Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-11-20

a quarter of century ago. At that time it
WAS believed We had no nation. It was
merely confederation OF states tied to-.
gether by rope OF sand, aud would give
way upon the slightest friction. They have
found out it was q grand mistake. They
know we have now nation. Thst we are
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 thst is the reception you rs
a nation have received through ME whilst |
WAS abroad.
The reception given by the Society of
the Army of the Tennessee to Gen. Grant
took place this evening at Haverly's
theatre. The auditorium, the largest in
the city, was beautifully decorated with
flags, festoons of flowers and wreaths.
On either side the stage the inscription
in evergreens, Welcome to the Society
of the Army of the Tennessee" Above
the centre of the stage in like manner
were, Welcome, Commander" There
was also upon the stage representation
of the battle ground, back of Y cksburg,
in charge of the boys in blue, who
guarded the approaches, doing regular
sentry duty. The ground was strewn
with munitions of war, fascines, etc.
There was also arranged on each
side the stage, and facing the audience,
life-sized portraits of President Lin.
coin and Gen. Thomas. High above all,
on large banners, were inscribed the
names of the battle fields with which
the army of the Tennessee are Sc well
acquainted. Lesch's military band
supplied the music. The decorations
were almost solely designed and excu-
ted by Mr. Hayerly. The immense
building was filed to its utmost capacity
with an audience which upon the arrival
OF Gen. Grant and staff broke into hearty
applause. Upon the stage were seated
many of his prominent officers, includ-
ing Gems. Sherman and Sheridan. Gov.
Cullom, Mayor harrison, and other
dignitaries were also present.
Rev. DR.. Thomas opened the exercises
with prayer.
Gov. Cullom said nearly fifteen years
had passed since the army had COM
pleted tie task for which it WAS called
into existence ] hey had battled better
than they knew, for they had battled
for nationality, and the best safeguards
of the rights of the state. He welcomed
them and Gen. Grant to the borders of
Illinois. He paid warm compliment to
the soldiers, living and dead, of the civil
war, and especially mentioned those of
the Army of the Tennessee.
Mayor Harrison welcomed the Army
Of the Tennessee to Chicago.
Gen. Sherman, in response to the
addresses of welcome, said:
| We are richly welcomed tonight, by Mr..
Wasnburne, Gov Cullom aud Mayor Harri-
son, the las of whom dwelt strongly upon
the fact that Chicago would tor a consider
ton feed the world, and Chicago would
build railroad to the moon if the man in
rhe moon would hold ladder long enough
| for them to get there. In 1865, in Raleigh,
| N. c., before the fiuttering wings of peace
were heard even when the sound of cannon
and rifles were familiar to ell, a few COM
rades passed, in the senate chamber OF that
| city, resolutions which all the people ought
! to read, to show what was in this army at
the time. Kindness and charity pervaded
every line and syllable. The society meets
once year, not to celebrate victories, not
| to glory in achievements of arms, but to do
acts of kindness, keep alive kindly feeling
| and memories. We are society named
/
| its record, glorying in its deeds, and social
| in our nature and we have resolved to come
| together annually, and have affected that
| purpose for thirteen years, and we have
| recorded every word spoken and every deed
done, whether OF charity or reward, and they
are recorded and can be seen by the whole
world and they are very instructive. We
are tonight assembled and prepared to
make good the welcome of our old friend
| 4 H., -sy IaS
Ulysses s. Grant. He has been, like his
namesake, all around the world, and has
come back at last to his own land, and we
welcome him back in a simple, sodierly
| strain, and he who is to follow mo referring
to Gen. Gresham will probably enlarge
upon the subject, and therefore ] do not
intend to dwell upon it. | say 10 him | cBn
look upon these men and recognize friend
in every one, little older than when he
went away, but the same old fellows, and
we propose to meet every year, either in the
great city of Chicago or some other city
where we can get plenty to eat--and ] am
satisfied from what | have heard to-day
there are dozen different persons an1ious
to have us next year. Returning thanks ia
the kind patrons of to-day and evening,
will allow the proceedings to go on in the
order presented in the programme.
Gen. Gresham then arose to make the
annual address, at the conclusion of
which Gen. Sherman arose and an
nounced the conclusion Of the session,
when the audience get up shouts for
Grant. This was persisted in until he
arose in response. He suggested that it
was better to follow the programme, but
as he was not down for speech, the
audience laughed and renewed their
demands for speech. Thereupon Gen.
Grant deliberately drew from his pocket
manuscript and as deliberately read
the following, the longest speech of his
life:
After an absence Of several years from