Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-06
WELCOME TO CAR.
Union Veterans Invade
Washington
CITY IN GALA ATTIRE
Posts Arrive on Every Train
at Both Stations.
LOCAL COMMITTEES
HAVE MADE THEIR ARRANGE
MENTS FULL AND COMPLETE.
Program of Events to Be Carried Out
Camp Roosevelt to Be Ded-
icated Today.
LOCAL COM MITT EES
HAVE MADE THEIR ARRANGE
MENTS FULL AND COMPLETE.

Washington welcomes the Grand Army
Of the Republic!
The city is bright with signs of greeting
and vibrant with glad sounds The brick
and marble of her walls are buried under
colors that were an inspiration to brave
deeds, and the air is rhythmic with songs
that urged men on to glory. The face of
every one who dwells In sight Of the great
white dome smiles a welcome. Washington
seeks to give expression to its Joy in decor
atoms, in illuminations in music, and in
varied and hearty hospitality
This is a happy day. Old Time, proof
against gold. 1attery. pity, has made
pathetic gaps in the ranks Of those who
fought that the Union might endure, that
liberty might be more than a theory, that
republic Of the United States-the noblest
effort at self government ever made by
man-should not fail.
But, against this sole sad feature of the
day may be reckoned this: That Time has
adjusted old MISUNDERSTANDING. healed old
BOTeS, d people, anu Drought ancient
foes to call each other brother. No north
ern flower is too gentle for a southron's
grave; no southern praise too tender for
northman's tomb! With such magic has
Time wrought upon the memories of men
that the passion of the sections is deeper
buried than all the bones that molder from
the Potomac TO the James. 1t is a vast
change that has come since the battle-fags
were furled.
This is not the first time that Washington
blue. 1t is the sixth.
Washington's first welcome to the men of
the Union was in the spring of 1861, when
armies of hostile men glowered at her from
all the south, and grim batteries frowned
from the Virginia hills Crudely equipped
militia from Pennsylvania and a company
Of regulars from Minnesota hastened to the
support of the District volunteers who had
been suddenly called to arms. Next came
the 9th Massachusetts, Volunteers, bringing
bloody evidence of conflict in the streets of
Baltimore. Following the bay state troops
AZ an interval OF a week came the Itl New
York Regiment. Then there came rank on
rank Of valiant men, till bulwark Of stout
hearts, steel and bronze was reared be-
tween Washington and the confederate
forces at Harpers Ferry, Manassas, Fair
fax and Aqua creek A girdle of cleaning
bayonets and shotted guns was bound about
the city that no one might enter unbidden
or unchallenged.
The second welcome which Washington
gave the soldiers whom she entertains to-
day was in the summer of 1861 when the
great army of the Union fell back from
the hills and valleys of the fateful Bull
Run fields. and when fresh commands, un-
daunted by disaster and animated to heroic
endeavor by defeat, poured out of the east
and down from the north. to rally, cheer
and strengthen McDowell's broken fo-ce.
All that Washington had 20 give-sympa-
thy food and shelter-she gave.
The third reception to the soldiers of the
republic was in the summer of 1864 when
two divisions of the 9th Corps swept north
ward through the city to meet and foil
OF Brightwood. Here it was that the
Unions capital, which armies fought to
shield and other armies fought to seize,
was drawn from out of the enemy's very
clutch.
The fourth time Washington gave well
come to the troops of the nation was In
1865. when the war was done. This was
the grand review" 1t was an event in the
centuated by the historian, the poet and
the painter. There were miles of men,
brown with the sun and gray with dust of
the march; they were proud in their
triumph and bold in their mien from long
companionship with Death in all the horrid
shapes he takes; they were strong in "the
Consciousness of duty faithfully performed
and joyous that they were returning to the
ways of peace and home These thunder
ing columns, with throbbing drum and
shrieking fife, ringing bugle and ragged
nags dingy with battle CRIME moved by.
1t was a majestic spectacle that stands ou,
boldly in the literature of the land: a CLAM.
orous show that will not fade from the
memory Of man.
The next reception which Washington ex.
reunion of the Grand Army of the Republic
In 1892. Twenty-seven years had gone sine,
"grim-visaged war had smoothed hi.