Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-01-30
A soLD1HRs snNrn1ENr.

A Gallant Ohio Hero on the Sen
timental Policy Toward the
Gray-Byave ana Flo
quent Words.
From the Cincinnati Commercials account, Jan. |
Is, of Ex-Army onacers Banquet.
ToasfNo. 4.-"Our Heroic Living"
Response by Gen. Andy Hicken-
looper, who said that, in response to
the sentiment. it would appear but
natural to me that should eulogize
those who still remain TO MS out Of
thar army of heroes who SO nobly |
battled for the preservation of the
Union, and, yet, under the light of
recent Interpretations, some Difficult.
ties might be experienced In clearly
defining the meaning Of these words.
But for myself, excuse me for ignor-
ing this new born, sickly sentimental
ity, which draws no line Of distinc-
ton between loyalty and treason, or
acknowledges no differences in the re-
spect due to those who struggled to
preserve and those who attempted to
destroy our national unity, to do 9TH
erwise would be for me to insult the
memory Of our dead, and brand as
infamous the record Of our living he
roes, whom we should so delight to
honor with words Of commend alton,
and yet no works of mine are needed
to give lustre to the name of Grant,
whose examples Of devoted friend
ship, persevering energy and unset
fish patriotism, coupled with militia
~ genius and exalted statesmAnship,
will have their impress yet upon ma
tons unborn.
Or to Sherman, that prompt, reso-
lutte powerful and patriotic leader who
in January, 1861, wrote to the Gov
ernor Of Louisiana: ~ want you to
take immediate steps to relieve me
the moment the State determines to
secede, for ON NO eartly account will I
do any act, or think any thought hos
tile to, or in defiance Of the old Gov
eminent of the United States" And
now, as If in full fruition of those no.
BILE sentiments, he stands in the front
rank of the most brilliant leaders of
the civilized world.
Or to that Of Sheridan, to whose
military.genius and mighty energy we
are 60 much indebted to the final and
complete success of our arms.
Or to any one of the names on that
long list Of military leaders, whose
examples of disinterested patriotism
will bear fruit long after the granite
monuments erected to commence
rate their historic deeds have crum-
bled into dust.
But where are other living heroes,
who even more than these deserve
their country's gratitude.
The patriotic survivors of that reg
ular army, which formed the nucleus
around which rallied the loyal host of
the Union, now poorly paid and wide-
ly scattered over this broad country,
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from
the frozen regions Of the North, to
the gold-washed shores ofthe South
keeping guard and watch over the
lives and liberties Of our people.
That noble band of volunteers, who
in the dark hour of our country's
history and peril, sacrificed home,
kindred, and friends, and cheerfully
placed the hazard Of their lives on
the altar Of their country's honor.
That gray haired sire who stood by
the bedside Of his MANNED and dying
boy, and with the death and damn
from his paid brow, wiped out eli
hope Of earthly joy.
That widowed mother who could
say to her only son, Go, my boy, and
II you return not, the same God who
has watched over you, will care for
me the same sun that shines on yon
will give light and warmth to me-
and now with palsied hands and
quivering lips, recounts the story
of her idols slaughter on the dead
line Of rebel prison pen. That he
roic but grief-striken wife who gave
her all, her husband, to her country
cause, and now treads iife's rugged
path alone.
That loving sister, whose wasted
cheeks and sunken eyes, only tell toe
well the talc that her only brother
and protector came not back again.
That beggared child, once the oc
cnpant of peaceful and happy home
surrounded by every comfort thai
loving hearts and willing hands could
give, now the recipient of charity
grudgingly bestowed. These are pre-.
eminently the heroic living of to-day
THE veteran soldier, grief-stricken
parent, husbandless wife, brotherlesi
sister, and fatherless child. For Their
sufferings cruel indeed is the hand
and hardened the heart that fails to
record . tear.
To them the battered sword, the
lockless musket-souveniy of depart.
ed happiness-recalls and WHITES the
every act in that dread drama Of re-
bellion, and calls forth emotions
which appeal to us and to humanity
with an eloquence of grief incompar.
able.
Let us not, then, too hastily forget
the lessons of the past, but rather Ia.
Dor to keep green in our souls affec-
tons the records of our living heroes
who have borne the burden of life'i
woes, that we might live a united
free and happy people.