The Washington herald., 1909-07-04
HIGH TRIBUTE PAID
FOUNDER OF GAR.
Continued from Page One.

spoke OF the foundation OF the C. A. r.
IN 1856 by Dr. Stephenson, following the
good work its members had done IN the
civil war. He said:
The three figures in bronze upon the
sides OF this monument, representing car
dinal principles OF the Grand Army Of the
Republic, are the principles upon which
Dr. Stephenson founded this great or
ganization.
From time immemoriai monuments
have been erected. IN one form or another.
commemorative OF men and women who,
by energy. industry. and perseverance in
the activities OF their lives. have made
their names memorable IN various walks
Of life"
Speaking then OF the work OF Washing
ton and other founders Of the republic, he
traced down 20 the opening OF the civil
war the growth OF the country.
In the Northern States he continued.
there were many who loved party and
party power and party supremacy better
than they loved the Union; many who
openly avowed that our fathers Consti-
tuition was a worthless rag; that under Il
the government had no right 10 coerce a
rebelliOus State or States. But when
Abraham Lincoln called for men TO en-
force the law they responded by thou
sands and hundreds OF thousands"
The cord which let the three large
American flags fall away from the shaft
and rise 10 a wire above was pulled BY
Mrs. Grace Ross Van Casteel. Mrs Anna
Grant Fugitt. accompanied by the Ma
rine Band, sang The Star SpangIed
Banner and. later IN the programme,
'Tenting on the Old Camp Ground"
Wreaths were laid at the base Of the
memorial by Miss NJ. Genevieve Spencer.
Mrs. Hester TritipOe. and Miss Emma
f. Hayward. Miss Marie Clendaniel pre-
sented a bouquet to the President
The Presidents Address
In accepting the memorial on behalf
OF the nation. President Taft said, in
part.
We are met TO dedicate q memorial 10
a Union soldier who served four years as
a surgeon In the ciyE war and who also
builded an institution By which there
should be united in the bonds OF fellow
ship all the sweet associations. all the
deep lessons OF loyalty. and all the pride
or patriotism that such a civil war as that
could arouse in millions OF hearts.
~ AlNA men al LiG LOILAaLlhE nNEAOQ OF
hfe-from eighteen 20 tweEty-two-are as
scciated in any work. whether IL be IN
college. in society, in church. or other
wise. they carry with them afterward the
fondest memories and associations for
each other because they have 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 war; those who survived think
Ing Of the tender memories OF those who
gave up their lives for their country:
those surviving caII'ing with them the
sweet association, the stories OF courage
and tales full Of humOr and pathos.
j can conceive no bond OF union strong
er than that which unites the men who
fought from 81 20 s. IN the Grand Arny.
and II was 10 the credit OF the founder OF
the Grand Army cf the Republic that he
saw the solid basis upon which such a
structure as thar great society could be
erected
You VIII recoliect that there were
prophets OF evil with respect 10 the fate
OF the United States after the war should
cease. after the end should be accom-
pishec Tor which the North was iChting.
and IL was said that the aggregation OF a
million men in arms threatened our free
They recolIect that the Pre-
torlan guard o. Rome was an instrument
Ia furthering the ambition OF those who
would suppress free institutions and Who
were 70 assume despotic power. But all
those prophecies faded into nothingress
The men who composed that million
We're men in favor OF free institutions.
who had fought or them. and did not In
tend 20 sacrifice therl 70 anything else
There was no man with the ambition
90 improve that army as an instrument
or despc.tSm even II q had been willing
10 furnish itself as such: and so IL was
the marvel OF other countries that this
great body OF organized force. than which
there never was a stronger or better
disciplined army faded out and diSap-
pesred into the paths or peace. preserv-
ing nothing but the sweet memory and
association they had formed during the
war, ana the consciousness that they
had IN their own hearts OF having rem
dered that greatest service. 10 wit-the
preservation of their country.
Organized the G. 4. r.
Stephenson organized this G. A. R.
20 preserve the essense Of that army IN
its finest characteristics. IN its democra-
cy. and in its patriotism. Far be II from
me 10 criticize IN the slightest such or
EanizatiOns as the Cincinnati and the
Loyal Legion. They are great organiza-
tons. and those who belong TO them may
we'll have pride IN them. but the Grand
Army OF the Republic knows ns Hmita-
tlon but service 10 the government in
the civil war. and. therefore. il is that
Congress. recognizing the usefulness OF
such an organization in preserving pa
n maintaining IL IN It's inten-
sity during those years when commercial
greed seemed 10 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 national recognition.
More than that, the G. A. r. is most
useful IN this: II represents the concen-
trated opinion Of the men who fought in
the war 20 preserve the Union. and IL.
therefore, may give authoritative eXpres-
sion which no other body and no other
part Of the people can give 20 that for
getfulness OF the bitterness OF the strife
which existed during the four years Ot
the war. am glad 10 say that while
that bitterness may In rev instances
obtain. YOU will never find II 10 exist be
tween the men who actually exposed
their lives on one side and the men who
exposed their lives on the other. The
union OF the two sections has been mold
ed strongly. and more strongly by those
which ought to be encouraged
between the Blue and ray 10 occur as
often as possible.
Even within my recollection on Occa-
sions like this and on Memorial Day and
on the Fourths OF July I have seen the
ranks Of the Grand Army thinned. l
know there are many who by jaunty step
and by keeping their hats on are able 70
deceive the people as 10 their age. but
the fact Is that those ranks are thinning
from day 10 day: perhaps hundred a
laY are going 70 their long home