avail myself of your courteous invitation.
Wishing for the occasion great success,
etc
Captain Beach, the Engineer Commission
er, wrote as follows:
Il regret very much that a previous en-
Sagement will prevent my accepting the
kind Invitation of the Union Veterans
Union to attend the reception and camp
forth on Thursday evening, August -"
Mr.. Arthur Middleton sang a bass solo.
He was accompanied by Mr.. Arthur Percy
Harris.
Gen. Streets Address.
General Street was Eext introduced. 1t
was stated amid much applause that Cen
eral Street had recently been appointed by
the President a captain of commissary and
assigned to the staff of General Fitzhugh
Lee. Upon being presented, he said he felt
keenly and appreciated more than any one
the reception rendered his successor as
&C mmander- -in-chief of the L. V. L. He
wished that gentleman very great success
in his new position, and urged him to keep
up the fight for recognition of veteran
Union soldiers ir government positions
Captain Street Jumped all over" civil serv-
ice, declaring that it made him tired
If a man had told him twenty years ago,
he said, that today he would be under or
ders to report to Fitzhugh Lee for duty,
he would have told that person that he
was a fool. He added that sectional lines
had been wiped out, however, and he was
proud to report to the gallant Lee.
Prof. Mccall sang marching Through
Georgia" the soldiers and ladies of the
audience joining enthusiastically in the
chorus.
Pension COmmisssiOner Responds.
Commissioner of Pensions Evans was
next introduced. He made a very pretty
and gracious speech, indeed, paying high
tributes to the Abraham Lincoln of 1861
and the William Mckinley of 1898. The
people who lived in 1861 should be glad,
he said. that they are alive today, to have
lived under the reign of these two great
clared, a second triumphal return of our
troops from the front. The people of this
nation are ready and anxious to pay hon
ors to the boys in blue from Santiago and
from the great camps of the country where
they did their duties as soldiers. Mr..
Evans spoke of the difficulties of his posi-
ton as commissioner of pensions and of
the criticism always heaped upon that Of
ficer He was sworn to do duty, how
ever, and would continue to do it, let criti-
cism come from where it will. Mr.. Evans
said he had restored III Union soldiers to
their positions in his department, first,
through merit and, secondly, because they
were Union soldiers. He had promoted 261
of the veterans. He congratulated the
Union Veterans Union upon the selection
of SO eminent a gentleman as General Dy-
renforth for their commander-in-chief. Mr..
Evans speech was enthusiastically ap-
plauded throughout.
The Mothers Remembered.
Colonel Bingham, assistant secretary of
agriculture paid a glowing tribute to the
women of the country, declaring that it
was the mothers who laid the foundation
for the greatness of their sons in after
years. The President. Dewey and the other
great soldiers and sailors owe their all, he
declared, to the mothers teaching in child
hood. 1t is the mothers, he concluded, who
take care of the future of our country
Colonel Bingham said he had great faith
in the people of this country to meet and
dispose of any emergency that might arise,
and there need be no fear that the uues-
tons regarding the islands of the sea cap
tured by us in the war with Spain would
be wisely dealt with to the best good OF
this country and for the inhabitants of
the islands themselves. Wherever old
glory has been unfurled by the valor of
our soldiers 1t will never be furled to make
way for the flag of another nation.