The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-14


every detail was vividly brought out under
the glare of big searchlght thrown now
and then across the structure on which the
children were seated. AT the conclusion OF
the parade the crowds rapidly filled the
available seats at the opera house, Audi
forum and Methodist Church, where camp
fires were announced
The opera house meeting was presided
over by the Hon. w. r. Myers, ex-secretary
of state. The invocation, by Father Null
cahy, of st. Marys Church. was an eloquent
and patriotic plea Senator Beverage was
the first speaker to address the monster
crowd. The junior senator was never more
eloquent, and he paid a glowing tribute TO
the citizenship of the Grand Army of the
Republic. He said
Mr.. Commander, Veterans and Citizens.
What Is the meaning OF the Grand Army! !
Loyalty TO the flag.
And what is the meaning of the flag?
And what is the meaning Of the Nation
The leadership of all peoples in mankind
march toward liberty and light.
You old soldiers were the Nations SOL
diers, the Nations volunteer soldiers. Not
Hessians, not conscripts, not adventures,
not bought and paid for cannon food. vol
unteers you werel You heard the voice of
the Republic calling. Sons of my soil, chill
dren of my flag, save me or perish. You
answered and the Republic endures. Forty
years ago you answered: and our Nation
lives, the first power of the world
1.-The Nation lives and is the worlds first
power because your veins flowed with SOL
der blood. You were farmers, mechanics,
merchants, laborers, clerks-but beneath 1t
all you were soldiers; and you were SOL
diers because you We're citizens
"Other nations have mighty standing
armies. But the American Republic has a
mightier standing army than any-an army
all our eighty millions. For every Amer
lean is a potential soldier. No American
can help being soldier. For his father
before him was a soldier; and his mother.
when she taught him peace and sweetness
and good viii, taught him the hero code of
battle and of death for righteousness And
long as the firesides of the Nation teach
that creed-and no longer.
I'VE daily face great problems In this
government Of the people: Even thought
full men sometimes fear for the Republic.
But as long as the Nations citizens are
willing to die for the nag, the flag will
wave. Let no man be afraid lest the
American people fail. The Grand Army is
proof that the American people will not
fail. Fate can put TO Americas millions
no question so difficult that they will not
answer 1t and answer it right. Progress
can present no problem so perplexing that
the American people will not solve it, and
solve 1t correctly. 1t Is for this that we
are free people. 1t is to answer HUMANE
tvs questions. to solve the advanced prob
lens of mankind that we are here: and
then, laying our American Interpretation OF
lifes riddle before the world that other
nations may read and be instructed by
new and better conditions. Thus we full
fill the purpose Of our nationhood and
justify, by service to all humanity. our
leadership Of all the peoples of our time.
TAUGHT BY GRAND ARMY.
This is the lesson the Grand Army
teaches US Of the new generation when we
stand uncovered while you old veterans
march along, your youth renewed by the
sight Of the flag honorably borne above
you. For in your youth God tested this
Nations right to live with a question
which only lives could answer-and you
answered it. And beside that problem
which your sacrifices solved, all other prob
lens that have risen since, big though they
appear to the eye of the hour, are almost
trivial to the eve of comparative history.
Il have spoken of the warrior blood that
by inheritance flows In every Americana
veins. But l spoke not in martial pride;
/ spoke in patriotic pride For Americans
are not soldiers for the sake OF war; Amer
leans are soldiers for the sake of peace.
gain; our shotted cannon speak only when
righteousness commands and in civiiza-
tons exalted cause. Let no one fear the
Republics purposes in the discharge of any
mission destiny has given the Republic to
do: for history. when we dead and for
gotten, will declare that wherever advanced
the American flag, law, order and liberty
human conditions and attending the field
until 1t ripened into civilizations full har-
vest.
MILITARY STRENGTH.
while our military strength must ever
be, as it ever has been, in our volunteer SOL
diery, this Nation must never again pay the
price of scores Of thousands of our soldiers
lives on the unprepared field Of actual car
mage in the belated training of officers and
men for final victory. In every war we
have waged thousands of lives have been
sacrificed through inexperience and unpre-
paredness.
There are those among the best of our
citizenship who regret attention to our war
establishment. They fear the possession
of a weapon is a temptation to its use. But
they are in error. For in a republic no
single kingly mind, no coterie of plotters
determine the use of the republics armies
Only the republics millions can do that;
and the republics millions can be trusted.
For. through their widest enthusiasts
and every warlike impulse is held in check
by that subtle and sacred power which
proceeds from every American home
Others there are land they. too. are
among the best of our citizenship who de-
plore the growth of militant organiza-
ton; they fear lest the Republics soldiers
should be used to Cypress the Republics
for, whatever else may happen in this
world, one thing will never happen again
while the stars shine or the heavens en-
dure-and that impossible thing is armed
conflict Of Americans among themselves.
Sections are no more in this Republic OF
ours: classes are impossible in this Repub-
lie of ours. And he who would revive the
one or create the other is no true friend
of the Nation. For we Americans are
brothers all and every one-men Of the
North. men of the South, men of the East
and men of the West, laborer and en-
ployer. workingman and capitalist. farmer
and merchant, minister and layman, banker
and borrower-brothers every one In the
beautiful brothership of the flag. And no
man need fear the Republics bayonets
save he who attempts to destroy that filial
affection.
American brotherhood! Though all else
perish, that must be preserved. American
brotherhood! 1t was for that you veterans
American brotherhood 1t is the rock on
which the Nation is builded-and what says
the Scriptures Of such house so founded
And the rain descended, and the floods
came, and the winds blew, and beat upon
that house; and ii fell not; for it was
founded upon a rock"
Judge Hadley followed Senator Beveridge
in a short address that inspired great en-
thusiasm. He gave way to Governor Dur
bin. who was very cordially received. The
Governor said:
Ladies and Gentlemen, Comrades of the
Grand Army--It Is related of General Sher-
man that on one occasion, seeking to return
through the lines to his headquarters. he
was summarily halted by colored sentry
raw recruit, who cried: Look heah sab
get right outen heah. General Shuhmar
done give strict ohders dat no one pass dis
post unless he come up to me and whispaf
"Sumtah." There is only one countersigr
necessary to-night to your admission to the
innermost recesses of the warm welcome
this good old Hoosier city has to offer anc
confidentially. L am going to give it to you