Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-10-06

believe now, that we have q govern
ment worth fighting for, and. if need
be, dying for.
PRESIDENT GRANTS AID
DRESS,
/ At the Re. Union of the Army OF tho
Tennessee AZ Des MOines.
Comrades: 1t always affords me
much qualification to meet my old
comrades in arms of 10 to ii years
| ago, and to live over again in memory
the trials and hardships of those days.
hardships imposed for the preserva-
tion and perpetuation of our free in
stitutions. We believed then and be-
lieye now that we had q government
worth fighting for, and If need be, dy-
ing for. How many of our comrades
of those days paid the latter price for
our preserved Union! Let their her.
oism and sacrifices be ever green in
our memory. Let not the results of
their sacrifices be destroyed. The
Union and the free institutions for
which they fell should be held more
dear for their sacrifices. We will not de-
ny to any of those who fought against
us any privileges under the govern
ment which we claim for ourselves.
On the contrary, we welcome all such
who come forward in good faith to
help bnild up the waste places, and to
perpetuate our institutions against all
enemies, as brothers in full interest
with us in a common heritage. But
we are not prepared to apologize for
the part we took in the war. 1t is to
be hoped that like trials will never
again befall our country. In this sem
timent no class of people can moro
heartily join than the soldier who sub
mitted to the dsngers, trials and hard
ships of the camp and the battle field,
on whichever side he may have fought.
No class of people are more Interested
in guarding against recurrence OF
those days. Let us then begin by
guarding against every enemy threat-
eniDg the perpetuity of free republi-
can institutions.
do not bring into this assemblage
politics, certainly not partisan politics,
but il is fair subject for soldiers in
their deliberation to consider what
may be necessary to secure the prize
for which they battled. In a Republic
like ours, where the citizen is the
sovereign, and the official the servant,
! where no power is exercised except
by the will of the people. it is inn
portant that the Sovereign, the people.
should foster intelligence. The
free school is the promoter of
that intelligence which ia to pre-
servo us as q free Nation. If we are
to have another contest in the near
future OF our National existence, pre-
dict that the dividing line will not he
Mason and Dixon's but between pa
.riotism and intelligence OH the one
eide and superstition, ambition and
ignorance on the other.
Now in this centennial year of our
national existence, believe it good
time to begin the work of strengthen
Ing the foundation of the house COM
menced by our patriotic forefathers
one hundred years ago at Concord and
Lexington. Let us sll labor to add all
needful guarantees for the more per-
! feet security OF free thought. free
| speech and free press, pure morals. I'M
fettercd religious sentiments and of
equal rights and privileges to all men
irrespective of nationality, color or
religion.
Encourage free schools, and resolve
that not one dollar of money appro-
priated for their support, no mat
ter how raised, shall be APP
propriated to the support of any sec
tartan school; that neither State or
nation, or both combined, shall sup
port institutions of learning other than
those sufficient 10 afford TO every child
;,,t 4
of a good common school education un-
| mixed with seetarisn, pagan or
| atheistical tenets. Leave the mat
ter of religion to the family al
tar. church and private schools.
| supported entirely by private
contributions. Keep tho Church and
State forever separate. With these
safeguards believe the battles which
| createa the Army of the Tennessee
will not have been fought in vain.
sECRETARN NHgLkNAr'sHEMA
Comrades Of the Army of The Ten
nessee:s-Thcre is no spot in America
where the soldiers of this Union or
| the soldiers of this Army could re-
ceive a more hearty welcome than in
the capital of this patriotic State,
(Cheers). And there is y reason for
that, my fellows -citizens of Iowa and
Des Moines. The men OF this army
| coming from adjoining States are al
lied to the people OF Iowa in locality,
in interest, aud in that patriotic feeling
which caused this State TO send 10 the
Geld ten years ago so many thousands
of soldiers splcniidly equipped.
said year ago. when the question
was discussed as to the location of our
meeting for the present year, | said
that you, my comrades, would have
a hearty greeting in lowa's capital,
and what has occurred to-day has AS
suredly proved to you that my asscr-
ton was true.
| Fellow -citizeus of Iowa, of Des
Moines, we all. as soldiers of this ar
nv, thank you for coming to join with
us in these exercises to-day and to-
night Ten years have elapsed sincc
the war We have now met to clasp
hands in friendship. and to talk Of all
the past scenes, and speak OF those
fields upon which we fought and tried
to do our duty for the right. We
thank you for our good meeting hero
and for assisting US in doing honor 10
these two commanders OF our army
who are with us tonight, that army
which never lost \ battle Grants ar
my--ihe army of the Tennessee.
i do not propose 10 inilict upon yon
a speech. nor do you desire to he
wearicd with one, hu, simply close
by SAYING that as cilizen OF Iowa.
and as q member and soldier Of that
army, and for my comrades, | ,hsnk
you most sincerely for this most grace
! iul reception.
.s-..-. n.... ....us.