The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-12-31
An Eloquent Response.

An Eloquent Response.
The following is the happy speech Of
Hon Edward Solomon, of Milwaukee, at
the banquet to the officers of the IFes-
tern armies at Chicago, Wednesday eve
ming, in response TO toast to Our In
vited Guests
Mr.. PRESIDENT, AND GENTLEMEN OF
THIS ARMY REUNION With difficulties
l rise before this assembage of laurel
crowned soldiers. / see before me the
great and world renowned commander of
those armies, whose brave and dstin-
gulshed officers are united upon this feS-
tive occasion. Gracefully he wears upon
his brows his high, welI-earned honors.
Here, too, Is the old, brave commander
OF the Cumberland. all covered with glory
and renown, whose equestrian figure will
grace the National Lincoln Monument at
Washington. if the voice Of his old COM
mand and that of the naeion is needed,
but whose fame will outlive all monu-
mcnts of stone or metal Then [ behold
that distinguished and energetic com
mander of the Army Ct the Ohio, who
now 50 ably yields the power Of the War
Office and hosts Of others Of great dis
tlnctlon, whose names are well known to
fame, are here assembled. On all sides
indeed, [ find myself surrounded by men
upon whose daring, vaiof annd iortitude,
few short years ago, depended the fate
OF this great American republic. and who
with their comrades III arms on land and
water, saveIt from destruction. Il isanim-
pressive scene, and one which crowds the
memories of our great national struggle
so thick and fast upon me that language
falls me aptly to express my feelings.
And then, foremost among your invited
guests Tor such [ take him to be, al
though most enthusiastically one Of your
number, there is that man who above
all others is the idol or the American
people, Oh whom rested the supreme
command of all the Unon armies during
the last years of that fearful war
SO happily brought to successful close
BY his indomitable energy and great gen
eraishlp, and who, chosen soon to assume
the highest position III the gift of this
free people, stands before them as their
second Washington. You have assem-
bled here. Mr. President and gentlemen.
to renew the memories of the past, the
recollection Of your deeds and OF the
scenes through which YOU passed when
battling for the preservation Of the I'm
ION; and We, your invited guests have
gladly come here to enjoy the pleasures
of this reunion, and to honor and hom-
age to you and to those bright deeds Of
valor lndellbly written by you uron the
pages of American history In one sense
the guests which you have invited repre-
sent the people of this nation outside Of
your organization. With pride and in
terest that people looks upon this reun-
ion. and follows your proceedings here.
Either acith the shield or 3ip0n the shield
return" was the last woru OF the Spar
tan mother TO her son when he went forth
to do battle for his country You gentle
men of the army, returned aeitt tie
shield, returned victors. and your mother
country Is proud OF you, and glad to see
you rejoice In your deeds! In be
half of your invited guests. and OF
all the loyal people OF this land, nay IN
the name of all lovers Of liberty every
where, | would fam like to take each ono
of you By the hand, and In one warm
pressure renew, what my tongue fails to
express, the gratitude OF this free people
tor all you did and suffered for your coun-
try's cause. That integral and substan
tive part Of the Union forces known as
Sherman S Army has quite history
deeds and able generalship, which VIII
be handed down from generation 20 gen
Grafton. SHERMAN March to the Sea-
will be phrase whose significance will be
known to every American school boy, and
at the Christmas table the very children
will know what a splendid Christmas Gift
was made by General Sherman 10 Presi-
dent Lincoln in 1864. That march and
Christmas gilt were the beginning OF
the end of the war But, MIR. presi-
dent, it is not for me, here, to dilate upon
the giorles Of Sherman army. They
are better known 70 you than me, and
have been spoken of by eloquent lips.
In the world 5 history there have been
many wars, but none more sacred, none
whose purpose was purer and h0iier than
this great war Tor the preservation of the
Union. and we'll may you. gentlemen Of
the army, be proud Of the memories OF
that war, and commemorate them on oc
casions like this You have also assem-
bled, here, however, to renew friendships
formed III those trying struggles and
scenes, when side BY side you suffered
and fought aud bied to uphold our coun-
try's flag. Thomas Moore somewhere
most truly says that
"The love born of sorrow,
Like SORROW, is tue
So it is with your friendships Of war.
They were born in the nation greatest
agony and trials, amid the carnage OF
battle aud the sorrows and deprivations
of the field, and they have been sealed
BY the death of three hundred Thousand
OF our country youth and manhood =
Such friendships must live; they cannot
die but with their possessorS. Premit
me, Mr.. President and gentlemen of the
army. in conclusion Of these few remarks.
to express to you this sentiment:
MAY friendships die
And hatred live.
-Aecerla yo5.r hearts"
INFLUENCE OF FORFSTS IN pRaDt-r,rNrf,