The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-10-07
GEN. TORRANCE RESPONDS
Old Soldiers Busted Them
 selves with AcQuaintanceS.
Program of First Day Was Simple Consisting of Number of Address es, Gov. Bliss and Secretary
 Moody Being Among - the Speakers.

Washington, Oct. s-The ceremonies in- cident to the beginning of the thirty-sixth encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic, which commenced here today were varied in character and mostly only scmi-oficial.
 The only formal proceedings of the day was the dedication of Camp Roosevelt, the tented city on ths White House grounds. which will be the headquaTters of the several corps organizations during the week. The ceremonies there consist ed of a large number of addresses by men of national reputation, the chief speech being delivered by Secretary Hay. For the rest the old soldiers busted them selves largely in renewing the acquaint. ances of forty years ago.
 Of this welcome. they found generous evidence on every hand. The events of the day, outside the dedication ceremo- nies at Camp Roosevelt, included a fine p gatta on the Potomac, an attractive au- tomobile parade. an interesting process sion by the Red Men of this city and reighboring cities and camp fires in the evening.
 Camp Roosevelt was formally dedicat- ed at 4:30 o'clock this afternoon. The
 
 the White House. and between tkat building and the Washington monument.
 The dedication ceremonies were pre- sided over by the Hon. B. H. Warner, Chairman of the Citizens Committee of the District of Columbia and were large ly attended.
 Col. John NcElroy, chairman of the Reunion Committee, called the meeting to order and summoned MT. Warner to AA ASN~ I..s | the Rev. W. G. Davenport, MT. Warner introduced the Hon. Henry B. F. Mac Farlend, one of the District Commission CTS. Before doing so however, MT. War | ner spoke a few words of welcome of his own.
 Welcomed by Secretary Hay. MT. Mcfarland took his seat in the midst of a generous round of applause which was renewed and redoubled when the Hon. John Hay. Secretary of State, al ose to speak for the President. MT. Hay read his speech from manuscript, but he spoke so distinctly that his words were plainly audible to all the vast num- Der present He was applauded at ire quent intervals as he proceeded.
 Mir. Hay spoke as follows:
 Comrades of the Great Army:
 'In the name of the President and in his stead, I bid you welcome to Wash ington need not say that on every inch of American soil, wherever that starry banner waves, you are at home, ana need no formal words of welcome. BIb 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. Wherever you turn, you are reminded of the history of which you are a part. From the windows of that White House the eyes of many comrades have looked upon this field whose names belong to the ages-Lincoin, Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Mckinley and Roosevelt In the beautiful squares oth- CT comrades salute you from the bronze horses of the monuments where your love and loyalty have placed them. Across the winding river, the heights of Ariing- ton show the white tents of Fame's eter- nal camping ground, where your friends and brothers repose. And, casting its gi- gantic shadow over this bivouac of yours, the uneaualed obelisk of Washington towers to the clouds-the loftiest struc- ture ever reared by man in memory Of the loftiest character in human history. A Peculiar Interest.
 "A peculiar interest attends this gath ering Never again shall all of us meet in a camp like this. Not often shall the youngest and strongest of us come to- gether 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 crape on our arms and mourn ing in our hearts for Abraham Lincoln, saw the great army which he loved pass before the White House in the grand re- view. Many of you marched in those
 
 rhythm of drums and trumpets which had sounded the onset in a hundred bat ties. The banners blew gaiIy out-what wss left of them; they were stained with the weather of long marches; they were splendid in the rags and tatters Of glo- rious victories. There was not much of pomp or state about that solemn march. But the men in the street that day many of whom have the honor of see ing before me-afforded their own coun- try, and the rest of the world. a lesson which shalI never be forgotten, though its tremendous import was not immediate lv perceived. In fact many differences 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 fel- lows will give you trouble; it is too fine a force to be dsbanded easily" He reasoned rom lIle pTeCeueIAlS OL Lue past, unaware that we were making new pre- cedents Since then the world has learn ed the lesson of that hour. The normal condition of the republic Is peace. but not the nerveless peace of helplessness. We do not need the overgrown arma- ments of Europe. Our admirable regu- lar force. with it's perfect drill and dis cipline, though by far the smallest in the world in proportion to population, Is suf- hcient for our ordinary wants; but when the occasion calls. when the vital inter ests or the honor of the country are threatened, when the national conscience is aroused. an army will spring from the soil, SO vast, so docile. so intelligent. so formidable, that 1t need not fear to try conclusions with any army on the face of the earth.
 Deeds Still Living.
 "Rut That was only half the lesson; the