Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-06-16

Madison, June ..
Nearly 1000 veterans attended the
monster campfire held at Camp Ran
dali Tuesday night. The weather
was pleasant and the speeches elo-
quent and interesting. The large au-
dience sat patiently in the grand
stand for two hours and half listen
ing to stories of the civil war, Of the
American soldier, Of the Spanish war.
of Dewey, Sampson, Schley, Hobson
and other American idols and Of his
toric Camp Randall which was the
scene of many an escapade OF the
grizzly veterans now present
who camped there 81 years ago.
The audience was an impressive one
a sea of faces scared and scanned by
years of toll, and in many instances
by poverty and sorrow. But still 1t
reflected the sturdy manhood and no.
bility of those who freely offered their
lives for the preservation of the
union.
The exercises were opened at S
o'clock by several patriotic airs by the
university band. Senator c.. b. We'll
ton. chairman Of the veterans reunion
committee, extended hearty welcome
to visiting veterans. He said that
this reunion is and promises to con-
tinue the pleasantest ever enjoyed by
the old soldiers. 1t is a rare priv
lege he said, for a veteran to partic-
irate in a reunion held on his old
camping grounds 81 years afterward
He regretted that he had not been one
of these. This reunion he said vivid
ly recalls the stirring incidents OF the
civil war. He urged all to enjoy the
occasion to the fullest extent. We've
not only unlocked the gates of Camp
Randall but we've taken them off their
hinges" he said. He urged them all
TO give themselves up to the fullest
enjoyment of this reunion and he ex-
pressed the hope that they would be
alive and able TO attend the next semi
centennial or centennial celebration
so or 100 years hence, which caused
a general laugh.
He then presented Col. A. G.. Weis-
sert of Milwaukee as president Of the
meeting. After few preliminary re-
marks, Col Weissert introduced Elder
W. j. Mckay who pronounced the
invocation.
Mayor c. f. Whelan, after being
introduced, made one of his character
istic addresses of welcome. He told
the boys in blue to take the city as
they did 81 years ago; the police are
locked up in the station and the key
is lost as it was then, he said. If
the mayor interferes with you throw
him out" said Mr.. Whelan. His ref
erence to Dewey and Hobson provoked
a storm OF applause.
Past Department Commander Gray
responded TO the mayors welcome
The colonel always pleased the vets.
and after some humorous remarks said
that the beauty of the present condi-
tion of today is not because we can
whip the Spaniards. but because Of the
fact that every state in the union Is
crammed full of Yankees. He called
General Fitzhugh Lee a Yankee con-
sui general. The colonel was heartily
appauded. The band then played
America and the old veterans sang the
chorus.
Ex-Gov w. d. Hoard was the
next speaker. In his own quaint, in
imitable way he pleasantly responded
to some of the mayors eloquent re-
marks. ut is a great honor to be
governor" he said, but I'd rather be
a rear private than governor for a mo-
ment. The continuance of the peo-
pies favor Is not so certain as ii might
be-" The speaker then paid a high
tribute to the American soldier. we
need today in this state and every
where else" he said, patriotism In
private life. No man can be patriotic
who is crooked in politics II is de-
manded today that the statesman shall
be as patriotic as the boy in blue
want the people to establish standards
that will compel rectitude In govern
ment. or what use is II IL internal I'M
faithfulness shall tester and corrupt
that which you builded by your pa
triotism?'
There was then some martial music
by DR.. C. Chittenden and Assem-
blyman II N. Policy on flies and John
II Nichols on a drum.
Rev. George b. Kulp OF Grand Rap
ids, Mich, was then introduced and
made a stirring patriotic address that
seemed 10 catch the audience.
Prof. J. c. Freeman was next in
troduced and talked beautifully OF the
cost Of war, OF the grandeur Of slavery
abolished and the recollections which
the presence of the veterans al Camp
Randall recalled.
Col, J. A. Watrous OF Milwaukee
said that there never Wa juster wa
than that in which we are now en-
gagged. II the war costs s5.O)O. O0o. 900
and 5000 600 human beings /. viii
have paid FOR itself for what {. has
done for humanity and for the United
States" he said But It will rot cost
over $1,000, 100000 and less than one
aftieth OF a million lives The var