Evening star., 1900-10-02

was bright with uniforms and regalia. The
national officers of the Union Veterans
Union and of the Womans' Veteran Relief
Corps, with a number Of members Of the
citizens committee occupied seats upon the
stage. District Commissioner Henry B. F.
Macfarland, as chairman of the citizens
committee,t called the aSsemblage to order
and introduced Rev Mr. Meacham of Cali
fornia, who offered a fervent prayer.
Mr.. Macfarland's Striking Address.
Commissioner Macfarland then delivered
an address of welcome that was received
with noticeable emotion by the old soldiers
and their friends.
Il offer you the welcome Of the capital
of the nation that you helped to save" he
said THE hospitality of this city could
not be offered by its official head to the
representatives Of the Union Veterans
Union in perfunctory manner. The very
name of your honored organization distin-
guishes it from the others which have
visited Washington during the year, and
guarantees you welcome of peculiar
heartiness. 1t reminds us of the greatest
war OF history: of all its heroism and sacri-
fees and of its great results. 1t speaks Of
the part that You ana those you represent
took in the great and successful struggle
to preserve the indissoluble union of inde-
structibe states. Republics are not un-
grateful. Notwithstanding the proverb. Our
nation has shown its gratitude to its sa
sion. And now, more than thirty years
after the civil war closed, in spite of all
the great events that have happened and
are happening, what you did is still fresh
In the national memory, and Is still being
gratefully acknowledged. If any one Of
you or those whom you represent has felt
at times as an individual he was not re-
ceiving his due share of gratitude. let him
dismiss the thought from his mind as un-
worthy and rest in the knowledge that he
deserves well Of the republic, and that the
republic appreciates that fact. Here in
Washington, with a union veteran in the
White House. with war records and battle
flags in the War Department. with the
great generals riding in lasting bronze
while the United States pension office and
United States treasury daily register the
financial obligation of the Union to the pri-
vate soldier, we could not. II we would. for
get what was done between 1861 and 1895
The Memory of Warrington.
1T Ls good to you In Washington
Perhaps some of you have never been here
since you came in uniform on your way to
battlefieds. and the visit must have for
you a significance that 1t can have for no
one else. You see the great contrast be-
tween the little Washington Of that day
great only the national capital and the
great Washington of today. a noble city in
Itself, practically o-terminus with the fed
eral district. Then it was doubtful whether
it would continue to be. Now its citizens
are preparing to celebrate in December the
centennial anniversary Of the establishment
Of the seat Of government in the District
Of Columbia, with the expectation that It
will be the national capital for centuries to
come. Then 1t was the acknowledged capt
tai of half the country. Now 1t s the be-
loved capital. not only of the whole coun-
try. but of millions beyond the seas
"As you rejoice in the national capital we
rejoice in you. For you are the represen-
tatives of the most remarkable array Of
men that ever stood in battle. No better
soldiers ever fought. and, when the fight
ing was over. no better citizens ever la
bored for their country. After seeing the
greatest army OF soldiers ever assembled
in historic times transformed without Jar
into citizens again 1t seems absurd, without
reference to politics. to talk about the
dangers OF mlitarism.
The Folly Of Imperialistic Scares.
'In this country we have shown that we
can fight at need well as any men in
the world, but we have also shown that we
are not a military nation. bent on foreign
conquests. to which we shall succumb. We
cannot seriously think of one Of the veter-
ans of our civil war as a possible emperor
any more than we can seriously think OF
the republic as an empire. II there were
the remotest danger Of real imperialism
the survivors Of the boys Of 81 who showed
the world how the citizen could become q
soldier and then citizen again. with con-
slant patriotism, winning the victories OF
peace as well as those OF war. would of
themselves prevent 1t. But. outside OF poll
tics. probably. no sane man dreams OF such
a thing.
your visit to the national capital need
not be troubled by any apprehenstons that
It will be transformed into a seat Of en-
pire What you preserved will be preserved.
May you enjoy your sojourn here with the
satisfaction of men who know that they
have wrought well and that their work
shall not be destroyed"
The applause which had punctuated Mr..
| Macfarland's sentences at frequent places
| broke forth enthusiastically when he closed
| his patriotic peroration.
Commander Dyrenforth's Reply.
Commander-in-Chief Dyrenforth was
| warmly greeted when he arose to reply to
| the address Of welcome.
'Mr. Commissioner" he said. In behalf
| of my comrades thank you and. through
/ you, the citizens Of Washington for this
| reception. We all highly appreciate the
| fullihearted Invitation to the old soldier
/ which has brought him to this beautiful
| city. the magnificent capital of the greatest
! nation on earth.
Visiting Comrades are amazed at the
/ beauty. the symmetry, the splendor OF
/ Washington. particularly those who saw
| the place during the war of the rebellion. g
| mere struggling collection Of q few fine
l nuhlin huildin1s with Wrefrhed tannunas1fs