The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-06-23
ENCANPMENT A
GREAT SUCCESS
Old Soldiers Went Home
Highly Pleased With
Hood River.


Hood Rivers three days entertain,
ment OF the department Of Oregon
Grand Army of the Republic, last
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday was
preeminently successful There were
some doubts, as the week of the en-
campment approached, as to whether
Hood River would be equal to the task
Of taking care Of the large number Of
visitors that had signified their inten.
ton OF coming here. Bat the citizens
arose nobIy TO the occasion, and every
one Of the 1900 people who attended
the eneampment were provided with
places TO sleep and all they wanted to
eat. The veterans were warm in their
praise of the entertainment furnished
them, and all Of them declared they
never had better time in their lives at
state encampment.
Wednesday night a general reception
was rendered the visitors and formal
speeches Of welcome were made by
Grand Armyamembers and citizens Of
Hood River. Captain James p. Shaw
was chairman Of the meeting. After d
short speech OF welcome TO the visiting
posts on behalf OF Candy post, the cap.
tain introduced Mayor A. s. Blowers,
also member Of the Grand Army, who
rendered the encampment delegates the
freedom and privileges OF ths city. Hon.
Il. l.. Smith was introduced by Mayor
Blowers, and he extended a welcome
on behalf Of the citizens Of Hood River.
Mr.. Smith spoke in part as follows:
You have received cordial and fit
ting welcome from his Honor the Mayor
OF this municipality, aud | trust that
you will not the less appreciate the
message have been delegated 10 con.
vey TO you in my Indifferent manner,
welcome no less sincere, a welcome
from all our people,
Without the people there could have
been no mayor, no civic welcome, NJ
organized government. without the
private soldier no general, no greal
army battling for the preservation o.
free government, for the integrity OF |
nation destined by Providence TO be th,
first, not only in power, but first ii
liberty among all the nations Of earth
And you have otsforgotten those i'm
mortal words Of your great commander
standing ON ground but recently bap
tised by the blood Of the Blue and tn
Gray: HThis nation under God shal
have new birth Of freedom, and tha
government OF the people, by the peopl
and for the people shall not perish iron
the eRrth.p
In the name Of the citizens of thi
community, community so small bu
yet component part of the people o
whom great Lincoln spake, | bid yol
welcome to the homes, YOU had wei
come to our hearts long since, TO thl
homes Of Hood River
Veterans Of the Grand Army, yol
have witnessed the rapid stride of you
country towards national greatness
since the days Of 1868. May | l,erebl
cite some Of the instances Of that In
creasing greatness. The banner yot
bore through an unparalleled strife tha
your country might be indissolubll
united, you zee saluted with scrupuoui
respect by the most powerful soyereigni
OF earth. Veterans, know that YOU
heart throbs come faster when yoI
learned how commodore of your c0un
try in the far East, one curly May-da,
morning, sailed his ships through chan
nes whose shores were lined with bat
teries and whose depths were lined Will
unknown mines, and as he circled round
the great bay Of Manila the fleet o
proud but cruel Spain disappeared iron
those eeas as II by magic, forever And
! know also, how deeply your patriotism
was stirred when your sons foloweC
that same old banner in the fair isle 0
Cuba, up the heights OF Santiago anC
I'll Caney; neither trocha, nor fort, no
barrirade, nor decinating fire coult
check their gallant charge; and ever Il
the front, swinging his hat and shout
ing, Come on Doys' was a gaIlan
officer, today the great president o
these United States.
And may | call your attention to al
incident Of peace not properly empha
sized, as it seems to me? ONLY ieI
weeks since at the harbor front OF tn
city OF Havana was witnessed an occur
renee worthy to be immortalized il
song and on skilled painters canvass
The American flag had, indeed, beel
lowered, but not in dishonor; militar
bands were playing our national airs
and everywhere the air was rent will
deafening shouts Of "Viee Cuba libra,
Hurrah for free Cuba The last Amer
lean soldier was going home, Pray tel
me, friends, on what page OF all tn
histories Of tho past will ! find tn,
record when nation vent forth a
vast expense of life and treasure, droy,
out a murderous foreign conQueror iron
fair land, established constitutions
government with all the guarantees o
life, liberty, aud property, then calleC
her ships and sailors home without
recompense in money or a rod Of terri
tory.
One more Illustration and / cease Il
tax your patience with incidents Of youl
country's greatness already known. In
the year 1902, the latest data at my
command, there were in the United
States 254, ,076 school houses and 49,
OIL ,0l6 school children. II is the
morning hour, and these millions OF
boys and girls stand in orderly form
before these school houses with bright
expectant faces; halyard is drawn
Old Glory, the emblem Of their country
mounts upward is flung to the breezt
and seem to hear myriad of youth
ful voices reciting in unison, II pledge
my allegiance TO my flag and to tn,
country for which il stands. One nation
indiyisible, with liberty and Justice fo
all" know not whether this beauti
full ceremony originated with the Crane
Army or its auxiliary society, the Relic
corps, or was the joint product of both
but do know that no other land in an,
age ever taught its youth such an in
comparable and impressive lesson o
patriotism as this.
Grand Commander, have no iulsom,
laudations to offer these gray-haire,
noble veterans before me. The,
were willing to lay down their lives ii
the service OF their country. Wha
more can men do2 Theirs is the plac
of honor here, and ] trust, hereafter
and it is the common regret of all gu
people that 1t is imI ossible for so SINAI
community 70 offer hospitalit
worthy of their distinguished presence
Hood Rivers specialties are berries an
speeches of welcome, and am iniorme
that our committee has arranged to fl
YOU up with both. We have, however
not forgotten what excellent forager
you proved yourselves to be in the co.,
and therefore, in our helpless conditio
we expect that il you see anything yo
want you will take it. Leave us ou