Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-12
THE LADIES AS GUESTS
SOLDIERS UNION PROVIDES EN-
TERrAININo PROGRAM.
Addresses by Gen. Boynton, Mrs. j
Ellen Foster, Auditor Andrews
and Mr. Chatfeld.

Following the business session last even
ing, the Soldiers Union Of the First Con-
gregational Church entertained the wives.
daughters, sons and friends Of the vet
Grams in the lecture room of the edificc.
The semi-annual election Of officers con-
stituted the business before the session.
It resulted as follows: President, Briscoe
Goodhart; vice president, J. H. Blodgelt;
secretary, J. H. Bradford; chaplain, George
w. Honey; chorister, George Newton
pianist, Miss Florence King. Mr.. A. b.
Chatfield the retiring president. made q
brief address upon the union, and there
were addresses also by General H. v.
Boynton, Mrs. ]. Ellen Foster and Mr..
w. E. Andrews
General Boynton talked upon the His
tory of the Civil War and Its Results.
In his narrative General Boynton paid a
tribute to the southern fighters and de-
clared that they realized that their defeat
in the struggling days from 81 to SO was
q blessing. Neither slavery nor the election
of Lincoln, said the speaker caused the
civil war. 1t was the outcome Of dehbe-
rate, almost diabolical, scheming on the
part Of this southern politicians to preserve
their power. The speaker declared that
the soldiers of the south were sincere to
their cause, although they now realized the
benefits Of the result of the conflict.
The north never knew what war was.
Only the people of the south and those who
lost relatives and friends appreciated the
situation. Every resource OF the south was
exhausted in an effort to uphold the south
ern cause. The women Of the south were
great believers in the lost cause. and did
everything to contribute to it's success, but
to no avail. Gen. Boynton cited the hard
ships the southern women endured during
the blockade. AT the close of the war the
south was not generally devastated, but a
desolate condition Of affairs existed.
The Reconstruction Period.
Gen. Boynton dwelt at some length upon
the reconstruction of the southern state
governments. He declared that there could
not be obtained in the south today ma
jority vote for secession or the re-establish-
ment of slavery. The people are grateful
for the result, and are true to the stars and
stripes. Their patriotism, said Gen. Boyn-
ton, was demonstrate ted at the outbreak Of
the Spanish war They were manifestly
pleased to get under the old banner; they
were in fact said Gen. Boynton, more anx-
ious for the fray than were the northern
people.
Mrs. Fosters Theme.
"reminiscences of Incidents Within and
Without the Army Of 1s81-85' was the
ter. She said all battles are due to but one
heart cause Of the rebellin, she said, was
the love Of ease as opposed to the democ-
racy Of labor. The strength of the govern
ment. Mrs. Foster maintained, lies in the
church Of God. Anarchists are never Chris
tians. Mrs. Foster explained the part the
women of the country take in a great con-
hict. Sacrifice and service is the spirit Of
woman's relation to the war. Her boy is
generally the sacrifice sometimes the hus-
band. or a brother. The service she per-
forms in connection with a war is the
struggle for a livelihood for herself and
children. She will work in the fields and
practice economy to the greatest degree
Tribute to Veterans.
Mr. Andrews paid a tribute to the vet
erans of the war at the outset of his ad-
dress. His theme was "The Union Saved
Shall Be Preserved" He gave a character
study Of President Lincoln and declared
that there were firm judgments on both
sides of the controversy leading to the
civil war. The war was inevitable and had
ID be carried to the supreme court of war
for adjudication. Mr.. Andrews talked at
some length upon the war as an object
lesson.
Mr.. Elphonzo Youngs, ir, rendered sew
eral cornet solos during the evening" with
Miss Florence j. King as accompanist. A
luncheon was served at the close of the en-
tertainment