Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-10-07
Army Of the Ten ncssee.

A SPEECH BY GEN. uRANT-TuE PRESIDENTS re-
MARKS WARMLY NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. BY
GOV. FLETCHER, GEN. SHERMAN, AND OTHERS.
DEs MONIES, Iowa, Sept. 3O.--At tho evening
session of tho Army OF the Tennessee, yesterday,
the Opera House was crowded. An address of
welcome was delivered by Hon. &C. Cole. Gov.
Fletcher delivered tho annual oration.
Eulogies were pronounced on members OF the
Society who have died since the last meeting.
Among the dead arc Gems. Morgan Smith,
Frank Blair, and Chester Harding.
President Grant being called, came forward
and said
COMRADES : 1t always affords mo much graft
fcatjon to meet my comrades in arms of ten and
fourteen years ago, to tell over again from
memory the trials and hardships Of those days
Of hardships imposed for the preservation and
perpetuation of our free institutions We bo-
ieved then, and We believe now, that we have a
government worth lighting for, and il need be
dying FOR. How many Of our comrades paid the
latter price for our preserved Union? Lot their
herosm and sacrifice be ever green in our men,
ory. Let net tho result of their sacrifices be de-
stroyed. The Union and the free institutions
sor which thoy died, should be held moro doar
for their sacrifices. We will not deny to any Of
those who fought against us any privilege under
the Government which we claim for ourselves.
On the the contrary, we welcome all such who
come forward inrgood faith to help build up the
waste places, and TO perpetuate our institutions
against all enemies, 81 brothers in full
interest with us in q common heritage but We
are not prepared to apologize for The part VIC
took In the war.
Ii is to be hoped that like trials will never
again befall our country. In this sentiment no
class of people can more heartily join than the
soldier who submitted to the dangers, trials,and
hardships of the camp and the Battlefield on
whichever side he fought. No class of people
are moro Interested IN guarding against n recur-
renee Of those days. Let us then begin by.guard-
ing against every enemy threatening tile pros
perlty OF free Republican institutions. I do not
bring into this assemblage politics, certainly not
partisan politics. but 1t is fair subject for tho
soldiers, III their deliberations, to consider what
may be necessary to secure the prize for which
they battled. In Republic like ours, where tho
citizen is tho sovereign, and the official the
servant where no power is exercisee, except
by the will of tho people, it ID important that the
sovereign, the people, should foster intelligence
that intelligence which ls to preserve us as a
free nation. If We are to have another contest
in the near future OF our national existence, I
predict that the dividing line will not be Mason
and Dixon's but between patriotism and intol-
sss al .e eno aaop Punt ona Tie otsf.
Now, the centennial year Of our national ex-
istence, believe, is good time to begin the
work OF strengthening the foundations OF the
structure commenced by our patriotic fore.
fathers 100 years ago ut Lexington. Let us all
labor to aid all needful guarantees for the secu'
rity of free thought, free speech, free pres',
pure morals, unfettered religious sentiments,
and Of equal rights and privileges to all mon ir-
respective of nationality, color, or religion. En-
courage free schools, and resolve that not one
dollar, appropriated for their support
shall be appropriated to the support OF
any sectsrian schools. Resolve that
neither the State or Nation, nor both
combined, shall support institutions OF learning,
other than those sufficient to afford to every
child growing up in the land the opportunity OF
a good common school education, uumixed with
seetarian, pagan, or atheistical doglnas. Leave
tho matter OF religion to tho family altar, the
church and tho private school, supported entire
ly by private contributions. Keep the Church
and the State forever separate. With those safe
guards, believe the battles which created the
Army OF the Tennessee will not have been fought
in vain.
Tho Presidents speech was greeted with ap-
plause, which was repeated again and again.