Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-04

W. Smith. NJ. 8. Brown, J. H. Southland,
A: S. Peckham, Colonel Thompson, Junior
s:stant Adjutant General Hendricks As
slstant Quartermaster General Powell
General F. D. Sloat, Mr.. ]. c. s. Berger,
Mr.. s. G. Hopkins, Reconnaissance of
Pensions D. I. Murphy, Mr.. John Joy Ed
son. Judge Kimball, General Ellis Spear,
Colonel r. K. Taylor. Colonel J. L. Daven-
port, Captain Patrick sO'Farrell, Colonel
Chas. P. Lincoln, Dr.: Frank T. Howe, Cap
tain G. NJ. Hustled, DR.. c. o. Pettus, Cap
tain j. NJ. Edgar and others
Toasts and Responses.
Department Chaplain A. II. Black asked
a blessing. When toasts were in order De-
partment Commander Hopkins proposed
THE President" The response was de-
livered by Representative David B. Hen
derson of Iowa. He said every president
of the United States since the war EXCEPT
one had been Grand Army man, and it
was proposed to keep this up indefinitely.
He spoke Of the dignity of the office, de-
claring that no king, emperor or car had
the power Of the President Of the United
States. He paid high tribute to President
Mckinley, an able, clear-headed patriot,
who loved the soldier and the soldiers
friend.
Assistant Secretary of the Interior Web
ster Davis eloquently replied to Our Coun-
try" He said he could not speak as q
veteran, for he was not born at the time
son of a veteran, and he had inherited the
feelings of patriotism and devotion to the
flag which had impelled his father to peril
his life in the defense of his country
He pictured in graphic terms the heroic
valor that firally won victory for the Union
cause, and said that no honor was too
great for the men who saved the life of
this republic. In picturesque and glowing
words he pictured glorious futuresfor the
country saved by these veterans and
pledged that the Sons of Veterans would
carry forward the noble work done by
their sires. Mr.. Davis was frequently in
terrupted ty applause, which was at times
highly enthusiastic and prolonged, and
when he Concluded with splendid apos-
trophe to the Union and a quotation from
Longfellow's Launching of the Ship" he
was given a positive ovation. AS an Or
ator Of wonderful fertility of resource, Of
splendid power Of imagery, the happiest
command Of language, clear, resonant
and ringing voice and a personal magnet
ism that holds closely the attention of his
hearers, Mr.. Davis is easily the foremost
representative Of the present administra
ton.
Representative D. 8. Alexander in speak
ing to The Private Soldier" portrayed in
strong sentences the superiority of the SER
vices rendered by the private soldier during
the rebellion. He fought. not for reward,
but for his home and his liberties, and to
him defeat was impossible.
Commander-inChie Goblin replied to
THE Grand Army of the Republic" He
made one Of his characteristic addresses,
which created much enthusiasm: The
Grand Army, he said, only wanted the
1O,O0OO0O American people to believe they
had been honest soldiers and were honest
men.
Past Commander S. 9. Burdette paid high
tribute to THE Loyal Women and de-
scribed many touching; incidents of their
loyalty and devotion
The last toast, Our Dead Comrades"
was drunk standing. Others who spoke
were Major General Miles, who expressed
the greatest confidence in the ability of the
United States army to meet any contin-
gency which might arise: Commissioner of
Pensions Evans, who said that he honored
the old soldiers and was trying to do his
duty by them; Commissioner of the Cen
eral Land Office Hermann, who told how he
interpreted civil service reform in the REIN
statement Of every old soldier who had been
discharged during the former administra-
ton, and Corporal TANNER, who aroused
the widest excitement by his passionate
appeal for justice to the Union veterans
Woman's Relief Corps.
The first days session of the ninth an
nual convention of the Womans Relief
Corps was called to order in hall No. 1
of the G. A. R. building at 7:30 o'clock
las. night. The reports Of the president,
Mrs. Georgia G. Barre; the senior vice pres
ident, Mrs. NJ. B. Tew: the secretary. Mrs.
Layton, and the treasurer, Mrs. Gladys
Thompson, were read and referred to spe-
cial committees. The total n membership of
the corps was shown to be $50. During the
year 81 persons We're given relief and
over 5000 expended in this direction.
During the reading of the presidents re-
port Chief Goblin visited the
convention and made a brief address, in
which he highly complimented the corps
on the noble work 1T was engaged in. The
convention will meet again at 1870 pm. to-
day.