The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-16

hope came unDfdden that they, TOO, might
rave chance TO show that they were as
devoted to the best interests of humanity
as their honored sires.
The opportunity came in the war with
Spain and more than a half million offered
themselves at once and struggled for
place In the army and the navy. They were
willing to risk everything that they might,
III they survived the war, hold the same
coveted place among men as that held now
BY the Loyal Legion and the Grand Army.
They drove despotism out of Cuba and
Porto Rico and the islands of the Orient
and have planted. and are planting. amid
the rank weeds and briers of ignorance
and superstition the seed of commerce and
civilization and Christianity.
I'm Gods good time the product will be,
II: place Of the naked savage and brutal
barbarian, the civilized and enlightened
man with a full knowledge of the signif-
canoe of human existence and proper con-
ceptions of free government and OF the
rights of man. In a third of century from
now the American soldier and sailor who
has fought for these results will be Loyal
Legion, loyal TO the best aspirations of
humanity, loyal to God, loyal to the stars
and stripes of our great expanding Re-
public
COLONEL WALKER HEARD.
Following Mr.. Cumback the Baldheaded
Glee Club sang a number of patriotic airs
with such enthusiasm that every guest
present spontaneously joined in the Choir
uses. Mrs. Seguin-W allace. assisted by the
Baldheaded Giee Club. sang the Star
spangled Banner" and was compelled to
respond to an encore, the whole audience
joining in the chours.
The second speaker OF the evening was
Col. I. N. Walker, the representative of the
Grand Army. He said, in part:
ITO make ores self unhappy because
such meetings as these are held and men
OF "a nf no or
open the door of suspicion upon ones pa
triotism. For myself / hope the day will
never come when We shall forget the great
struggle or become unmindful of its les
sons. The wheels of industry throughout
the country will not stop nor the advance
of prosperity be retarded because the vet
Grams keep alive the memories of the war
The granite blocks of equal rights and
equal responsibilities quarried by saber
strokes and bayonet thrusts and cemented
by patriotic blood have formed an imper-
ishable foundation for our country's lib
erty. The Grand Army Of the Republic, as
an organization, is unique. No other or
ganization like 1t has or ever will exist
1t has been illustrious in achievement, the
breath of patriotism of the color guard of
liberty. 1t was the organized love of the
men who marched together and fought to-
gether in the army of the Union. We be-
lieve in liberty and we believe in progress
And we believe also in the rights of prop
erty and the supremacy or the law. The
and order and justice, always and every
where, and they stand also for the honor
and integrity of the Nation in the large
work of ameliorating and advancing the
condition of the new lands and peoples that
have been brought under the folds of our
flag and in achieving the fullness of the
new possibilities within our grasp. IL we
would have an honorable and lasting set
Element of the governmental problem now
confronting us in our new possessions We
must solve the problems as patriots and
not as partisans. This is an age of COM
merce and commerce will not stop. This
Nation will have place to land and coal
our ships In every corner of the globe. Our
merchant ships will carry our commerce
into all the harbors. of the world, and our
battleships shall protect our commerce in
its legitimate and rightful course.
THE American flag must be respected
away from home as ii is loved and ven-
Grated here, and under It's folds free peo-
pie shall thrive and multiply in peace,
Following the speech of Colonel Walker,
twelve little girls from the Soldiers Or
phans' Home at Knightstown gave ar
elaborate flag drill, including songs and
fecitations. They were applauded again
and again and were compelled to go
through their drill some two or three
times.
THE LAST SPEAKER.
The last speaker called upon by the
POSTMASTER was Maj. F. R. Charlton, who
spoke for the inheritance members of the
Legion. He said in part:
ut is great thing, to sit at the very feet
of the Master--to feel the touch of His per-
sonality-to know Him. One day of such
inspiration. such first-hand teaching, is
worth lifetime of repetition and hearsay.
III old Greek days men came from I'M
known ends of the earth to Athens that
they might see the genius and hear the
voice Of Socrates or Plato. There in the
shade of the olive groves-walking in the
gardens and public places, these mighty
leaders In thought, talked and multitudes
listened and remembered, and finally car
ried their influence and philosophy out into
the wilderness and scattered 1t among the
barbarian tribes, who knew that it was
good and were helped by. 1t, and raised into
mighty races. For more than two thousand
followed. Men with lawless instincts have
come down from the mountains and in from
the plains to some center where wise and
holy men have inauguarted bet
ter and more WAYS of
with many opportunities peculiarly its
own, finds itself after all simply repeating
history 1t comes into this legion from a
the turmoil and strife after materialism,
from the selfshness of success and the bit
ter resentment of failure and disappoint-
ment. 1t comes here and lays these all
aside to listen with almost feverish inter-
est to the story of the saving of the Ma
ton and that time of civil strife-when for
four years the balances swung up and
DOWN between sectionalism and unity. 1t
was a time of supreme trial. The lame.
the halt and the blind. the faltering and
disheartened ones must needs give way to
men of more stern and heroic type. They
were crowded out at the TANKS. they were
pushed to the rear and striding at the
front of those columns were men of right
and might, men to whose clear vision all
things have been made plain, men into
whose souls had been poured mighty
purpose. These are the men from whose
lips we now gather new inspiration and de-
sire, and the courage TO stand by that
faith IT Is the very touch of baptism. 1t
is the contact with the men of divine pur-
pose. 1t Is all this that the inheritance
member is given to know and to feel in its
fullness."
Colonel A d. Shaw, chief,
In response to call from the POSTMASTER,
briefly expressed his pleasure in being
present and paid high compliment to the
presence of the ladies' whom he said, were
an inspiration to all men. and especially
to old soldiers.
At the conclusion of the speeches the
floor of the hall was cleared of the tables
and the remainder of the evening was spent
in dancing.
THE RrSIEESS SESSION.