The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-31
COMMANDER TN -CHIEF or GAR.
 PRAISES COMRADES FOR THEIR
 RETURN TO PURSUITS OF PEACE
Capt. Montfort Eulogizes Soldiers of the Civil War Who Helped To Rebuild the Nation.

Kansas City. Aug. 31.-Praise for the soldiers of the Civil War, for their return to the pursuits of peace at the conflicts end instead of establishing a military power was sounded by Capt. F. R. Montfort. commander-in-chie of the G. A. R., at it's annual encamp- ment here to-day.
 May wise counsels prevail, and may fraternity. charity and loyalty control our deliberations in every detail of our work" said Capt. Montfort.
 Fifty years have come and gone since our association was founded, and we have gathered in this beautiful city to hold our golden anniversary. The record of a half century since the Civil War has no parallel in the worlds history. The progress and de- velopment in education, in science, in art, in literature, in inventions and in industrial and commercial activi- ties have been marvellous. Our pop ulation has increased more than three fold, until we are the richest and take rank among the foremost nations of the world.
 "Our national domain has been rich ly fertilized with the blood of freemen. You, my comrades, have contributed more to this end than any other class. Because of your labors and sacrifices we have a unified nation. In this service you confirmed the guarantees of our Constitution. You broke the shackles on the limbs of five millions of bondsmen. You taught other na- tions that in this country all men are born free and equal before the law, en- titled to labor and receive the reward of their labor.
 "You did not seek to establish mill itary power, for when the bugle notes of victory were sounded you turned from war to peace. The world mar veled at this sudden transformation. The people of other lands did not un- derstand the educational processes that had developed the vigor and manliness of American character that could make a man a soldier in time of war and quiet citizen in time of peace.
 Let us rejoice that you. my com rades, were able to subdue the pas sions engendered by war. return to the pursuits of peace and begin at once to build on the foundations you had so we'll laid. I congratulate you that so many are yet living to see and and enjoy the unparalleled develop ment of the nation you saved from You planted and have cultivated well the harvest is greater than the planting.
 My comrades. is it not inspiring to know and feel that each and every one of us were a part of that moral force that brought about these glo- rious results? Though our heads may be silvered and our steps tottering. let us keep the Flag flying and lift up our voices with true patriotic fervor for national unity, for equal rights for all men. and for honesty and purity in the State and in the home.
 ''The most beautiful sentiment em- phasized in our. trinity of principles, Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty, is love in action. Moved by this impulse, the strong care for the weak, and so they carry joy and hope to those of our number who need a helping hand as we decline in numbers and strength, we rejoice that our affiliated societies are growing stronger and more active in their tender loving ministrations.
 Memorial Day. with it's precious of heroic service and sacri- flee Is dear to the hearts of our com The time for mourning has It's limitations. Let us rather look upward from the tombs of deceased into the sunlight of the com- ing day of our reunion. Let us raise our blood-stained banner to full mast and rejoice that our dead have not died in vain. Let the Flag symbolic that in laying down their lives they have left rich and lasting legacies for The celebration of Memo .ial Day is the climax of the purest pa triotism. Like pilgrims we gather an- nually at the sacred mounds that cover the ashes of our heroic comrades. Their graves are the earthly altars where we place our lighted candles of patriotism. As we assemble on these occasions, let us pause for ] few moments, dip our flags and with heads, drink in an inspiring 1raught of patriotic devotion to the principles of which they gave their ives, and there, between the living and the dead, have a vision of the Journey from mortality to immortality and, turning from the sacred spot, again resolve that we will renew our to the cause for which they nave the last full measure of their de- yotion."