The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-22
WE'LL
HAVE A WAR
WITH JAPAN
Veterans at Reunion Hear
Predictions Congress man
and Gen. Drake Speak.

About forty surviving members of
the Eighth New Jersey Volunteers gath
cred last night at Achtel-Stetter's BAN
quet hall. and her the battle-scarred
veterans of 81 sat around the we'll
prepared tables, n former Chief of
Police Benjamin Murphy, of Jersey
City. president of the association, who
acted as POSTMASTER, started the ball
rolling. it was evident that "Hooker's
Old Brigade was speedily passing on
to the great beyond.
While few In number, the old war
spirit was still alive, and expressions
from the various speakers told tha
lowered over them.
One of the many incidents recalled
by the toaafmaster was his reference
to the fact that of the nine color guards
who went away with the old brigade
but two survived, himself and George
G. Bottellberger. The latter was at
the banquet, too.
r. Wayne Parker lamented "the
gathering clouds on the Pacific coast
which he said were not based on any
reasonable causes.
IF trouble comes" he said, "and all
the industrious and patriotic myriads
of Japan turn to preparation and pros
ecution of war, 1t will do great injury
to the worlds 1t would
probably involve England and Japan.
1T have no doubt" he continued,
that regardless of how much such a
conflict should be unfortunate, hat we
would hold BUR own. We could depend
upon the older and the younger gener-
alton. 1t must be averted, however. II
such can be done with honor" He
spoke of the horrors of war and the
beauties of peace, saying it behooved
old and brave soldiers to stand for
peace when they could do so consci-
entiously.
1.-THE Veteran of Today was John
f. Gibson's toast. He spoke of the
great advancement made in the arts of
war and of peace between the days of
Grant and Roosevelt.
IF the government ever wants good
soldiers it'll find that there's a lot Of
scrap in us old fellows yet" said the
speaker.
Throughout the banquet hall there
were cries, IF l can't go I've got sons
who can"
The Rev. Louis Cameron, chaplain
of the First Regiment, N. G. N. j.,
told of his recent trip to Richmond,
Va, where he attended the national
diocesan convention.
Joseph Atkinson responded to the toast,
"The Army and Navy" and the veterans
drank a silent toast to FOur Departed
Comrades Lieutenant John j. Perine,
vice-president of the organization, read
the names of those who have answered
the last summons since the last meeting,
as follows:
General j. Madison Drake, commander
of brakes zouaves, of Elizabeth, delivered
a general address, in which he referred to
what he termed the pressing danger in
the Far East" In part, General Drake
spoke as follows:
II always experience great delight In at
tending the annual reunions of the. sur
viyors of The Eighth New Jersey Volun-
teers. in which | long ago found my ar
fnity." as you know, with one of your
most gallant members, whose precious lie,
/ am glad to say, is still preserved, with
whom | had peculiar and thrilling expe-
rlences in the darkest days of the long
and bitter war of 1~S61-lS65, and it gives
me no less pleasure in being present to-
night at your symposium. The genuine
comradeship ever shown me by Captain
Harry H. Todd of your regiment, my
companion in dreary captivity in various
Confederate prison houses, as well as in the
longest and most perilous journey made by
escaping prisoners of war, has been to me
q priceless recollection through all the in
tCfVenlnB loTly-lnfee years, n longer pc
riod Of life than is allotted the most of
mankind. and | may add that as time
passes, imposing languor and age, our af-
lection. brought irto being under danger
Gus. painful and distressing circumstances,
increases day by day.
None forget those terrible days
of 1s61-1S65. when passion embittered the
hearts of the people throughout this land,
but tonight we sit here with gratitude to
God because of a united cou~ntry-because
of one flag. which your devotion and sacrl-
fees did so much to preserve.
THE time will never come when your
patriotism shall be forgotten, for your
love of country and the principles UNDER
lying that awful struggle did more to In
spire and bless this Ian with a true idea
of the dedication of heart and life to our
country's future and destiny than all
things else.
IF l correctly understand the portent
of the present time. / may say the day Is
not far distant when our youth will be
called upon TO rally in defense of the flag
we carried to glory. For months past NUT
terings Of war have been heard on the
Pacific coast, ard Il single breath may fan
n great fame and let loose the dogs of war.
1T is well. therefore. that America today
has a navy second to none in the world
ships and men capable OF successfully en-
gaging any foe that may appear on the
seas. Let us be thankful, too, that at the