Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-10-14
A speech by President Grant.

Al the recent meeting .. Dez AOines,
fowa. OF the Scciefy ~ the Army OF TIE
Tennessee, loud calls were made Tor
President Grant After few humorous
remarks in reference to The calls Tor him
seIf and Gen Sherman, 10 which be said
sliad been customary al the reunions a this
ARMY n call upon him just because he al
WAYS made the shortest speech, the Presi.
dent said he had concluded 10 disappoini
them this time. and he had, therefore. iotted
s4e~H what he wished To say, when he
read as follows:
CoxgADEs--it always affords me
much qualification 10 meet my comrades
IN arms of ten and fourteen years ago, 70
tell over again the trials and hardships 81
those days--bardships imposed for the
preservation and perpctuafion Of our Tree
institutions. We believed then, and We be-
lieye now. that we have Government
worth fighting for and, III need be,
dying for. How many Of our com
rades paid the latter price foT our
preserved Union. Let their beroism
and sacyifIce he ever green In our
memory: lei not The results Of their gac-
rifce lie destroyed The Union and ihe
free institutions for which they tell should
he held more dear for their sacrifices.
We will not deny 10 any of those who
fought against us any privilege under the
Government which we claim ior our.
seives. On the contrary, We welcome all
such who come forward in good faith "
help build up the waste places and % per.
psilIate ouF institutions against eli enc
mics a. brothers in full interest with ~
in common heritage; but we are not
prepared 10 apologize for the part We
took ia the war II ii b. be hoped inst
the like trials will never again hefaii our
country. In their settlement no class Of
people csn more heartily join than The
soldier who submitted 10 the dangers,
trials and bardships Of the camp and the
tatfIe field, on Whichever side be may
have fought No class Of people are
more interested in guarding against a
recurrence oi those days. Let us, then,
begin by guarding against every enemy
90 lie prosperity 81 free republican inst.
tati0ns.
81 do not bring into this assemblage
politics, certainly not partisan politics,
but II Il fair subject for the soldiers IN
their deliberations 10 consider what may
he necessary Ia secure the prize Tor
which they battled In Republic like
ours, where the citizen IL the sovereign and
the official the servant, where no power Is
exercised save by the will II the people, IT
10 important that the sovereign people
should foster education and promote that
intelligence which IL to preserve us ~ a
free nation. II VIC are to have another
contest In the near future Of our national
existence, predict that The dividing line
will not he Mason and Dix0n's, but be-.
tween patriotism and intelligence on the
one side, and superstition, ambition and
ignorance on the other
Now. the centennial year Of our ma
GonaI existence, ! believe "a good time
bo begin the work Of strengthening the
foundations Of the structure com.
menced by our patriotic fofefathers 100
years ago 1T Lexington. Let US all
labor 10 add all ncedfu guarantees for
the greater security of free thought, free
speech, free press, pure morals, uDiet-
tered religious sentiments, and Gf equal
rights and pfigiiiess,s.as, - ali men, irrcspect
i've or nationality, color, or religion en-.
courage free schools and resolve that not
one dollar of money appropriated ~ their
support shall be appropriated 10 the sup
port OF any sectarian schools resolve that
neither the State nor the nation, nor both
combined, shall support institutions Of
learning other than those sufficient 10 at
ford 10 every child growing up In the
land the opportunity Of q good common.
school education, unmi1ed with sectarian,
pagan or alheistical. Leave the matter Of
religion 10 the family altar, the church,
and the private school supported entirely
by private contributions, and keep the
church and the State forever separate.
With these safeguarlsI believe the battles
which created the Army Of the Tennessee
will not have been fought In vain"