Year: 1873

veterans OF the Mexican Var.


Invited Guests


The route was up Broadway to Union Square,
through Fourteenth street to Broadway again, to
Madison square around the Worth monument,
down TO Twenty third street to Fourth avenue, to
cooper Institute. To the shame OF the business
men along the line on Broadway bent said, not over
half dozen flags were displayed from the build
lngs from one end OF 1t to the other. and yet TINS
shabbiness could not have been the result OF
Ssa na 9 omg "o Ge,orf aae
way from the City Hall Park, the sidewalks
were lined with crowds IN anticipation OF
its coming, and the storekeepers were, therefore,
forewarned. All the way up Broadway one mishap
after another occurred to mar the general appear
arce OF ane M r Swe Reepnr E t the oate ea
Whoever had the management OF TINS part OF the
day's doings deserves the contempt or everybody
VINO turned out to witness the procession; for at
almost every two blocks the military had to come
to q dead halt TO allow time for policeman to get
a dray or O butcher wagon or stage out OF the
way. Indeed, from Duane street up to Fourteenth
street the militia men, the marines and the bands
men the greater part OF the time had TO march
'by fours." for no other reason than that the en-
tire route was fringed, on both sides with stages
and all sorts OF vehicles. AT some blocks convey
ances, two ana three deep on one side Of the
'.ours" TO break into "twos." This downright
naturally robbed the parade OF much OF its
time, a long-drawn-out string OF men strug-
Cling TO preserve something like mill
tary line OF parade. However, the good
great deal for the want OF attention paid TO the
veterans by the police authorities, and at every
block they and their escort were greeted with
clapping OF hands and the waving OF handkerchiels
The young looking appearance OF the ''vets" ap.
peared to strike the spectators with something
that they occasionally INDUCED in as the process
sion moved along. The majority had eyi-
denly the idea Of the
AS they were made up with here and there an ex-
cepuon, OF hale and hearty looking men, some Of
them with not gray hair in their head, and whose
step seemed as elastic as the youngest and frisk-
lest militia mans in town, the spectators doubt
less understood, before the parade was over that
they had made big mistake as to what consti-
tutes an American relic of the Mexican war.


AS the procession debouched into Fourteenth
street the crowds on the sidewalks became denser
and, when the Worth Monument was reached,


THE. SPECTATORS


near the square were found to be the most enthu-
slastic yet met wlth as the veterans were greeted
with three good rOusing, hearty cheers. AS to the
parade itself it was really an attractive one, even
with the drawback OF the bad police arrangements
it had to contend it. The men of the Third art.
lery, in their neat and natty uniforms OF dark
blue with red acings, and their helmets, with red
pendants, were the cynOsure OF all eyes. 1t did
not seem to be generally known that the guns of
the battery they had charge OF were the self same
G old at aaSe
the "greasers" "a little more graper on
memorable occasion during the Mexican
public admiration with the arterymen. Three
veterans, who belonged TO the battery In 1847 and
who, Judging from their miserable appearance as
to clothing, have never as yet got dollar or pen-
sion from the government, were given seats on two
OF the caissons. The 'od salts" who fought in the
war, and who had place OF honor IN the process
sion, also attracted considerable attention. The
battalion of the National Guard, made up OF two
one OF the Seventy-frs made very fine appear
ance, and did much TO add to the general attrac-
tlveness OF the parade.


AT THE COOPER UNION


1t was nearly hali-past lour O'Clock before the
head of the column reached Cooper Union, and not
until it did were the doors thrown open to the
invited guests who had patiently stood on the side.
walk for full hour waiting for the iron gates to
swing back on their hinges However, once they
walk or the patient walters for they were not, all
told, over 200 in number. When the veterans and
their escort got well seated (atter the ladies
present had been allotted the front row The
hall was about one-halt filled. There was no deco
ration whatever on the walls and the more dis
tingushed veterans alone formed the bright,
brilliant attraction on the platform. AS one alter
another OF the veterans, now celebrated in the
various departments of life, made his appearance
on the stage he was greeted with a round of an.
plause Mayor Havemeyer was very enthusiastic
cally cheered as he took his seat but 1t fell TO the
lot OF General Hooker to become


LION OF THE DAY.


His appearance was the signal for the widest
demonstrations of enthusiasm. The entire audi
ence rose TO their feet as one man, and for min
ute or so the cheering was perfectly deaenlng.
General Cadwallader, Lieutenant Governor Robin
son, Commodore Walsh and other veterans, who
were recognized by their old comrades in the audi
ence, were also the recipients OF warm brotherly
greeting of that hearty, whole kind which
only soldiers know how to give so heartily and
other soldiers know how TO appreciate II. After
quiet nad been restored General Hooker came for
ward, amid scene OF the widest enthusiasm. and
stood at the front OF the platform ready to open
the meeting; but he had to bide his time for the
audience would have their way about it, and they
only gave up their cheering apparently when tney
had exhausted themselves. The General seemed
to be much affected, and when the huzzaing ceased
he said


eprrcr M GEypP AT UooRru


Inspired by your acclamations, ladies' and gentle
men, | am carried almost to heaven. l wish
deserved it at all II have done anything Of
credit to my country l am thankful for 1t. am
thankful to my country. In doing whatever have
done, only did what America expects every
American to do loud cheers) am not here to
talk, for am no talker; IN fact am not familiar
and can't be made TO be one. Gaughter1 lam
here to listen. You win hear from the Mayor OF
that Il was We he wness Taa tosy
and has inspired il IN such way
that hope It will last forever. tApplause;) The
OF, and some day 1t Will be talked about and
of more than now. (Cheers.) In its
achievement 1t was grand; in its consequences it
was grander STILL II gave 70 Us California and
other soil teeming with wealth, and opened to us
the commerce OF the East; and opened it up 70 us
In such way, that We can control 1t for our.
selves.n


The General again thanked the audience for the
kindness manifested toward him, and then intro
uuCeQ Mayor HaVellaycT.


OTHER SPEECHES.


The Mayor on coming forward was warmly
applauded He said that in selecting him to pre-
side, the meeting had conferred upon him an honor
that he was very proud OF. 1t was pleasant 10 look
on So many familiar aCes, Tor the faces OF many OF
the veterans before him were familiar to him, as
he and they had met together before. (Cheers.)
Time, however, had made many changes since the
last time they had met, and he doubted but Tor the
spirit engendered by the cause which had again
brought them together, whether he could have
but a very few OF his Old friends.


Mr.. Havemeyer then introduced the orator OF the
day, Mr.. Charles w. Brooke, who spoke Tor nearly
three quarters OF an hour In an eloquent strain
upon the Mexican war, and the benefits the United
states had derived from ic The Grafton mainly
consisted Of sketch OF the triumphant march or
the American army through Mexico, interspersed
with feeling allusons TO the various battles which
were fought, and the men who fought In them. lie
was loudly appauded at It's close.


The Grafton being over, loud calls were made for
several persons on the platform for q speech and
the audience finally induced Lieutenant Governor
Robinson To make a few remarks They were short
and pithy, and he concluded by asking three cheers
for the man whose name had not been mentioned
durlng the entre proceedings, and yet who had dis
tinguisned himself In the Mexican war-the Presi-