Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1872-10-03
HENRY WILSON.
His Speech to the Soldiers at the Pitts
burEh Convention.

BE assured, gentlemen, that I am
glad TO look into your faces to-day,
and l am grateful to you for your
generous welcome. / am GLAD to
see such representative assemblagc
of the brave men who saved my
country on the battlefield. know
something OF the origin OF the great
civil war. l know something OF the
self sacrificing patriotism OF tho men
who left homes, fathers, mo,hers, sis
tiers, brothers, wives and children,
aud barred their bosoms against the
blows of tho enemies OF the country.
l know that they were never inspir-
| cd by hate, but by love of country
and love of liberty, and history will
record the fact that the great upris
ing OF the country in tho spring OF
1861, was an uprising OF patriots and
not an uprising for hate or for ven
geancc. You loved your country
and your whole country. You low,
ed the people OF the country, aud
through those four years o! blood
you laboreason, struggled alike IN
victory and defeat, inspired by lofty
patriotism, and never guided by
vengeance, and to day you meet
here to do something more-to per-
petuste wha: you won on the battle
field, and that, too. for your country
and for the aggrandisement OF no set
of men on earth.
Gentlemen, it was my privilege
during these tour years Of bloody
strife to act as Chairman of the Mil.
itary Committee of the Senate ofthe
United States, and l am proud TO
say to-day, that in all the legislation
of Congress, in all the confirmation
OF the many thousands that caine be.
fore us, we always endeavored to do
justice 10 the brave men who were
fighting for the country, and we new
er asked what their political senti-
ments were. l know something Of
tho self sacrificing men that went to
the field and fought, bled and many
of whom died to save the country;
and. gentlemen, while l would per-
petua;e no feelln. of hate, while l
would be generous, magnanimous
and loving to all portions OF the
country, God willing, l would new.
CIR forget the self-sacrificing patriot.
Ism, heroic valor, and consecrated de-
votion of the mcr who fought 10
save the country. would build
monuments all over tho land for
those who died TOR the country.
would keep the battles on the sacred
flags that were laid away. would
if l had the power, write the grand
deeds of the defenders of the Umor
in letters of living light on the broad
arches of the skies, SO that all men
through all generations, rs they lool
hcavcnward might be inspired by
their noble example.
You come here to day, gentlemen
to encourage your countrymen who
are striving to carry ont in the &C
ton of the country what you Tough
to establish. May God prosper ane
bless you in these efforts, and an
sure your words, your example, ant
your courage Will inspire YOUR coun
trymen, and it shall win gloriou.
victory for the cause Of the grea
party to which we belong, and whlcl
we believe to be the party Of patriot
ISM and party of freedom in Ameri
ca.
Gentlemen, in the dark, troublc'
night Of war, when you were strug
Cling in front of the rebel legions
when orr hospitals were filled witt
sick. wounded and dying men, W
could take your cause and or cans
into our closets, and on Our bcnaet
knees invoke Gods blessing upo1
you. Hundreds of thousands of on
countlymen did it; noble men AM
noble wemen did it; aud, to-day
gentlemen, we are fighting for tn
same cause and the ideas arc on on
banners, and we can ask the.suppor
OF the good men OF our own country
the sympathies of loving men III
world over. and the blessings of til
Almighty God upon our labors.
Gentlemen, l will detain you n
longer. l thank you a Thousand
times for this great asscmblage, an,
I thank you tor your kind reception
God bless you all.