The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-10-14
GEN. aurLER.s ORATOR

From thirty to forty thousand people gath
cred at Peoria, Illinois on Thursday. A
monument WAS erected there to Peoria ooun-
TVS eight hundred soldiers dead IN the war
for the Union. Gen. Butter delivered the
Grafton. Here it is
CoaaApls OF THE UNITED STArEs There
would seem to be an appropriate suggestive
ness Of locality and surroundings in asking
me to take part with you in perpetuating the
memories Of the brave soldiers, whose deaths
in preservation Of the integrity OF the Repnb-
lie, we here and now commemorate. l come
at your call from the far East where the blue
waves Of the Atlantic wash the granite based
shores of New England, to aid IN embalmlng
for all time the deeds of the glorious dead Of
the praries Of the West almost as bound
less, but teemiug with vigorous life, fertility
and civilization. This peculiar coincidence Is
OF itself one full of promise for the unity,
strength and perpe,uity of our institutions.
The East answers to the West with the same
spirit of fidelity, loyalty and devotion to the
country in the same love OF kindred institu-
tions with unity Of thought and full hsrmo-
ny of action. Having lived in the State, aye,
in the very county where--at Lexington--is
raised q monument to record the hrst blood
Of the revolutions, shed by forces of the Brit
ish ministry at Concord, where the first armed
resistance was made TO British aggression at
Charlestcwn, the first burning sacrifice Of
the country to British brutality; where the
granite shaft pierces the sky to mark the first
victory Of the revolution ct Bunker bill IN
| Lowell, the city where loyal hands and long
ing hearts have erected memorial stone to
its citizen soidiers-Ladd and Whitney-the
first martyrs to the accursed spirit OF rebel.
| II. ELI - .l he rob IN
defend the national capital, under the COM
mand Of him who addresses you. Thus
mine!ing the recollections Of the war of In
dependence with the deeds Of war ofpreserva
ton, is there not . peculiar significance IN
your invitation to meet my comrades here te
do honor to Ave thousand soldiers who wen
forth from one only Of the central counties
Of the State Of Illinois, more than eight hun
dred of whose names are inscribed upon thi,
shaft as DYING in the noblest cause for which
men ever fought That each and all Of these
revolutionary monuments OF valor were dedi
Gated to commemorate the heroism of ths
common soldier, over the first MARTYR in ths
cause of liberty and right. is most suggestive
that the gratitude of the Republic will, as i
ought to be paid to those. her defenders, wht
in the ranks with the musket in hand, haver-
sack at side. and knapsack on the shoulder
try, to meet dangers, privations and dealt
itself.
For the few moments that are permitted Il
rs there car be no higher subject or thought
no grander theme of contemplation, no more
glorious topic Of eulogy, than the patriotism
} courage. cons,aney, fidelity, and loyalty o
her soldiers in the ranks.
First, consider how, in the dark hour o
the Republic, when officers of the Regula
Army, educated at the expense of the coun
: try. bound by Its benefits conferred upor
them, by the high honor of their profession
by the rewards in store for their truth anc
adherence to the flag, under which they hao
been nurtured, resigned their commission,
TO take command in the armed traitorous for,
ces of those in rebellion against their coun.
try that no private soldier of the regular
army was found faithess to his enlistment
What glorious spectacle do these true sold
ers present? While many of their officeri
at the distant military posts of the Republic
we're rushing headlong into the arms oftrea'
son, We saw these nameless heroes struggling
through the swamps and piodding their weary
way over the dusty. hungry plain. TO rejoir
the ranks OF their country, or starving In the
prisons ofTexss, TO which treachery had con
signed them. in unfaltering devotion 10 its
flag Again. the cry that armed treason as
sailed the Government went forth over hill.
top, valley and plain Without hope of per.
sonal glory save the glorious death of the
battle field, or honor save that which a CRATE
full country now pays TO loyalty and courage
without reward save the reward of we'll doing
All over the teeming prairies of the West
amid the broken bills Of New England, and
the fertile fields of the Middle States the pri
vate soldiers rushed to arms with unanimi
ty only equalled when the Highlander an
swered the summons of the fiery cross of hi.
cheftain to maintain the honor of his faml,
and clan.
Pause we here, for no more Instructive OF
sublime sight shall ever greet mortal vision
than citizen trained solely to the arts o.
peace, surrounded by all the comforts of civ
iization, which an endeared home, prattine
babies, loving wife, fond mother, ano
perhaps dependent father; see him as hi
steps forth from his hear,h>stone and roof
free to leave all, fired by patriotic devotion
10 the demand Of his country need. Follow
him through the dull wearisome routine o.
the camp oil instruction; trace him by ths
perpetual priyaisons of the march sss bin
: in the bardships Of the bivouac, in the storm
and in rain behold him, oil unused 70 th.
horrors of death, as he bares his bosom t.
the bullet and bayonet Of the enemy II tAs
Geld OF mortal strife, bear himself a. nobl,
- did the chosen Knights Of Spain q TIE,
stood in the Roncesyalles Pass III defeuct 3
1 their native land or watch him when, b,
fortune Of war, doomed to , living death il
me murossous Prise peuo q boIlo Isle and
Andersonviils, he bears all its protraetes
Z agonies that his country might iivS. =
, - better soldiers svos m6arsd ~ ~
soa.e1y 10 btase AeA ever tsade beRSe
SOLDIER; and Why? Because each felt Ina