The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-08-24

NhN upuIS OI luSli litctihb NiN
living representatives OF that vast en-
campment honored itself in what II
did. i have pleasure in introducing
to you Major William M. Bostaph, Vice
national commander OF the G. A. r"
Cheers For Bostaph.
Mr. Bostaph then arose to respond
but could not proceed for some time
because of the loud cheering Of the
crowd He said.
y "Mr President, ladies' and Gentle
men, Fellow Citizens
81 am not so vain as TO imagine
that this great demonstration is In
tended for me personally. But | take
1t TO be token OF your appreciation
OF that great organization, the Grand
Army of the Republic, yet number
ing nearly quarter OF million OF
veterans OF the Civil War. who few
days ago were the guests OF Utah
and honored her by electing one of
her citizens TO one of the highest Of
fees In its gift. In its name, | thank
YOU for this magnificent testimony of
your appreciation and patriotism.
"a brief sketch of the events i'm.
mediately- preceding and the causes
which led up TO the formation of this
organization, and the reasons for its
and viii give a clearer view OF some
of the great events of the time.
From the organization under the
constitution up 10 1860. the govern
ment of the United States was domi-
mated TO very large extent by the
slave-holding states. Several clashes
had occurred between the slave and
free elements and various compro-
misses were proposed. all of which
served TO postpone rather than settle
the controversy between the slave and
free states.
up to this time, strange as it may
now appear. the declaration of indie
pendence. on which the government
was founded. and which expressly
stated that all men were created equal
and endowed with certain inalIenable
rights. among which are life, liberty
and the pursuit OF happiness. had
been by a large part of our people
construed to mean white men only.
and the famous decision OF the su.
preme court of the United States IN
the Dred Scott case, wherein 1t was
held In substance that a negro had
no rights; that he was simply chat.
tel to be disposed OF at the viii of his
master. seemed 10 favor this construc.
ti0n OF the declaration of independ-
ence This decision so shocked the
moral sensibilities of the great mass
of the liberJyloylng people of the
Northern states as 10 lead TO the
common declaration that If that Is
the law Of this country, it must be
changed
"Uncle TOMS Cabin"
About the same time appeared that
famous book. Uncle Toms Cabin.
which set out in such Vivid terms the
enormitg OF the crime OF human slay-
cry and added 20 the rising tide of OPP
position TO the slave system; so that
il became evident to the minds oi
thinking men thlt slavery could not
long exist In this government.
The election in 1860 OF the lament
cd Lincoln served notice on the slave
holders that the period Of their doml-
nation was nearing It's end And they
read the signs of the times Alright and
prepared TO separate themselves from
the government OF the United States
and establish q separate government,
In which human slavery was to be the
chief cornerstone, and eleven states
passed articles OF secession. approprI-
ated United States property within
their territory and defied the govern
ment and laws of the United States.
organized armies to resist the enforce
ment of these laws, and the issue OF
union and dlsunion was squarely
joined.
The United States government
called for volunteers to enforce its
laws; armies We're organized, the war
opened and many battles we're fought
without any declaive results: for two
years the issue hung In the balance
However, on the third day OF July,
1863, the great battle of Gettysburg
was won by the Union armies, and on
the same day the secession General
Pemberton was forced TO surrender
Vicksburg and his army of $4,000 men
TO the United States forces. These
two great victories for the Union
turned the tide that finally resulted in
AppomattiX Two years later. and the
total destruction of organized resist
ance TO the authority of the United
States government
Widows and Orphans
The close of the war found scat
tered all over the Northern states
many thousands of widows and or
phans. whose husbands and fathers
had given their lives that the Union
might live. and the Grand Army OF
the Republic came into existence to
care for them ana help the comrades
who were suffering from disease ard
wounds. and the founders of this or
have made this, wl,n the
inculcatlon of love of country and
flag. the chief cornerstone oil the
Grand Army of the Republic. as 1t
has always stood and stands today.
No meeting of Grand Army post
is ever held without inquiry being
made OF the welfare OF needy conf
rades and the widows and orphans of
the deceased soldiers. and assistance
at once rendered where needed, and /,
at every meeting our comraues are re-
minded that the hope OF this republic |
rests on one country and one flag
No man has ever crossed the |
threshold of the Grand Army OF the |
Republic who has borne arms against |
the government of the United States |
And no man has or ever can be admit
ted TO the Grand Army OF the Repub-