The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1867-09-19
GEN. LOGAN Ar TOLEDO.

/ Lake Erie was celebrated at Toledo, on
the 10th inst, by soldiers reunion, un
der tn. auspices Of the Grand Army OF
the Republic, Gen John A. Logan. o
Illinois, being the principal speaker. a
/ special to the Cincinnati Gazette gives
the following report of Gen, Logan
| speech
| 1t was, he said, great pleasure to him
to see so many present, especially to see
them assembled for the purpose Of show
1 ing charity to the orphans and widows OF
the fallen heroes of the late war on the
day that has been made memorable by
1 the contest on the waters near by, IN
which Perry gained glorious victory.
I When it is considered the great debt we
owe to those who were made helpless by
the fortunes of war, it becomes duty
that ought to be pleasing to all men to
pcrsarm.
| If We contemplate the blessings Of the
great country. the rights and privileges
we enjoy, aud the struggle through which
we have passed to preserve them, this
men, liberty of conscience, liberty in Its
{ broadcast acceptance, with its fertility, its
beauty and grandeur, and ask ourselves
to whom we are indebted for all these
blessings, the answer must be in one
word: To the soldiers From the revo-
lutionary struggle, when our fathers bore
| the starry emblem of the young Repub
lie over mountain heights and lengthened
plains, establishing it among the nations
OF the earth. down to the present time,
we are Indebted to soldiers for all the
rights ana privileges we enjoy. If this
be so, then, it is the duty of each and
every one of us to meet, on days like this
around the festive board, and send up
prayers to heaven that these blessings
| may De preserved to future generations
1t IS we'll to inquire on such occasions
what was the cause that led to this state
Of things. Why have We these widows
and orphans among Us? Tis because of
the war that has been going on in the
land, a war between two great political
elements Of this country, republican lib
erty and freedom against principle Of
aristocracy that claims the right to exer-
else all the powers OF Government. Not
many years have gone by since We first
found treason in this land, but it was
crushed out. For time it claimed the
right not only to own persons and traffic
in, human blood, but to extend its insti-
tutions over the whole land. It was this
idea that caused the bloody rebellion
through which we have passed 1t is
not true that the war was produced by
agitation on the part of the Northern
men. 1t Is not true that the principles
OF liberty and justice to all men, which
runs hand in hand with Christianity and
virtue, ever produces war and bloodshed
III the earth. 1t is oppression that brings
about war. 1t brought about this war.
When the power passed from the
hand, Of those men who had controlled
the Government for an age, they were
unwilling to take back seats for little
while, and they rebelled against the law
fll Government. Let me ask again il
you eyer saw q leader in this rebellion
who was not leader In the Democratic
party. 1t you never have, if these
things are SO. it ought to be a sufficient
reason for every Conscientious man to
/ leave shat disloyal, rotten, and disorgan-
lzed party In 1916 the Dem aeratic
party claimed to be war party. When
ever an outrage was committed against
the Government, and up to 1860, there
Was hardly democratic orator in the
North but would wind up his speech al
ways with something glowing and glitter
ing in reference to the pernlauency OF the
Government. | was glad to hear it al
ways. | used to adopt such language
myself. But let US see what their con
duet was during the war. There were
TWO great parties, one Democratic and
tie other Republican The leaders of
tehe Republican party, rank and file every
where, went through the country saying
there vas no peace, and could be none
until the rebellion was put down by the
tod you that they were willing to give
men and money for the purpose of the
! preservation Of the Union intact, not for
| the purpose alone Of uniting the States
again, but for the purpose OF Furnishing
treason, and making it odious In this
land for the purpose of preserving the
Constitution and the flag of our country,
Land requiring each and every citizen OF
this land to yield willing obedience to
those laws enacted By the representatives
of the country. The Democrats said
peace cannot be restored 10y war: that
four years of war had failed to bring
peace, and denounced the Union party,
and declared 1t wrong to fight the men
of the South, because they were contend
ing for principle, the same as we were.
We thought differently. We thought
this country was worth saving, and We
didn't think rebels were worth saving.
You say there were Democrats iii the war
as well as Republicans. Nobody denies
it. But the Republican party saved the
country, and no Democrat can deny it,
because, in 1864, the Democratic party,
in solemn convention. declared the war
failure, and that it ought to cease. If it
had ceased then. the country would have
been divided, and the Republic destroy
ed and if they saved it from destruction
are they not entitled to be trusted with
its preservation now? But they say the
States were never out of the Union. |
will not discuss this with Democrats
further than to say that, if the rebel
States were not out of the Union, it is
very evident the Union was all out of
them. And there is another thing, If
these States were not out Of the Union
for nearly FIVE years, we are not indebted to
the Democratic party for their staying in.
If they are in the Union to-day. it is not
by the designs of the leaders of the Dem
ocratlc party, but because they could not
get out, because there was such wall OF
bayonets held by the boys in blue that
they could not make breach through it.
How are we going to reorganize these
States? Just as we would organize any
community or political society, leaving
horse thieves and burglars and incendi-
aries outside. We viii organize them
with loyal people, such as can be trusted
with the rights of their fellow-men.
But you say the war is over there are
no rebels now. That is what the Attor-
ney-G General and President johnson say.
That is, you capture man to-day who is
burglar, and the Sheriff starts = ith him
to Jail, and he makes no resistance, ad
mits he did break into your house and
| try to burn it down, but says, if you let
/ j..