The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1900-08-31
OUR CIVIL HHR HEROES.
Grand Army Parade the Greatest
Since the Review Of '65.
Over 10000 Were In Line, Representing
1900 Posts and the Aged Veterans
Were Wildly Cheered a8 they
TramPed ChIcagO'I Streets

TramPed ChIoagO's Streets.
Chicago, Aug. 29-AIong streets
filed with cheering multitudes, past
towering buildings gay with the
glow of the stars and stripes, through
arches Of honor, beneath suspended
banners and swinging portraits Of
illustriOus leaders, now part Of the
muster beyond that dark river whose
brink their feet had 50 often pressed
on fields Of death, 600 Of the life
guard Of the natiOn-the Grand Army
Ofthe marched yesterday. It
was their greatest parade since that
day in 1865 when with ranks fresh
from the triumph of war they had
marched down Pennsylvania avenue
in Washington with ther faces turned
toward home, and their hearts filed
with the promise of the victories Of
peace.
1t was probably the last Of the great
parades upon which the members of
the Grand Army WI march on earth.
The average age of the veterans is
close upon the average span Of human
life, its ranks are thinning fast, and
its membership has commenced to fall
away. The muster roll must here
after, according to the officials Of the
organization, decrease more rapidly
than at any period from the end Of
the war to now. The last year of the
century across the years Of which
they have emblazOned so glorious a
record was a most fitting time for
what so many Of them have declared
l.
more appropriate was It that sun and
wind combined to produce a day emil
nently suitable for the occasion. a
light breeze came OF Lake Michigan
strong enough to lift the banners out
to the full length Of their folds and
at times with force sufficient to make
It necessary for more than one old
soldier to grasp the staff to keep the
flag on high. 1t mattered nothing,
however, how many hands were nee
essary on the staff. They were ready
hands always. The veterans carried
the flag to-day as they carried it 40
years ago, and save in salute not a
banner was lowered, rot a fold
touched the ground.
Bidwe1 WiI1eson post, Of Buffalo,
which had the largest number of men
In ranks Of any organization that
came from outside Chicago and Cook
county, made a fine appearance as
they came marching past the stand
headed by the Buffalo military band
Of so pieces. The Old Continental
drum and bugle corps, Of New York
city, led Chaplin post, also from New
York, and both were heartily cheered
for their excellent appearance and
marching. Wisconsin was given the
right Of the line, and as her column
came turning around the corner Of
Jackson boulevard into the broad
sweep, Of Michigan avenue, and with
bands playing and cOlOrs flying the
Grand Army Of the Republic came
marching down, the people seemed TO
realize that here at last came the
true pageant Of true patriotism. The
old wOrn-out futtering flags that
had gone before were nothing In
themselves, but as representatives Of
the power that gave them the glory
that they were, they were everything
Marching behind them under cOlors
fresher and brighter as their own
fame must ever grow with the adyanc-
ing years, came the units of that
pOwer-the fighting men Of a mighty
race uncOnquered yet by land or sea
In them lay, and through them came,
the force that has made the nation
what it is and VIII be. No matter
what might come in the future, the
men before them had made the past
a glory that may mellow but never
grow dim, and the crowd seeming to
catch these things in a breath, as
rank after rank the old soldiers
wheeled into the avenue, went wild
with enthusiasm. They cheeTed,
waved their hats and cheeTed again
until they could cheer no more. Then
they stood as they had stood for the
battered flags, with barred heads, as
the veterans with steps more hating
than Of old, but with hearts as high
as ever, passed on to make the parade
Of 1900 what they had made many
another marcia credit to thems elves
and an honor to their country,
On Monday the right Of the line
was given to the men who sailed the
seas during the civil and SPanf sh
wars. Of the 1920 men who enlisted
IN the navy during the civil war less
than 1000 marched Monday