The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-12

of the Association. introduced the General
in the following speech:
GENERAL GRANT-The members OF the
Ex-Army and Navy Officers have come
here TO pay their compliments tn you. and
thew deemed this the most favorable op-
portunity."
General Grant responded as follows:
Gentlemen of the Ex-Army and Navy
Association: l have been s. much pre-
occupied that can not remain with you
long as have to leave for the depot in half
an hour to catch the train. l thank you."
The General then left the room, bowling
to the visitors, and Immediately proceeded
to pay his respects to the ministers.
RECEPTION BY THE MINISTER'S.
The General was then ushered into the
reception-room. where the Ministerial Ass0-
citation of the city had gathered to give him
a welcome. Nearly all the members of the
Association were present, and Rev. 8. F..
Fitch, in behalf of his associates, delivered
the following address of welcome:
GEN. GRANT-It is my duty and privilege
to extend to you the salutations of the
Evangelical Ministers Association of Gin
cinnati, and to assure you that in common
with all other citizens we rejoice in your
presence among US, Though far separated
in our pursuits from the duties of the SOL
dier and the statesman, we have not been
uninterested observers of the brilliant
events of your public career, both as a
General Of our victorious army and the
Chief Magistrate of the great nation.
We have also followed you with increas-
ing interest in your journey around the
world, and have read with pride the story
of the unprecedented honors bestowed
upon you. 1t has not lessened our pleasure,
however, that your reception in the lands
OF the Orient has scarcely surpassed in en-
thusiasm or magnificence OF the welcomes
of the Golden Gate and the Mistress of the
Lakes upon your return. 1t is meet that
the Queen of the Ohio should not be lack
ing in hospitality or appreciation, where
others have done so worthily.
But it is not only of these events in which
all our people have a common interest that
we would speak. If our call this morning
has ought of significance our warrant for
taking any of the time of your too brief
visit, it is that we may give expression to
our gratitude to you, sir, for the great SER
vices which you have rendered to our free
institutions at home and the admirable and
dignlted exemplification of them
while abroad. Recent troubles in Bos-
ton remind us that You, sir,
wero one of the first to discern the danger
that threatened our public schools and
recommended such legislation as should
forever make impossible any appro-
priation Of State or National funds for Sec
tartan purposes. Here, as at Fort Donald
son, you would make no terms but an un-
conditional surrender and expressed your
intention of moving at once on the enemy s
works.
As to your careful regard for the
National honor in all financial mat.
ters making the success of the pres.
ent administration possible; your many
utterances of tie principle of right.
eousness in distant places; your
kindly mediation in the interests of peace
between China and Japan; your ,appreci'
ative words concerning Christian missions
and emphatic utterance since your return
of the privilege and responsibility. together
with your confidence in the final triumph
Of all that is best in our institutions; il
only remains for ME to read a resolution
adopted at one OF our meetings:
"Resolved, That the past services of Ex.
President Grant to our country, the dig
nitY with which he represented -Four Nation
in his late travels abroad, and especially
his frequent public utterances of sound
moral principles, make it eminently proper
that the ministers of this Association should
welcome him to the Commercial Metropo
lis Of his native State.
"WEDNEsDAY, Dec. 10th. 1879
FRANK 8. FITCH, Chairman.
"a. RIrcHIE, Clerk"
General Grant then RESPONDED asfollows:
II feel very much obliged to you for your
kind W rk and this reception. A very few
minutes remain before the train leaves,
and l will only remark that am very
grateful for the interest you have shown"
Then followed general hand-shaking
for few minutes, and General Grant and
his party bid go ,dby to the large assembly
of people gathered about the Gibson House,
and took carriages for the Little Miami
Depot. The party goes to Columbus, where
a reception will be rendered them this eve
ming.