Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-04
IAEI HUNUKS
OLD SOLDIER
Granite Monument at Washington to
Commemorate Major Stephenson,
Who Started G. A. R.
PRESIDENT CHIEF SPEAKER
Joins in Tribute to Veterans of the
Civil War.
RECALL EARLY'S FAMOUS RAID
Celebration on Street Where He
Advanced on Washington.
RECALL EARLY's FAMOUS RAID
GRAND COMMANDERS SPEECH
Eloquent Phrase He Refers TO
Heroic Deeds of Those Who suf-
fered and Died for the IS
Union Cause.

Ahlon CauHe.
WASHINGTON, July 3.-Decaring that
unlike the Pretorian guard Of Rome, the
men who made up the union forces during
the civil war were In favor of free institu-
lions, that they fought for them and did
not intend to sacrifice them to anything
else, President Taft today, as the principal
speaker at the unveiling of memorial to
DR. Benjamin Franklin Stephenson, founder
or the Grand Army of the Republic paid
a glowing tribute to that organization.
Congress contributed to the cost of the me-
mortal
President Taft said he was present in his
official capacity. He spoke as follows
we are met to dedicate a memorial to
union soldier, who served four years in
the civil war. and also who built an ins,i-
tuition by which there should be united in
the bonds Of fellowship and sweet associa-
ton all the deep lessons of loyalty and all
the pride OF patriotism that such war
as that could arouse in millions OF hearts,
Formative Periods Memories.
When men at the formative period IN
llfe-trom IS to Pare associated in any
work whether It be in college, in society,
In church or otherwise, they carry with
htiN-h hANti Wdiu Nnt lOnQeSl memories anu
associations for each other because rhey
iave passed through a common mold.
But how much greater must be the
sweet association and the bond of union
between men who for four years passed
through the dangers of the civil waIV those
who survived thinking of the tender mem
orles ot Of those who gave up their lives
for their country. those surviving carry
I'M With them tho fwcet association the
stories OF courage and tales full of humor
and of pathos
'I can conceive no bond OF union stronger
than that which unites the men who
fought from 81 to 'e5 in the Grand Army;
and II was to the credit Of the founder OF
the Grand Army of the Republic that he
saw the solid basis upon which such
structure as that Grcat-Society could be
erected.
Prophets of Evil.
"You win recorect thet there \were
prohphets Of evil with respect to the fate
OF the United States after the war should
~uso. after the end sho "a b. accomplish d.
FOR which the north was fighting and It
was said that the aggregation of 1000 900
rren in arms threatened our free nstitu-
tors. They recalled that the pretorian
guard Of Rome was an instrument In
f,rthering the ambition OF those who would
suppress free institutions and who were
70 assume despotc power.
But all those prophecies faded into
notblngness. The men who composed that
uilion were men in favor OF free institu-
ucns who had fought for them and did
not intend to sacrifice them to anything
else There was no man with the ambition
10 use that army an instrument or
despotism even II 1t had been willing TO
furnish itself as such and so 1t was the
marvel OF other countries that this great
body Of organized force than which there
mover was a stronger or better dscipiined
army. faded out and disappeared into the
paths OF peace. preserving nothing but the
sweet memory and association they had
formed during the war and the conscious
ness THAI thev had in their own hearts
having rendered that greatest service to-
Wit: The preservation of their country.
Tribute 10 Stephenson.
Stephenson organized this Grand Army
OF the Republic TO preserve the essence OF
hat army in its finest characteristic. in its
democracy and in its patriotism.
Far be IL from me to critcise in the
slightest such organizations as the Gin
cinnati and Loyal Legion. They are great
organizations. and those who belong 70
them may well have pride IN them But
the Grand Army OF the Republic knows no
limitation but service to the government In
the civil war
There Il is that congress, recognizing the
usefulness OF such an organization in pre-
serving patriotism, I'm maintaining II In its
Intensity during these years when CONNER
oAai ereed seemed to make many people for
get it. properly contributed $4,000 to this
memorial and recognized the Grand Army
OF the Republic as an institution which
may well have national gratitude and ma
ttonal recognition.
"Nore than that, the Grand Army OF the
Republic is most useful In this II repre-
sents the opinion of the men who fought IN
the war Ia preserve the union and 1t
therefore, may give authoritative expression
which no other body and no other part OF
The people can give towit: Forgettulness
of the bitterness of the strife which eX-
isted during the four years of the war,
bitterness IL Past.
..I am glad to say while that bitterness
NAV I'm a few Instances obtain you VIII
never find il to exist between the men who
actually exposed their lives on cne side
end the men who exposed their lives on the
other. The union Of the two sections has
besn nodded strongly and more strongly
by those meetings which ought TO be en-
eouraged between the blue and the gray
10 occur as often possible
Even within my recollection on occasions
IKE this ana on Memorial day and on
Fourth OF July, have seen the ranks OF
The Grand Army thinned. l know there
are many who with jeunty step and keep
ing their hats on rather tend 10 deceive the
neople as TO their age; but the fact is that
those ranks are thinning from day to dayi
nerhAps a hundred dSy are going to
their long home. Il is fitting that such an
association which in the course OF the
nsxt generation will pass away should
nave such an enduring monument as this
80 testify not only to the patriotic service
tbat they rendered during the war but
also 20 the service TO the country that they