New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-10-01
ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE.
A SPEECH BY GEN. GRANT


THE IMPORTANCE OF NON-SECTARIAN SCHOOLS
THE PRESIDENTS REMARKS WARMLY APPLAUDED-
ADDRESSES By GOV. FLETCHER, GEN. SHERMAN
AND oIHERs-THE GENERAL PROCEEDINGS or
THE REUNION.
DIES MONIES, Iowa, Sept. 30.-At the evening
session of the Army of the Tennessee yesterday the
Opera House was crowded. An address OF welcome
was delivered by the Hon. c. c. Cole Gov Fletcher
delivered the annual Grafton. lie reviewed the MS
tory of the Army of the Tennessee and OF the society
and dwet ON the part taken by the Iowa soldiers III
the war; He referred in kindly terms to the Con
federates who opposed Them and expressed the hope
that the people of all sections of the country will
conduct themselves toward each other like men VINO
have q common country
Eulopies were pronounced members OF the
Society who have died since the last meeting
Among the dead Gems Morgan Smith, FRANK
Blair, and Chester Harding
President Grant being called for, came forward
and said:
COMRADES 1t always affords me much gratlhca-
tOn to meet my comrades III arms Oh ten ana louilG
wears ago and to tell over again tr0ln memory i1o
trials and hardships of those days, OF harGshps I'M
posed for the preservation and perpetuaioh oi o,lI
free institutions We believed tEon and we DeieVe
now, that we have q government WORTH IShths lui'
and if need be dying for. How many OF our coulI
rades paid the latter price for our pfccserNiIa a
Unoni Let their heIoism and sacrlhce pe
ever green in our memory. Let not ire
result of their sacrifices be destroyed. The
Union and the free, institutions IQf "nic ci
thev died should he held more dear for their sacTl
fees We will not deny To any OF those VINO ouRht
against us any privilege under the Government
which we claim for ourselves. Or tine contrary, We
welcome all such who come forward in good talth
to help build up the waste places ANA To pelPetuac
our institutions against all enemies, as brOlnels III
full interest with us in a common heritage; DuI We
are not prepared 10 apologize for the part we TOOK Ill
the war. -, II:
4 In 10 tIfug ut
people can more heartily join than the soldier VINO
submitted to the dangers, trials, ana haldhnps Oh
the camp aud the battlefield, on whichever su' ne
fought. No class of people arc more INTERESTED III
guarding against recurrence OF those days iel us
then begin by guarding against every enemy threat
enng the prosperity of free republican INSTITUTIONS
do not bring into this asSembagc politics, Ger
tainly not partisan politics. but IT Is air subject
for the soldiers in their deliberations, 10 consider
what NAV be necessary 10 secure the prize
for which they battled In a Republic
like ours where the citizen IS the soNe-
reign, and the official the servant; WheTe 10
power is exercised except by the viii OF the people,
1t is important that the sovereign, thepecple should
foster intelligence, that Intelligence when u 10 pre-
serve us "a Il free nation If we are to nave another
contest in the near future OF our national existence
predict that the dividing line will not he Mason
and DlxOn's but between patriotism ana lntelll-
gence on the one side, and superstition, ambition,
and ignorance on the other. e..
Now the centennial year OF our natiohal eHlsts
encc believe. is a good time to begin the work OF
STRENGTHENING the foundations oil the structure COM
menced by patriotic 1orefathcIs 100 years age
at Lexington. Let lis all ldDOI 10 an b'''llui
guarantees for the security of free Thought, Tree
speech free press. pure morals, uufetIelcd rehgi-
Gus sentiments and of equal rights and pm 'lleges
to all men irrespective of nationality color on relg
ion Encourage free Schools and resolve that not
one dollar appropriated for their support. snail ne
appropriated TO the support of any sectarlan schools
Resolve that neither the State or Natlon nor DOth
combined, shall support institutions of learning,
other than those sufficient to afford TO every chiq
growing up i'll the land the opportunity Of good
common school education, unmlXed Win stClarian.
pagan or atheistcal dogmas. Leave the matter OF
religion 10 the family altar, the church and the
private school, supported entirely by private contrl-
buttons Keep the Church and the State forever
separate. With these safeguards, believe the bat,
ties which created the Army OF the Tennessee Will
not have been fought in vain.
The Presidents speech was greeted with applause,
which wasrppeated again and again.
After speeches by Secretary Bellnap and Gems.
jeff c. Davis, Force, Baine Meyers, and Others.
army songs were sung. Gen. Sherman closed the
speaking for the night with brief humorous remarks,
in which he said ne wished all the speeches made
here tonight could be printed in full and scattered
broadcast through the South, to show the people
there how the ex-soldiers of the North all feel
tov,1 rIt Them