The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-10-16
FEDERAL ARMY VETERAN MS. .
a Fine Grafton From Secretary
Hay at the Grand Army Re-
union,

The thirty-siXth oncampmont of thu
Grand Army of the Republic was hclt
this woek in Washington, d. G., ant
the attendance of tho veterans ant
visitors was unusually largo from al
parts Of tho country. On tho opening
day was tho dedication of Camp Roose
volt, the tented city located on tho
White House grounds, which was tho
headquarters of tho several corps dur
ing tho week. Tho chiof address o1
the opening was made by Secretary
John Hay, representing tho President
because of his inability to be present,
and is worthy of reproduction on
account of its scholarly and chasto OBJ.
servances of tho prOprietlcs Of such
an occasion, in contrast with other
speeches that were made afterwards.
Mr.. Hay was soldior and exhibited
his patriotism in tho following address:
Comrades of the Great Army
In tho name Of tho 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 arc Al home,
and l. ecd no formal words of welcome.
But especially in tho capital city Of tho
republic you fought to preserve, you
are tho children Of the house the
doors arc always open TO you.
Wherever you turn, you arc remind
cd of the history of which you arc \
part. From the windows of ! IT.
White House tho eyes of many com
radcs have looked upon this field
whose namos belong to the agcs-I.in-
coin, Grant, Hayes, Garfield, McKin-
Icy and Roosevelt. In the beautiful
square other 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 Arlington show
the white fonts Of Famo's etornal
camping groun', whore your friends
and brothers rcposo. And, casting it's
gigantic shadow over this bivouac of
yours, the unCquallcd obclisk of Wash
inglon towers TO the clouds-tho
loftiest structure ever reared by man
in memory Of the loftiest character in
human history.
A peculiar interest attends this
gathering. Never again shall all OF us
meet in camp like this. Not often
shall the youngest and strongest Of us
como 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 Abra-
ham Lincoln, saw the great army
which ho lovod pass before tho White
House in the grand reviow. Many Of
you marched in those dusty columns,
keeping step to the rhythm of drums
and tyumpots which had sounded tho
onset IN hundred battles. The BAN
nors blew gaily out--what was left Of
them they wero stained with the
weather of long marches ; they woro
splendid in the rags and tattcrs of
glorious victories.
There was not much Of pomp or
state about the solemn march. But
the mon in the street that day-many
Of whom l havo the honor of seoing
before me-afforded their own coun'
try, and the rest of the world, lesson
which shall never be forgotten, though
it's tremendous import was not immo-
diately perceived. In fact many in
terences were drawn at the moment
which the lapse of few months found
altogether false. Ono trained observer
of events in tho Old World SAID, !:
"These splendid follows will give you
trouble it is too fine forco to be dis
banded easily" He reasoned from
the precedents Of tho past, unaware
that we wero making new precedonts.
Since then the world has learned tho
lesson Of that hour.
The normal condition of the republic
Is peace, but not tho nerveless peace
Of helplessness. We do not need the
overgrown armaments of Europe. Our
admirable regular forco, with It's per-
feet drill and discipline, though by far
tho smallest in tho world in proportion
to population, is sufficient for our ordi-
nary wants but when the occasion
calls, when the vital interests or thu
honor of country are threatened, when
the national conscience is aroused, an
army will spring from the soil, 30 vast,
so doclle, 80 Intelligent, 80 formidable,
that it need not fear to try conclusions
with any army on the face of tho
earth.
But that was only half tho lesson
the other half was equally important
that when tho citizon army has done
its work, it makes no claim, it exacte
no conditions of disbandmont, but
inolte away into the vaster body Of the
nation, as the foam crested sunlit wave
molts back into tho profound depths Of
the ocean. The great host Of 1866
ceased to exist as an armed force but
in every town and hamlet of tho lanc
it lived as part of the body polite
a nucleus everywhere of courage, pa
triotism, and self-sacriflce. This wat
a now product the republic NIGH
proudly show to the world, saying
"These be the peacoable heroes
breed from great wars"
There were many brilliant deed
dono in the war that resulted in ondur
ing fame to fortunate individual sol
diers ; but the abandonment of tina
army flushed with victory and idolize
by the country, reflected honor upo
all our race, glory in which indiv
dual claims are lost, like atoms Of clou
in the CRIMSON splendor Of storm