Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-07-25

rebellion, and he is loyal now. Mr.. Pet
tigru listened to our complaints that our
future looked poor, and that the only
promise held out to us was brevet ma
jor commission and command of some
little post on the New England coast
He told us: Gentlemen, do not be
alarmed there is Providence guides
this world, and you young men will yet
talents to use" His language gave us
encouragement The Mexican war soon
broke out, and | was sent to California,
where, in my wanderings, liaw the first
piece of gold discovered, and watched its
magical effect upon the whole world.
The discovery Of that gold gave millions
to America, and doubt mu ch whether, if
that gold had not been discovered, the
nation would have managed to work out
the problem of finance which the war of
rebellion had raised, and preserved its
present glorious position. That gold gave
us wealth and credit abroad, and strength
and durability that survived the war.
After some years again went South, and
all at once | paused to see and feel in
the very air that we were upon the verge
of sectional war Ihad heard itspoken
Of in Charleston We had laughed and
joked over it at the mess table | had
heard it discussed by politicians. l had
heard Gen. Scott say we were on the eve
of war; but my mind never realized it
until the spring or summer of 1860,
when was in New Orleans
and Baton Rouge Then for
the first time l saw that it was not all
talk. The cry Of wolf, wolf" meant
something, and that civil war was upon
us sure enough. And what has been the
issue You all know it has been short
war to the world at large, but long
enough to us during those dark days
which formed the early part of it | will
not review il. Let history take charge
of it. All l will say is that in that war
arose men, one by one, equal to the
emergency, until the war closed aud the
nation was saved. (Applause.) And
now, young gentlemen, | ask you to
look at these men and your future. They
are like yourselves Look at General
Grant, modest, plain, bold, brave, un-
changing gentleman. with the simple
idea to do what is right and nothing
will turn him aside from that A more
modest man than George Thomas exists
not on earth. If he were present, you
could not begin to get him to stand up
here, and Phil Sheridan would infinitely
rather, with saber in hsnd, ride down the
rebel line than enter this room and stand
in my place. (Cheers.) Gen. Meade is
an accomplished gentlemen and scholar
and would fiji this place far better than
l. (Cheers) Thus you see that during
the war men have risen to the highest
positions, and stand there now, not one
of whom pretends to be above you /;
and this teaches the simple lesson that
with honesty of purpose you can master
every problem you 60 at it with good
purpose and determination to do so.
There is no doubt of that in my judg
ment 1t requires, of course, great in
telect to become renowned Judge or
lawyer or man of science, but for a man
of business for the thousand and one
employments that give tone and temper to
the country, any young man with good,
honest heart, can master them. For the
art of war, in which renown seems thrust
upon us, all that is required is nerve,
honor, courage and faith in the flag that
wins, and wins always, Twill not occupy
more of your time, for ! have seen
ladies and gentlemen standing here for
FIVE long hours, patiently, and You must
be tired ! know you will say amen to
the words | have spoken to these young
men and give them parting and cheer
ful word as they leave your little village
of Hanover and start out into that world,
which is not so dark and full of bad peo-
pie as has been represented. There are
great many good people in the world.
You will find them wherever you go, and
you will find people alike wherever You
go. for they are all pretty much as God
Almighty designed them Therefore,
young gentlemen, wishing you a happy
passage through the sea OF life, / bid you
farewell (Cheers.) ..... .....-