The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1875-10-12
speech .s presidents Gr.as.

At the reuni IN OF the Army a the
Tsnnssses. held At Demoine. Iowa. on
wednesday. President urant mad, .lie
f,Ilowing speech:
Tue Presi lent said he had concluded
10 dissppoint them this time, aud he
had therefore jo,tsd down what he
wished 10 say, when he read as follows;
COMRADES: II always affords me
much glatIIication to meet my CON-
radss In arms, ten and fourteen years
ago, aud to tell Uver again in memory
the trials aud hardships Of these days =
harJships surpassed for the pressrva-
tion aud perpstuation Of our free insti-
tutions. We believed then, aud believe
now, that we have a government worth
fighting for, and, il need be. dying for.
How many of our comrades paid the
lstt price for our preserved Union |!
Let their heroism aud sacrifice be ever
green.ln our menvry. Let not the re-
suits of oar sacrifice be destroyed. -
rhe Union aud the free institutions for
which they fell should DE held more
dear for their sacrifices. We will not
deny to any who fought against us any
privileges under the government which
We claim for ourselves. On the con
trury We welcome sll snch who come
forward in good faith to help build up
the waste places aud to perpetuate cur
institutions Against all eoemles, as
brothers in full Interest with US III
commoa heritage; but we are not pre-
pared to apologize for the part We took
IN the war. IL is to be hoped that like
trials wall never ngaiu bsfail our cOua-
try. In their settlement no class Of
people can more heartily join than the
soldiers who submitted to the dangers,
trials. and hardships Of the camp aud
battle fields. On whichever side he
may have fought. no class Of people
are more interested in guarding against
a recurrence Of those days. Let Us.
then, begin by guarding against every
enemy preventing the prosperity vi
free republican institutions. 1 do not
bring into this assemblsge politics.
certainly not partisan politics. but 1t is
a fair subject for the soldiers in their
deliberatiun to consider What may We
necessary tn secure the prize for which
tIey bittled. In repaolic like ours,
where the citizens Is the so~vrei8n ana
the official the servant, where no power
40 exercised except by the will oI the
people, II is important that the sover-
eign, the people, should foster int, Ill
gence which Is to preserve us as free
nation. III we are to have another con
test in the near future of our national
existence, 1 predict that the dividing
line will not be Mason < Dixon's, but
between patriotism aud intelligence on
-.--i.--s---.:..----s -
tioa add ignorance on the other. Nov
Is the centennial year OF our national
existence. believe 1t a good time to
begin the w.rk OF Strengthening the
foundation Of the structure commenc-
ed by our patriotic forefathers, lOO
years ago, Ut Lexington. Let Us ali
labor TO add all needful guarantees for
the more security Of free thought, free
speech, free pass, pure morals, nnfet-
sertd religious sentiments, aud OF
equal rights and privileges to all men,
irrespective of Nationality, color or re-
bglou; encourage free sch JJls, aud re-
solve that not one dollar Of our moi ey
appropriated to the sapport of au,
srctariau school; resolve that neither
The State nor luton, nor both C lmbln-
cd, snail suppors INSTITUTIONS of learn
ing other than those sufficient to Afford
to every child growing up IN the land
the opportunity Of a good comm IA
school education, unmixed with secta-
rian, Pagan and Atheistical bias; leave
the matter Of religion to the family,
the church aud the private school,
supported entirely by private coutri-
batiou; keep the church aud the State
forever separate. these safe
guards, I believe the battles which Gre
sted the Army of the Tennessee will
not have been fought in vain.