The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-09-13
NATIONAL REUNION.
Speech of President Hayes at the Reunion
of ex-Federal and ex-Contederate sol
diers at Marietta, Ohio.

Speech of President Hayes at the Reunion
of ex-Federa1 and ex-Confederate sol
diers, at Marietta, Ohio.
LADIES. FELLow-C CITIZENS. AND SURVIVORS OF
THE GREAT WAR; Iwish that I was prepared
to speak suitably upon this occasion. My
friend, Mayor Palmer, in his address, informs
me that in every speech made at this great
national reunion encouragement has been
given to that spirit of fraternity which it is the
desire of those associated with me in the adj
ministration to do something during our term
of service to advance. We do not, in meeting
the people, propose to discuss any of the great
party questions which divide the people who
| honor us with their attention. Questions of
administration, economic questions. we leave
these to be discussed before the people bvthose
who may be appointed by the respective par
ties to carry on these debates but we do feel
that. in visiting our fellOW-citizens in the diff
ferent States, we can strengthen the sentiment
alluded to by the Mayor. 1t is right and proper
we should do it. All who are familiar with the
| history of our country know that a hundred
years ago there was no North nor South. The
fathers were one throughout the whole coun-
| try. Washington and Jefferson were side by
side with Franklin and Adams Daniel Nor
gan and his Virginians marched from Virginia
to Boston they were at Saratoga and Nathan
lei Green and his Continentals were in the
Carolinas. The whole country belonged to
the fathers. It is that state of harmony.
of fraternal friendship, that we desire our
country to return to- We are for the Union as
it is. We are for the constitution as it is, with
all it's amendments. We want the citizens of
every State to feel at home in every State. If
citizen of Vermont travel to Georgia or Texas
on business or pleasure, we want him to feel at
home in those States If a citizen of Texas or
Georgia travels North, we want that citizen to
feel at home everywhere throughout the
Union
Now, my friends, do not propose to detain
you. have made 8 much longer speech than
I intended when I entered your town, but you
understand the purpose. We may make mis-
takes in method mistakes in measures, but the
sentiment we would encourage is sentiment
of nationality throughout the Union. We all
regard the service Of that four years war-We
regard that period Of four years as the most in
teresting of our lives We fought then, those
Of us who were in the Union army, fought as
we believed to make this forever hereafter a
united people, forever hereafter free peoples
and we rejoice to-day to believe that those who
were against us in that struggle now are with
us on both Of these questions, and will forever
remain with the Union.
And now, my friends, you will desire to hear
from those who are associated with me in the
Government. Two members Of the Cabinet
are here, the Postmaster General, Judge Key,
Of Tennessee, and Gen. Devens, Attorney Gen
eral. They fought on opposite sides during
those four years, but to-day here they are
prepared to fight, if need be, on the same side.
And now will introduce to you Judge Key
am sure he is an able man. am sure he is an
honest man. I am sure he is patriotic man.