Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-10-07

NCit' CNttIitu ~ tHtiii ny tIit 1dpl-
| tai city. OF this welcome they found
generous evidence on every hand.
The events of the day outside the
dedication ceremonies at Camp Roose-
velt included a fine regatta on the Po-
ton,aC. an attractive automobile parade.
an interesting procession by the Rel
Men and can.pGres i'll the evening.
CommanGer-in-Chi Torrance and his
staff kept open house all day ut the
Ebbitt house and received many hun
drcds of cailers.
Camp Roosevelt, which is to be the
headquarters of the various army
corps represented here. during the wee:
Of the Grand Army encampment was
formally dedicated. ut 4.30 o'clock this
afternoon. The camp is OF the White
lot, just west Of the White House and
between that building and the Wash
ington monument. 1t is q beautiful
greensward located near the heart of
the city. The dedication ceremonies
were presided over by Hon. Il. Fl. War
ner. chairman of the citizens committee
of the District of Columbia and were
largely attended.
reunion committee. called the meeting
to order and summoned MI. Warner to
the stand After brief invocation by
Rev. w. G. Davenport. Mr.. Warner in
trodaced Hon. Henry Il. r. MacFar-
land. one of the District commissioners.
Hon. john Hay, secretary of state.
spoke for the President. Mr.. Hay was
applauded at frequent intervals. His
address was as follows:
Comrades of the Great Army:
In the name of the President and in
his stead. / bid you welcome to Wash
ington. l need not say that on every
inch of American soil, wherever that
starry banner waves, you are at home.
and need no formal words of welcome.
But especially in this capital city of
the republic you fought to preserve,
you are the children of the house: the
doors are always open to you. Wher-
ever you turn. you are reminded of the
history of which you are Il part. From
the windows of that White House the
eyes of many comrades have looked
upon this field who names belong to
the ages-Lincoln. Grant, Hayes, Gar
field, Mckinley and Roosevelt.
In The beautiful squares other COM
rades salute you from the bronze
horses of the monuments where your
love and loyalty have placed them.
Across the winding river. the heights
if Arlington show the white tents of
Fames eternal camping ground, where
your friends and brothers repose. And,
casting it's gigantic shadow over this
bivouac OF yours the unequaled obelIsk
of Washington towers 10 the clouds
the loftiest structure ever reared by
man in memory of the loftiest charac-
ter in human history.
A peculiar interest attends this gath
cring. Never again shall all of us meet
in camp like this. Not often shall
the Youngest and strongest of us come
together to renew our memories of the
past. and our vows of eternal devotion
to the cause to which in those distant
days we swore allegiance. Thirty seven
years have passed since some OF US
wearing Grape on our arms and
mourning in our hearts for Abraham
Lincoln. saw the great army which he
loved pass before the White House in
,ha grand review Many of you
marched in those dusty columns. keep
ing step to the rhythm of drums and
tTumpetS WHICH Souiittu tiit piiSSN ~
a hundred battles. The banners blew
paiIv o,lt-what was left of them. they
were stained with the weather of long
marches: they were splendid in the
rags and tatters of glorious victories.
There was not much of pomp or stale
about that solemn march. But thc
men in the street that day-many oi
whom | have the honor OF seeing be-
fore me-afforded their own country.
and the rest of the world. a lesson
which shall never be forgotten, though
its tremendous import was not inme-
diately perceived
In fact many inferences were drawn
at the moment which the lapse of a
few months found altogether false. One
trained observer of events in the Old
world said These splendid fellows
will give YOU trouble: it is too fine u
force 10 be disbanded easily. He rea-
soned from the precedents of the past,
| unaware that we were making new
| nrecedents. Since then the world has
learned the lessen of that hour. The
i pormal condition of the republic is
neace but not the nerveless peace OF
! belplessness. We do not need the over
| crown ornaments of Europe.
Orr admirable regular force. with its
perfect drill and discipline. though by
FAR the smallest in the world in pro-
norton to population. is sufficient for
nnr ordinary wants; but when the oc-
casion calls. when the vital interests OF