New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-22
THE SOLDIERS HOME.
MEETING AT COOPER INSTITUTE.


| One of the largest assemblages ever convened
in the grand nah of Cooper Institute came together last
night TO take action in the praseworthy movement OF
supplying q decent homo fox the manned and broken
veterans Of the late Tho room was appropriately
| decorated with flags and hung with the arms OF
| tho States On tho platform were seated large
| proportion Of the prominent citizens chosen
as the officers Of the meeting, and besides
these were Gems Sherman and PeasOnton, together with
| others well known in the civil walks OF life.
On the appearance Of Gems Sherman and Pleasonton
and Peter Cooper they were warmly greeted by the I'M
audience and during the evening every patriotic
sentiment every hearty word Of praise for the soldier
every expression Of feeling for tho sad condition OF too
many Of countTy's defenders, met with such re-
| sponses only warm hearted people can offer
At the close OF the meeting great throng OF people
crowded the pavement and street in front OF the build
ing and when GeDsSherman came out 10 take ms car
age he greeied with round after round of cheers
The following gentlemen were elected TO serve as
officers Of the meeting:
y,@Trdns T. Booth zophnr MIL. John Hecser, W.
Dow Robert l. Case. Benjamin II Pied Chare.P kr'9ud
soS SGa John hcr hss.na Cannon Ea%d
Joel ". Ms,oO, T. ". stousL"n Rev John W. C61dsiss'
Charlie. P.rtridre a. Mater D. Van w.gsaeH & Ac
French P r. SPosora Sinclair To.sy John Tborne Ron
Is N %ar MS M S9 F Faa s s fof' Mc c n5 Fred
.nck A. Coukg joseph spoaord j. Mansre NJ b. Blake Jo'
Settar,sr W. Mention. Charles Pre1nsy, Robert J. FrO'h
ngbam, CuhhR, Michael Hennesy Willard haIafd
Mr. Cooper on taking the chair, spoke as follows:
SPEECH PETER COOPER.
LADIES AMI GENTLEMEN: You viii please accept my
thanks for tins unsolicited honor which you have con
feel It an honor to bear any part in such work a; a;
hisa work which appeals to all the better feelings OF
common humanity. trust that all present are in
deep sympathy with The object that BIAS brought MS to-
gehcr That object is To call the attention OF all our city
State sacred debt sim due TO suffering aud
disabled soldiers lApplauscJ They are The men VINO
perilcd their lives and lost their limbs in terrible
struggle To this glorious Union Of States, TO be for
ever a lasting refuge for the prosecuted Of The world
Applause. THIS union OF states giOrious az is 10 al
s Integrity and purpose, would, II broken up by reDe
lion, become mass Of warning elements, intent Oh
Eornng. my friends can nation but the WIDE
spread virtue and intelligence Of the people Onr only
security must forever depend upon the establishment 81
justice the only possible means by which the highest
welfare OF nation can he ehectnaly promoted.
Humanity and Justice demand that ample provision
should be made for all who have lost their limbs and
have been disabled in the terrible war through which we
have passed. lApplause.l
You viii bear. ny friends this evening overpowerine
arguments show That bound. by every consid-
Grafton that ran move the manhood OF an Alnerca 10
act pity, and not allow those who have lost their
cold hand Of charity" Prolonged applause And 10
shock us more" they have been allowed 10 neg
through realms their vaOr saved" II We require "A
stronger stimulus 10 urge us 10 perform our uuty,
only to turn thoughts back To that fearful
day when the armies Of rebellion had entered
Peunsy wanna with iu intent 10 subIgae the North TO
their domination. II they had been successful III their
efforts they would have gored III making us pay for the
loss Of ther slaves. and the expenses Of their war
Their would have compelled us TO pay or to see
that the will not hesitate TO tax my prop.
ery lapplaus and the property Of every other man. 20
Disabled soldiers and the families dependent upon them
support now have the pleasure Of introducing TO
you the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher
HENRY WARD BEECHER's SPEECH
Mr. Beecher was received with tremendous applause.
on beng introduced by the Chairman, he spoke fol-
lows:
II has been my pleasure often to appear in this hall in
defense of causes popular ana unpopuar never came
h,ua tIpI n W.,
To speak behalf Of disabled soldiers our New York
boys Many of them returned from fields OF battle
having more honorable memories than they would have
born they had had generals straps on their shoulders
Whenever seo "a oue-legged man, feel nstnctively
that before mo stands Of honor he never skulked.
he stood no matter VINO ram men mat run away from
hattie never lose their arms their legs This u
matter OF pension for those craving for life by pick
ing up pcnnrious subsistence upon street corners, or by
drawing upon the charity OF friends. They have
not deserved such treatment from their country. /
honor that independ"nce that would rather
grind q strcetorgan than be a pensioneri houor
every sudcr that would rather sell the smallest article
for "a livelihood than exist ON the doles OF charity. But
IL is not tonight, charity thar come 10 ask demand
that these should have the livelihood for what they
have labored; ak justice not GENEROSITY say thls Il
their due not charity II ever there were men on Gods
earth that deserved 10 live ~ their these they
They have lost their limbs and shed their blood for the
| great war, which WAS 30 full of marvels. is
the absorption Of that great army back INTO citizenship
All the world believe first that we cond not raise such
army; next that they would not nght and next that
they c9nln NOT rohqnrii ann nnay, we ud 1Ig an
of military despotsm. But they have gone back to
| moisturoa TO the growing harvest There was no
| mnult, although what they , had right Et
| ia seen The battlefield il intensified at home. Who
shall tell Of the suffering ~ those who nger at home
tcrs supported by heroic industrious love. Snch
duet IL in their friends, but It il not honorable
should be- burden others What il there IN
walrt. they have rot made secure with their blood
What il there m the they did not by their
heroic yaori What there III haryests that they
have not night to tlthe Was II not they who made 1t
ratla those hlry
at liberty call that charity which they have so nobly
earnedearned by t,1r steadfsstness to principle and
indeed earned night to ease Tor tho rest
I res ans ;se Of first in
prise, ready TO psie'Pae u al heroic act3ns be
dsys. feel quite ashamed to SEQ how poorly we have
uiGlied promise to these men when they started
To- the war what expressions OF admiration we POURED
&C tsorS meS that .b PsT'ed look 'I SsGo Ism
".rotrrs sad cali them part Of MY family though
they may not my do not love TO recall the
or me- 10 recall 20 the mind Of my child the number OF
chasteneots has received az my hssts bn feeling
dire necessity, ! can look with admiration
on tho men who carried US safely through
nroytess and general ghte4meut: these IL has given
10 U.s. ana It possible for this broad land 70 live to-
eether harmony Standing armies are rather disagree
ne aud Iot have D.; ,n ~ w ~ not PLEAS en1
Snt.,t - more melancholy 10 child needing 1t and
not getting IT, These all evils that lead to better
thin a. and with strife hope, will prove Ia have
Dsu the precursor of OF peace. Let not, how
o,oT rget who have wrought out for us this
| triumph.
LETTERS RECEIVED
The fceretnry then forward To read the cores
pou,lenss. The ipl'p xng Is President Grants letter:
WAsHiskros. Feb. Is, 1870
FIv.Ap u. ,sq. Chatrmas. Noe. iork GUY.
q Of Feb calling
ns~lng 4ou for bone for the manned and dis
saa Lcd In her hour Of need
i dne. 'i not permit ny accepting the Invitation to
be -rt "a N.
object Appeals the heart Of who
thssa ga ~ pres,Tys sn Of great Republe
bore N-suhs NIL be successful and that not Only VIII