American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-06-29
ysresilent Lincoln al the Fair.

Esresident Lincoln at the Fair.
President Lincoln arrived in Philadel
mia on Thursday last. lie was greeted
every where with the most bouadless en-
thusiasm. AT the FaH he was welcomed
bv Mr.. Welsh, and he repliedsas follows
81 suppose that tfis toast was intended
to open The way for me to say something
[Laughter-l War, at the best, is terri
Bile, and ,his war Of ours, in its magni-
tude and in its duration, is one of the
most terrible 1t has deranged business,
totally in many localities. It has destroy
ed property, and ruined homes; it has
produced national debt and taxation
unprecedented at least in this country. Ii
has carried mourning to almost every
home, until it can almost be said that the
{" heavens are hung in black. Yeti con
tiuues, and several relieving coincidcnts
have accompanied IL from the very begin
ning. which have not been known, as |
understood, or have any knowledge OF, in
any former wars in the history of the
world The Sanitary Commission, With
all its benevolent labors the Christian
Commission, with all its Christian and be-
nevocnt labors, and the various places,
arrangements, so tospeak, and institutions
have contributedt 70 the comfort and relet
of the soldiers. You have two OF these
places in this city-the Cooper-Shop and
Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloons.
rGreat applause and cheers.] And last
", these fairs which, believe, begun
only in last August, il | mistake not, in
Chicago; then at Boston, at Cincinnati,
Brooklyn, New York, at Baltimore, and
those at present held at st. Louis, Pitts
burgh, and Philadelphia. The motive
and object that lie at the bottom of all
these are most worthy; for, sag what You
will, after all the most is due to the sold
Ter. who takes his life in his hands and
goes to fight the battles Of his country.
| ICheers. In what is contributed to
his comfort when he passes to and fro,
and in what is contributed to him when
he is sick and wounded, in whateyershape
it comes, whether from the fair and ten
der hand of woman, or from any other
source. is much; but, | think there is
stin that which has as much value to him
-he isnot forgotten Cheers, Anoth-
or view of these various institutions is
worthy Of consideration, | think they
are voluntary contributions, given freely,
zealously, and earnestly, on top Of all the
disturbances of business, the taxation and
burdens that the war has imposed upon us,
giving proof that the national resources
are not at all exausted. [cheers; that the
national spirit of patriotism is even stron-
ger than at the commencementof the re-
bellion.
1t is pertinent question often asked
in the mind privately, and from one tothe
other, when is the war to end2 Surely
feel as deep an interest in this question as
any other can, but do not wish to name
day, or month, or year when ii is to
end lido not wish to runany risk Of see
ing tho time come without our being ready
forthe end, and for fear Of disappointment,
because the time had come and not the
end. We accepted this war for an object,
a worthy object, and the warwill end
when that object is attained. Under God,
| hope it never will until that time.
] NltbJ tAiVtAANE iHtS war hdN ldhCl
three years; it was begun or accepted
upon the line Of restoring the national do
main, and for the American people, as far
as my knowledge enables me to speak, |
say wcare going. [Chcers.l My friends,
! did not know but that ! might be called
upon to say few wordsBefore getaway
from here, but | did not know it was com
ing just here. Laughter have new
cr been in the habit Of making predic-
tioHs in regard to the war, but am al
most tempted tomake one. If | were to
hazard it, it is this: That Grant is this
evening, with Gen. Meade and Gen. Ham
cock, Of Pennsylvania, and the brave off
GERS and soldiers with him, in aposition
from whence he will never be disloged
until Richmond is taken loud cheering |,
and have but one single proposition to
put now, and, perhaps, can best put it in
form Of an interrogative If | shall dis.
cover that Gen. Grant and the noble off
GERS and men under him can be greatly
facilitated in their work by sudden pour
ing forward of men and Assistance. Then,
say, stand ready, for | am watching for
the chance. Laughter.l I thank you
gentlemen