The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1869-10-06
SOLDIERS'WlDOWS and ORPHANS.
RELIEF MEETING IN CINCIN-
NATI.
Speech of Mr.. PendletOn.


meeting was held at Pixies Opera
House, Cincinnati, to consult in
regard to means to be taken for the
aid Of destitute Soldiers Widows
and Orphans in that city. Judge
Stover was Chairman, and a report
was read by General Burnett stating,
there were in the city 81 widows and
$50 children of deceased soldiers.
Mr.. PENDLEToN entered the hall
on his crutcbes and after the, reading
of the report made the following
speech:
HON, GEORGE H. PENDLEToN.
Mr.. PRRsIDENr AND Fellow CITI-
ZENs-I came here this evening with
considerable pain and difhouity to nv.
self, In order that might testify by my
presence, rather than 6y anything
cOuld say, to my heartfelt sympathy
| with the objects OF this meeting. You
can readily see that ! am in no condi-
| ton to detain you long, and If were I
could add nothing to the force OF the ap.
| peal which has already been made to
| you bV the Mayor, and have been pre-
scented to you so elOquently by the gems
IlemSn who has charge OF this move
| ment Three hundred and fifty poor pa
tient toiling widows snd helpless orphans
| in our very midst, suffering for all the
necessaries OF life-thr~e hundred aud
ffty women and children made widows
and orphans, not by the ordinary casual
ities OF life, but by death in battle or the
hArdships endured during the war, badly
clothed, badly housed, badly fed, living
mo, gentleman, hot living, but dying
on the scanty support OF thainsufficisnt
wages of the mother. earned at the nee
die or st the wash tub. tCheers.l And
this Is summer, when the weather IL
warm. when the provisions of life are
abundant and comparatively cheap.
Gentlemen, you are beginning to draw
ON your overcoats, and you are Begin
ming to build your fires. The cool air oi
the morning and the evening warns you
that winter is close at hand; and / ask
, you, If these women and children have
= suffered so during the summer, what
Will be their misery when the winter
every street and alley, and through every
crevice of their miserable homes.
q It has always seemed to me that there
is something particularly touching ir
, | the suffering of childhood. Suffering
| then forms the character for all the fu
ture suffering then molds the man anC
c | woman OF mature years suffering theI
| fixes the destiny OF life in time and II
: eternity. When the gentle, patien
voices of children pleAd-even in silence
hevsIed hair and torn and tattersd gar
ments, plead by emaciated and attenua
ted forms-to be removed from nOisom
alleys and dank, dark homes, and pes
tlential atmospheres, into open groun
and purer air and fresher breeZes, Il
order that uAder better influences, il
order that under the brightness OF God
4 blessed sun light they may take thei
: first steps in virtuous life. There rests
fearful responsibility upon those whom
God has prospered to see to it that the
give freely OF the abundance which the
have received. and iu this case as "
Le all know there Is an additional claim
y Who that was in Cincinnati In 1861, 1S6.
1868 and 1854, will ever forget thOs
scenes? The men OF Cincinnati with
iSrvor of patriotism which IVES nevS
-, surpassed left their profitable employ
u msnts, left their comfortable homes, le
i- their wives and their families, left q
II the endearments OF life at the call of Il
4. Government. By the voice OF every o.
ator who begged them to enlist, by Il
assurance of every newspaper which WI
. published In our city, by the resolves
your Common council, by the resolI
tiOns of every public meeting that WI
held, by every means by which pu bl
a. opinion could make itself be heard
was promised to these men that II thG
were slain in battle, that II their liv
went out amidst the grOans OF the dyiu
that If they caa1e home broken in Ii
IL and fortune and strength, their wiv
should be properly projected and the
children tenderly cared Tor. tApplausS
know this community well. II
magnitude Of all its charities attest q
|. libaralrty nf its heAFt.. Is were a sham
my ielIow-citizens. will do Il no SUI
tie dishonor as to doubt that It. Will justl
nd amply, aye, most generously redeem
- its Eenedcence to the living the prOmis
= that IL made 50 sacrediy and solemn
d to the. dead. lApplausR.
re I do not know, my fellow citizens,
re plan OF RELIEF which has been mature
gh or which will be matured. by the gent
I'd men to whom this matter has been
tv shall be specially committed. on
=. rose AT the call OF our President, to 5
that Whatever plan they may matul
le' whatever plan they may in their WisdC
devise, they will have my most hear
sympathy. and in all thirgs they m
call upon me for my most scLiYe a
ng Jealous corporation. loud applaus
re Other gentlemen spoke and a col
mittee of twenty-one was appoint
to report plan Of relief at tutu
sst meeting.