The National tribune., 1902-10-09
THE CAMPFIRE.
Mondays First Great Reunion.

Mondays First Great Reunion.
In the evening, the opening Campfire
of the Both Annual Encampment was
held in Convention Hall, an enormous
room over one of the Washington markets.
The place was ceiled. walled, and decor
ated with American flags. In the begin
ming, the hall was darkened, and at the
South end, blown out by an electric fan,
was displayed an enormous banner. lit by
glaring lights. The effect was inspiring
Thirty Sons of Veterans acted as the ush-
esr and the immense audience was quickly
and quietly seated. The Marine Band
opened the proceedings with a medley of
patriotic airs, and at the Star Spangled
Banner all came to their feet with a
cheer and burst of waving small flags.
Comrade S. Il. Faunce, Past Department
Commander of the Department of the
Potomac, called the meeting to order. and
the Rev. Dr. Couden. blind Chaplain of
the House of Representatives, gave the
prayer, followed by the Battle Hymn of
the Republic, rendered by an octet led by
Comrade Lillebridge, of Washington. A
detachment of the Old Guard, under COM
mand of Lieut.. w. Ii. Fuss, and led by a
color guard with fife and drum CORPS
made the round of the hall. The drums beat
the long roll, the squad presented arms
and came to parade rest, planting flags
on either side of the Chairman, while the
audience, Marine Band. and octet Joined
in Rally Round the Flag. Comrade B.
II. Warner, Chairman of the Citizens
Committee, paid an eloquent tribute to
the President who had done SO much for
the Reunion, despite his injury, which led
to an enforced absence from its proceed
ings, and extended the comrades the hos
pitality of the Capital City. Gen. Bur-
dett proposed three cheers for Gen. Tor
rance which were given with a hearty
will. Gen. Torrance said, in part:
''This flag has gathered in its folds all
that is good in our history. 1t numbers
all the deeds of sacrifice and every virtue
in the hearts of patriots. We are the Gus
tOdians of trust that is of inestimable
value. AS we measure up to the true
standard of greatness, so does our country
measure up to true greatness. The past
ought to make us strong.
1.-The war is over, and every soldier of
the Union hopes it may never be neces-
sary to engage in another day of strife
How different are the "reminiscences of
war than the realities of war. There are
men who for 40 years have been slowly
dying because of their service, and to
them the flag is everything that is beauti-
full. thank you for your welcome more
than l can tell; for all you have done for
the soldiers 1 thank you. Our cup of
happiness is full tonight as we remem-
Der that what our comrades did was not
in vain. There is no North, no South. no
East, no West; our grand land united
for one common purpose. Long live the
Republic. long live the flag of Washing
ton; long live the flag of Lincoln; long live
the flag of Santiago; long live the Stars
60 xvbinh Sl 0lNl niNl nnOnia
are ready to lay down their lives in de-
fense."
After the speech by Gen. Torrance, the
audience sang Marching Through Georgia,
and Gen. Jacob II. Smith was introduced
as "a man who has served his country
and served it WELL" The ovation accord
ed the veteran of the civil war and of the
Philippines was mighty one. and it was
some time before he could be heard to tell
''the rising generation" of the deeds of its
predecessors and to turn finally attention
to the woman behind the man behind the
gun who wins the battles
Comrade Semple was introduced in lieu
of Past Department Commander Thomas
J. Stewart, of Pennsylvania, absent on
duty in the coal strike disturbances, and
called attention to the differences between
Washington of 1861 and Washington Of
1902. "Then the dirtiest city in the world,
and now the most beautiful" ending up
with wherever our flag goes and is
placed by our country, there it has got to
stand. Let us hold up the hands Of this
Administration, and let us say to the
world that there is an army of 100000
men ready to back up their country"
Mrs. Goodhue sang the Star Spangled
Banner as a solo, to the accompaniment
Of the Marine Band, while the assemblage
rose to its feet and remained standing.
| The spectacle of the brightly-illuminated
banner flying in the midst of dense dark
ness was again seen.
| Comrade Tanner, Reconnaissance of
Pensions, made one Of his eloquent
speeches, saying:
81 am glad 1 have lived to see this
day. / have never missed an Encamp-
ment since the first. When fail to show
] up at one it will be time to publish my
obituary. These Encampment days are
holy days to us old veterans.
who of us, years ago, would have
thought that we would have seen the
| Southern men marching side by side for
the Nation. Nothing ever has tickled me
more than to see Fitzhugh Lee and Gen.
Wheeler leading the forces of our country
against a foreign foe. George Dewey
learned the lesson put into practice in
Manila Bay in the fight of Mobile Bay.
| The San Juan boys learned their lessons
from their fathers who fought in '61-'65.
Sherman [opplausel taught that war is
hell When in Samar keathenish out
RACES were committed, there Gen. Jacob
Smith repeated to them that war was hell
and that he was there as an apostle to
teach that doctrine. Great applause. ]
| The world is better than it was ever be-
fore, and we have done good deal to
make it better. The Grand Army of the
Republic has been immeasurably blessed
for years in the aid of the WOman's Re-
lief Corps and the Ladies of the G. A. r.
I'VE are not in the Philippines for plum
der. We were brought there. We are
going to Christianize and civilize the Fill
pinos. Float the eagle high. Let him
spread his wings this week. The old
world has to look up high these days to
see him."
The Rev. Fl. W. Ennis, of New York,
Chaplain-in-C Chief of the Sons of Veterans,
made an address, referring to his unique
position" as the son Of one Of the very few
prvates in the Grand Army "All the
other members have known were Gen
erals, COlonels or Captains"
America was sung by the audience
standing, taps were sounded, and the first
Great Campfire was thing Of the past.
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Not late discovery but successfully used
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