The National tribune., 1904-08-25
THE ssth NATIONAL ENcANPMENr.

The 3Sth National Encampment of the
Grand Army of the Republic had several
unique features 1t was held in the heart
of loyal New England. While there has
been large influx of foreign population
in that section. the strongly dominant ele-
ment remains which was intensely inter
ested in the war for the preservation of
| the Union. and which sent it's best and
hravest into the army. In much Of the
| rest of the United States business and
social relations have been so changed by
migration that the old-time Union element
has lost its solidarity. aud the memory of
what the war meant has become dimmed,
If not o.l;terated 1t is wholly different
with the more stable communities of New
England. There the war means just as
much to them it does to the still more
unchanging communities in the South.
| The MON Is just vivid an idea in
New England as the Southern Confederacy
is in Dixie. The press. the factories, the
! farms and business are in the hands of men
whose fathers fought for the preservation
OF the Government. Names of regiments
are of the deepest interest to family his
tory. and are interviewer in the local an
mails. The soldiers who lie in the cemeteries
are closely related to the living in every
village and town. In the interior and the
West the veteran who is carried to the
| cemetery is one who has come into the
community with other strangers and new
| settlers.
A good illustration of this is in BostOn's
grandest inSttutiOn-her public library.
There. on either side of the magnificent en-
trance is a colossal lion, carved in stone,
and resting upon 4 pedestal of fine yellow
marble One of these is inscribed with the
name of the I'd Mass. and with its battles
and other particulars. The other bears the
| name of the Goth Mass. with similar in
scriptions. With all the soldiers who went
out from Chicago. Cincinnati. Cleveland.
Detroit indianapolis. Milwaukee, st.
Louis. ETC.. or who went there to live after
the war. such an erection would hardly be
possible in any of those cities, because no
one of them hardly had two regiments so
directly representing the city, which were
made up of its best young men, who, re-
turning home. became controlling element
in the city's affairs.
Therefore, New England turned out with
a unanimity startling in its proportions,
to greet aud honor the surviving veterans
of the war. The only comparison to the
multitude and its outspOken patriotism
was that at Pittsburg, where the stability
Of the population of the adjoining country
resembles that of New England. All ac-
counts agree that there must have been at
least 100000 spectators of the Grand
Parade in Boston. The almost incompre-
hensble vastness of this multitude was in
| itself enough to make the 3Sth National
Encampment phenomenal. To be the mag
net of attraction and the cynosure of the
admiring gaze of 100000 people, is
something wonderful. 1t builds the vet
eran up with comforting pride that what
he has been and has done is properly ap-
preciated by those for whom he dared,
endured and sacrificed. Most of the year
he is made to feel that he is lingering
superfiuous on the stage, and should keep
himself and his memories
/ OF unhappy. far-or times
| And dreadful battles long ago
out of the way of real estate deals, new
railroads. trusts and trade combinations.
But there comes a day such as that at
Boston when the whole country pours out
to greet and cheer him, and goes through
unusual difficulties and hardships to look
upon him and pay him honor, and then he
feels repaid for all that his service to the
country cost him.
In every respect-except that of the un-
happy experience of many at the valida-
ton office-the Encampment was glorious
success. The hospitality of Boston was
boundless, and everywhere extended
promptly and effectively. There was no
stint to it, and constantly there were sur
prising revelations Of generous fore
thought
The weather was delightful. Better
could not have been selected
! Commanderin-C Chief Black crowned a
very successful Administration by presid-
ing with marked dignity and ability over
an EncanpInent the proceedings of which
were characterized by unblemished good
! feeling, earnestness and zeal.
The officers elected for the ensuing year
were all so highly acceptable that their Sc
lection was made by acclamation. Every
one of them is a gallant soldier, of long
service, and was enthusiastically advocated
1
with him since the war;
Gen. Wilmon w. Blackmar, the Com
mander-in-Chief, has exceptional qualifca-
tions for the place. He went into the army
as a private, won every promotion on the
battlefield, coming out at the end of four
years Captain, and the recipient of a
medal of honor. BY his own unaided eff
forts he built himself up to foremost
: position among the lawyers of Massa-
chusetts, and achieved a competence upon
which to retire. He is a fine orator, a
genial. captivating man, and an indefatig-
7 able worker for the Grand Army of the
Republic.
Capt John r. King, the Senior Vice
!, Commander-in- Chief, is fine specimen of
e those grand loyalists Of the Border States
d whose firm courageous assistance was SO
J ESSENTIAL to the preservation of the Union
He served throughout the war in a splen.
did fighting regiment, was several times
, wounded, and prisoner of war. He has
been a devoted worker in the G. A. r. ever
since its formation, and done a grand
work in keeping the fires Of Fraternity