Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-04-20
speech of GenernI RutIer.

At the recent grest meeting at the New
York Custom House, held on receipt of the
news of the Presidents murder, General
Butler made the following eloquent and
powerful speech. We commend it to uni
versal perussl
FELLOW CITIZENS: But day or two
since we assembled throughout the nation
in Joy, gladncss, and triumph at the sue
cess of the armies of the Republic which
opened 20 us the promise of a glorious
peace and happy country in the future.
These flags, now the tokens of mourning,
were then raised IN glsdness. To. day, in
short hour, we assemble to mingle our
griet with that of the loved ones at home,
who mourn the honest man, the incorrupt-
ible patriot, the great statesman, the savior
of his country in its crisis Abraham Lin
coin, struck down by the hand of an sssas-
sin. And while with reverence we look to
God TO overrule this dispensstion for our
good, we mingle cur tears together as
nation for the loss, as we find the hearts cf
those around hin melted in sadness, yet
TO us there is a higher, sterner duty, and
that is to see that his death is not lost TO
the country. Othor Tebellions in other
countries have heretofore almost ever been
insugurated by the ssssssin's knife. 1t is
left for us to exhibit the spec
tscle of q rebellion crushed in its
body, crushed in its strength, crush
ed IN its blood, crushed in its bones, re-
vivifying its soul by assassination and DEATH
(SensstioD.) And, with blind hate which
has ever characterized It's purpose, it has
struck down in cold silence the most for
giving, the most lenient, the most gracious
friend that the misguided men of the re-
bellioa ever had in this country. (Cheers J
If Rebellion can do this to the good, the
great, the wise, the kind, The benevolent
what does it teach US we ought TO do 10 those
who from high places incite the ssssssin's
mind aud guide the easssssin's knife. (Cheers,
and cries Of TO ahead on thatl') Shall
we content our elves with n erely crushing
out the strength, the power, the material
resources Of the rebellion (Shouts of GNo /
Nol' Shall we leave its spirit and soul
unsubdusd TO light the torch in this city,
and fire the pistol in the capital st all the
! GOO d and grest2 (Cries of "Nol") Are we
TO have peace In fact or only in name
(Cries Of "In fact, in fact Is the nstion
hereafter TO be peaeeable2 Are the aVocs-
tions of life 70 go on, each man going about
without fear and without dread, or are we,
in condition 20 rival hereafter the tales we
hsve heard of the Old World, where every
man feared his neighbor, and no man went
about except armed to the teeth or clad in
psnoply of steel2 This is the question that
is to be decided this dsy, aye, this hour By
the American people. And perhaps may
say, reverently, that this dispensstion of
Gods good providence is sent to teach US
that the spirit of the rebellion has not been
broken by the surrender of its srmies.-
And, my friends, echoing the words OF tbe
last speaker, 1 would say be of good heart.
There is no occasion for dependency. A
grest, q good man, has gone in the fulIness
OF his fame, in the height of his glory, to
| Join the ssges and patriots of the Revolu-
tionsry days. His life was saved four
years sgo when it was needed, when he
went through Baltimore, and the waves of
the rebellion we're beating around him.
Then he was spared t. the country. But
now his work is done; and it remains for
US to do that which was left for Us to do in
the same direction. He has driven out the
life and spirit, and we must look after the
soul of the Rebellion. (Cheers.) And
an glad to speak here, 70 assure you, what
L know to be the sentiment Of the present
President # the United States, who has
succeeded BY this great difpensstion Of
Providence TO the highest place on Earth,