Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-11-20
A FESTIVE OCCASION.
Reception Of Gen. Grant and the Army Of the
Tennessee In Chicago.


the Tennessee that day, which commenced
on the morning OF that day at their hesdquar
tiers at the Palmer House. Gen. w. I. Sher-
man, presided. The principal feature OF the
day was the reception of Cen. Grant. The
streets and public buildings and private
residences along the line Of the march
Of the procession We're proiuseiy decorated q:
aI parties Joined in the demonstrations. Gen.
Grant arrived at ! p. m. and the PROCESSION ex.
tending miles in length Immediately took up
its line of march. 1t was two hours In pass
ing given point. There was dense crowd
of citizens along the whole line Of march
Gen. Grant left the procession at the Palmer
house, and reviewed ii from temporary bal.
cony. After the review, Gen. Grant was for
mally welcomed by Mayor Harrison. He al
luded to the services of Gen. Grant during the
late war, to his generosity 10 Gen.
Lee, to his elevation to the Presidency
and to his retirement after two years in
accordance with the immortal example oil
Washington, and concluded as follows: Sir, in
the name of Chicago and its people, l proph-
esy that when time shall have grown old,
when the page of history shall become dim
by the side of the great exampler who has
gone before, your name and statue will be
placed by the side of Washington's and jeff
erson, and jackson and the immortal Lincoln
and with their memories will live the name
of Grant
GRANTS RESPONSE.
Gen. Grant, in reply, said:
Mr.. Mayor and gentlemen ofthe committee
of rec option Of Chicago and Illinois: feel
very much honored by the welcome which
am receiving at your hands to-day, l feel
highly honored by the pledge of welcome
which has been uttered by your worthy may
or, which is something so personal to myself
it would hardly be in good taste for me to re-
md 70 fha an 0f
therefore nothing for me to do but to convey
my thanks to this committee of citizens ofthis
city for the hearty reception which they have
given me. To one allusion of my reception
abroad, I win say that in every case / felt that
it was tribute to our country. ! will add
further, that our country stands differently
abroad in the estimate of European and East
ern nations from what it did o quarter of a
century ago. An American citizen is regard
ed in different light from the American citi-
zen of a quarter of century ago. At that
time it was believed we had no nation. L.
was merely confederation of States tied to.
gether by rope of sand, and would give
way upon the slightest frictien. They have
found out 1t was grand mistake. They
know we are now a nation, that we are q
nation Of strong and Intelligent and brave
people, capable Of Judging and knowing our
rights and determined on all occasions to
maintain them against either domestic or
foreign foe, and that is the reception you, as
nation, have received through me whilst
was abroad.
The reception given by the Army of the
Tennessee to Gen: Grant took place in the
evening at Haverlys theater, which was beau.
tifully decorated with flags, festoons, fiowcrE
and wreaths. Gov. Cullom made speech of
welcome to the Army Of Tennessee and to Gen.
Grant for the State of Illinois. Mayor Harri.
son, in brief speech, welcomed them to Chi
cage. Gen. Sherman felicitously responded.
Judge Gresham delivered the annual address
In it he said:
The names of Washington, Gincoln and
Grant will be familiar to the world in the cen.
turtles that are yet unborn. The last, and it
may be said with becoming reverence for the
illuetrious dead, not the least, OF the three, ia
still spared to his country. He returns 10 US
from his extended travels abroad, where hon.
ors and attentions have been showered upon
him by the hereditary governments Of the 9th
er hemisphere, and with q love for his own
country and confidence in i is institutions
which have been strengthened and confirmed
by his observations and experience in other
lands He concluded with glorious tribute
to Gen. Sherman.
Gen. Sherman arose and announced the con.
clusion Of the session. when the audience set
up shouts for Grant. This was persisted 10
until he arose. In response he suggested that
1t was better to follow the programme, and
he was not down for speech. The audience
laughed and renewed their demands for a
speech. Thcreupon Grant deliberately drew
from his pocket manuscript. and as deliber.
life:
After an absence Of several years from the
gatherings of the society of the Army Of the
Tennessee, 1t affords ME heartfelt pleasure to
be again with you, my earliest comrades in
arms In great conflict for nationality and
union of all the States under q free and always
to be maintained government In my long alb
sence from the country, / have had q most
favorable opportunity for seeing and compar-
ing in my own mind our institutions with
those OF all European countries, and most of
those OF Asia, comparing our resources de.
Veloped and dormant, the capacity and energy
OF our people for upholding the government
and developing its resources with most of the
civilized PEOPLE Of the world everywhere.
From England to Japan, from Russia TO Spain
and Portugal, we are understood, our resources
highly appreciated, and the skill, energy end
intelligence of the citizens recognized. NY
receptions have been your receptions They
have been everywhere kind and an acknowi-
edgement that The United States Is nation.
strong, independent, and free nation, com.
posed OF strong, brave, intelligent people cap.
able OF Judging OF their rights and ready 10
maintain them at all hazards. This is a non.
partisan association, but composed of men
who are united In a determination that no foe,
domestic or foreign, shall interfere between
us and the maintenance of our grand free and
enlightened institutions and the unity of all
the States.
The area Of our country, It's fertility, the en-
ergy and resources OF our people, with the
sparsity Of our population compared TO the
ARA, postpones the day for generations 10
come when our descendants " Ill have to con.
slider the question of how the soil is to support
them; how the most can be produced to sup.
port human life without reference to the taste
or desires OF the people, and when but few
can exercise the privilege OF the plain luxury
ofsoliciting the articles OF food they viii cat,
the quantity and quality IF clothing they wear
but will remain the abundant home OF all who
possess energy and strength and make coed
use Of them.
Ii we remain true to ourselves such coun
try IL one to be proud Of. am proud of ii,
proud that am an American citizen. Every
citizen north, south, east and west enjoys a
common heritage and should feel an equal
pride. / am glad these society meetings keep
up their interest 80 long after the events which
In q sense they commemorate have passed
away. They do not serve to keep up secttsslal
feeling or bitterness toward our late foe,
but they do keep up the feeling that we are q
nation and that II must be preserved one and
lndivisiblc. We feel and maintain that those
who fought and fought bravely on the opposite
ide from US, have equal elaine with ourselves
la all the blessings OF our great and common
country. We claim for them the right to
travel all over this broad land and select,
where they please, the right to settle, become
citizens and occupy their political or religious
convictions free from malediction or ostra.
cism, either on account of them or their con-
nection with the past. We ask nothing more
for ourselves, anc would rejoice to see them
become powerful rivals in the development
OF our great resources, and In the acquisition
Of all that should be desirable In this life and
In patriotism and love cfconntry. (Applause)