The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-06-27

Welcome home. In behalf. and in the
name OF our State and city, with I'd mirs.
ton for your deeds. with gratitude for
your services, and with hearts joyful at
your return, we welcome you home; We
greet you as brothers.
Yes, Is brothers. For Though 10 have
not the honor of being your brothers in
arms, yet We are your brothers In nation
atty and in one blood.
We greet you as eitisen., for you cess.
ed not to be citizens BY becoming SOL
diers. We greet you, and through 20 4
the whole army. IS soldiers, to whom IN
der Providence we owe continuance Of
the blessings Of free government which
we still enjoy.
We greet you and them. Is those who
have taught the whole world that against
treason at home, and intefferencss from
abroad, Americs can take care Of herself
That no part Of this continent is . stake
to be successfully played for, By the des-
pots of the Old World. or BY partisan
ambition oil the new. That by ! destiny
stronger than governments this country
and continent is to be free; . destiny
which renders the peoples and the gov
ernments of the world willing. though
sometimes unwilling instruments Of its
own success, converting their efforts to
its own ends.
In greeting you y soldiers it is not %
the unthinking, The automston soldiery
Of Europe. bnt ~ the enlightened, free
and thinkiBg soldiery Of this great coun-
try. Who know their eountry's rights and
dare maintain them; who return home 10
your peaceful pursuits, not like the victo
sioss legions Of ambitious Caesar to over
tarn liberty, but toinculcass & the FRI
side and defend 1t the ballot box, the ga
cred principles for which you have fought.
Who with Jour great leaders and your
oompatriots in arms, having been fore
most in war, will nov be- fist in peacs
and in the hearts Of the people.
Yes When with whitsned locks, and
tremnlous knees you are lettering down
to your graves, the multitude will point
70 you with gratitude, As the defenders Of
your country; and children Of children
~ yet unborn, will dwell with pride upon
the glories of Wilson's Greek, of Belmont,
of Shiloh, of Donelson, of Pittsburgh
and Vicksburg. and Chattanooga. sod
Missionary Ridge, and Lookout Noun
tain, Atlanta, aud the long march thence
on to final victory over the rebellion.
Our hearts burned within rs when from
Atlanta you launched out upon the great
sea Of rebellion to carry our Gag TO the
distant shore; for the pillows 81 treason
closed in behind you, IS do the waves Of
old ocean in the wake Of the departing
ship, and shut you out, a. we'll from oui
knowledge us from our sight With suxi.
Gus ears, for weary weeks, We listenhd 70.
the rsspit. Theu, 10 the joyful news
came Ger the wires, of Sherman on tA<
Coast. A cry more grateful to the loyal
heart, thaa that Of chip IN poys. freightsd
With treasured friends, rescued from
stormy deep. For then our EAGLE held
the Reptile In his talons, - Sheridan
and Grant beat back the quailipg foe. in.
70 the loyal net. Then one efy of iov
went up I'll over the land bat while ve
thus rejoice, our hearts still grieve FOR
the los Of the noble dead.
How many empty seats How MANY
lonely frssides! How many bliehAed
hearts have come ont Of this terrible CON !.
test How many fond hopes are drowned
10 this great sea Of blood
To crown al this woe, the nation,s
had was taken away; The great Lin.