The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1879-11-20
GRANTS LOSGEsTsPEECn.

Gen. Granite reception at Chicago
was the most suthusisstie q any Elk
cept San Francisco. The following is
his speech fclivcfed ut the reRssem-
bling Of the associuiOn nf the Army Of
The Tennessee, and Is said TO be the lon-
gcst speech hc ever made:
After an absence OF several year s
f.om lie gathering Of lie Society, OF
the Army Of tie Tennessee, IL affords
ne heartfelt pleasure TO bc again with
you, my earliest comrades in the army
in a great conflict for nationality and
the union Of all the States under one
free aud always TO be maintained Gov
eminent. In my long absence from
the country, ! have had a most fa9ora-
bic opportunity for seeing and compar-
ing In my own mind our institution 5
with all those of Europern countries
and most Of those Of Asla-comparing
our resources, developed and dormant,
the capacity and energy Of u people
foIupholding the Government and de-
veloping its with most OF the
civilized people OF the world. Every
where, from England TO Japan, from
Russia to Spain aud Portugal, we are
understood. Our are highly
appreciated, and the skill, energy and
intelligence of our citizens recognized.
My receptions have been your recep-
tons. They have been everywhere
kind, and acknowledge that the Uni
ted States is a nation, a strong, indie
pendent and free nation, composed Of
strong, brave and intelligent people,
capable of judging their rights and
ready to maintain them at all hazards.
This ia 4 non-partisan association,
but composed of men who are united In
4 determination that no foe, domestic
or foreign, shall interfere between us
and the maintenance of our grand and
free and enlightened institutions and
the unity OF all the States. The area Of
IL country, its fertility, the energy
and resources Of our people, with the
sparsity of Il population compared to
the area, postpones the day for genera
tons to .Cnmewhen our descendants will
.oe a pA'b4~A@Qnah. question of how
the soil is to support them, how the
most can be produced to support hui
man life without reference to the tastes
or desires Of the people, and when but
few can exercise the privilege of the
plain luxury of selecting the articles
Of the food they will cat, the quantity
and quality of the clothing they wear;
but will remain the abundant homes Of
all who possess emery and strength and
make good Use of them if we remain
true to ourselves. Such Il country is
one to be proud Of. 1 am proud of it.
proud that | am an American citizen
Every citizen, North, East, South and
West enjoys Il common heritage and
should feel an equal pride. am glad
these societies keep up their meetings,
so long after the events in which in Il
sense they commemorate have passed
away. They do not serve to keep up
sectional feeling or bitterness toward
IL late foe, but they do keep up the
feeling that W. are a nation and that it
must be preserved one and indi visible.
We feel and maintain that those who
fought, and fought bravcly, on the OPP
positc side from us have equal claims
with ourselves in the blessings of
great and common country. We claim
for them the right to travel all V erthis
broad land and select where they please
the right to settle, become citizens
and enjoy their political and religious
convictions free from molestation or
ostracism, either on account of them or
the connection with the past. We ask
nothing more for ourselves and would
rejoice to see them become powerful
rivals in the development of our re-
sources, in the acquisition of all that
should be desirable in this life, and in
patriotism and in love of country.
[Applause.]