The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1915-10-01
Will SON GREETED BY
q. A. r. VETERANS
Survivors OF Both Sides May Be
Proud of Civil War Which
Produced Permanent Union.
Ready TO Aid Wilson.

Washington, Sept. 2S.-Veterans OF
the Civil war here for the annual
encampment of the Grand Army of
the Republic were formally well
coined to the capital tonight by Pres
ident Wilson, who told them their bat
ties SO years ago were fought that
the greatest instrumentality for the
uplift of mankind the world has ever
seen might not be impaired.
The president spoke amid scenes of
patriotic fervor in the crowded con-
vention hall into which the old CEN
sus building had been converted. Col
David j. Palmer, commander-in-
chief of the G. A. R., introduced him
amid thunderous cheering and in
formed him that the veterans stood
solidly behind the administrations
conduct of the present day foreign
problems and that their sons would
support him in any steps he might
take.
Mission of United States.
The president was frequently in
terrupted by applause as he spoke to
the veterans, their families and
friends. He did not touch directly on
the European war, or on problem
growing out of it, but devoted his ad-
dress to the mission of the United
States and the lessons taught by the
Civil war. He spoke of the war as
one of the few in history of which
both sides could be proud.
The meeting marked the formal
opening of the Grand army encamp-
ment, which will continue during the
remainder of the week, with the
great parade and presidential review
tomorrow.
Presidents Address.
The presidents address in part fol-
lows:
cit is singular thing that men of
single generation should have wit
messed what you have witnessed in
the crowded so years which you cele-
brate tonight. You took part when
you were young men in struggle,
the meaning of which I dare say you
thought would not be revealed during
your lifetime, and yet more has hap
pened in the making of this nation in
= yvs,-- ttfetjmer ti,n~has ever happened
in the making of any other nation in
the lifetime of dozen generations.
Nations Growth.
"The nation in which you now live
is not the nation for whose union you
fought. You have seen many things
which have made this nation one of
the representations nations of the
world with regard to the modern
spirit of that world, and you have the
satisfaction which 1 dare say few SOL
diers have ever had, of looking back
upon war absolutely unique in this,
that instead of destroying it healed,
that instead of making permanent di-
vision it made permanent union.
This nation was from the beginning
spiritual enterprise, and you have
seen the spirits of the two once di-
vided sections of this country abso-
lutely united. A war which seemed
as if it had the seed of every kind of
bitterness in it has seen single gen
Grafton put bitterness absolutely out
of it's heart, and you feel, as | am
feel, that you were comrades even
then, though you did not know it,
and that now you know that you are
comrades in a common love for a
country which you are equally eager
to serve.
Pride for Both Sides.
"This is miracle of the spirit, so
far as national history is concerned.
This is one of the very few wars in
which in one sense everybody en-
gagged may take pride. Some wars
ale to be regretted; some wars mar
the annals of history; but SOM wars
contrasted with those make those an
nails distinguished, show that the
spirit of man sometimes springs to
great enterprises that are even
greater than his own mind had con-
ceived.
"You set the nation free for that
great career of development, of un-
hampered development, which the
world has witnessed since the Civil
war. But for my own part | would
not be proud of the extraordinary
physical development of this country,
of it's extraordinary development in
material wealth and financial power,
did | not believe that the people of
the United States wished all of this
power devoted to ideal ends. There
have been other nations as rich as
we; there have been other nations as
powerful; there have been other ma
tions as spirited; but hope we shall
never forget that we created this ma
ton, not to serve ourselves, but to
serve mankind.
To Promote Human Right.
81 hope l may say without even an
implication of criticism upon any 9th