Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-20
sponeed in a short speech, the words Of which

did not reach the reporter.
Gen. Garfield was called for. He didn't want
to talk much when there were so many good
speakers on the stand He was member OF
the society anyway and this speech-making
was for the guests. He proposed that some OF
uena then be given en- chance and a., suggested Gen;
Congressman, and could not make good
speeches. He, however, made very good one
THE CALL FOR GENERAL GARFIELD
was imperative. He said that General Mcdowell
him for being Congressman. He (Gar1eld)
knew that it was not altogether creditable; but
he took it for granted that his old relations with
the Army OF the Cumberland would atone for
that. [Laughter.l That army had had the great
coed fortune to have very little to do with
Washington. Some OF his friends on the Poto-
1ngton; or, rather, Washington had had too
much to do with them. [Laughterl The Army
OF the Cumberland had been so far from politics
and politicians that it had got along pretty
well without any dissensions In conclusion,
he euloghed the social and soldierly qualities OF
General Thomas, whose statue had been un-
yelled to-day.
SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT.
Calls for % Hayes" Hayes" rose as soon as
Gen. Garfield retired. The President came for
ward and said:
Ny Friends OF the army Of the Cumberland:
thank your committee for the courtesy which
enables me to be present with you tonight to
take part with you on this agreeable family
meeting. l do not propose to enter upon any
discussion of the principal topics of the day.
The history OF the Army of the Cumberland all
intelligent Americans know by heart. What
nobler monument has ever been erected to any
hero than the monument which has been al
luded to by my friends here tonight? 1t was
my fortune to hear that great speech delivered
in Cleveland, Ohio, by Gen. Garfield thought
at that time that IL was the greatest speech
that had ever been made on such an occasion
memorial address in honor OF a patriot and
soldier And again, to-day, what a mighty
speech we listened to on the same great subject!
Therefore, l am precluded from entering on
that subject, and, as my friend Garfield remarks,
that perhaps there was little malice in Gen.
McD0wel's forcing him upon the stand l am
not so sure but that there was a little of that
feeling in his heart when he turned the audi
ence to me. But yet feel somewhat like tax
ing up the gauntlet. He reflects upon and
abuses congressman and politicians, and l am
called upon to defend them. But they need no
defence. Loud laughter.l And passing from
that, my friends, want to correct him in an
other small matter. He says you are invited,
my friends OF the Army of the Cumberland, and
your friends, too: to visit the White House to-
morrow night. want to correct it by saying
Gen. Garfield.-"I hope l was not mistaken
about that?'
President Hayes.-,"No by no manner of
means, Ilaughter,I only you put it Off too long.
We want to see you at I O'Clock. There is a
gentleman here whom l do not know but
whom want to shake hands with. While we
TO honor the arsist who has given us that sta
tue And so wish some one to say to Mr.Ward
that Mrs. Hayes and myself Will be glad to see
him tomorrow evening"" [ApplauSe.l
Gen. Van vliet was the next speaker He was
classmate of Gen. Thomas, and made very
interesting address.
SECRETARY M'CRARY
was then called for. He said that he knew not
what a civilian could say upon the occasion.
He would however, extend to the Society of the
Army of the Cumberland the hearty greeting of
the people of his own state Qowa), and say that
they took great interest in this society, and
earnestly desire to join in giving all honor to
that patient, patriotic soldier, George II.
Thomas. The people of that state will render
all honor not only to the Officers but the men
who fought for the Union. He spoke of the part
taken in the war by Iowa. Her men went out
under Grant, tcheers, sherman and Thomas to
show that this is an indissoluble Union. The
Union forever shall be inseparable. We may
hope and believe that this great nation is now
entering upon career Of grandeur and mag
niticence never paralleled. All this and the
future of our great, strong nation we owe to the
men like Thomas, who fought the battles.
GENERAL sLoCUM
followed. He said that under the rule of Gen.
wasn't zone of u.s." he wanted to know who he
was. He congratulated the society upon the
success OF the statue ceremonies. He also re-
turned thanks to the people of Washington for
the welcome extended the army.
ATTToNEY GENERAL DEvENs
made the last speech. He Said:-I, gentlemen
was not a soldier Of the Army of the Cumber-
land l was soldier of the Army of the Poto-
our army until the rebel flag went down at Ap-
pomattoX never to Haunt the breeze again. do
not assume to speak in the presence OF Nc
Dowell and Hancock from any other reason ey-
cept from my services under them. This day,
in limited and narrow sense, is your day, COM
radeS of the army of the Cumberland, but in q
larger and wider sense it is ours. 1t is day for
the people and TO all those who, though never
in the field stood by the government in its great
struggles for the Nations life It is day also
for those OF the south who know that the fight
is done and can say cordially and without men
tai reserve that they acquieSce in the results of
the war. We are ready to welcome them all
back on these simple terms 1t Is a day too for
all the soldiers OF all the armies Of the Union.
You have brought here and reared this endur-
ing memorial to your great chleftian within
the lines OF what was once the Army OF the
Potomac. You have dedicated it here by a
noble Grafton whose words have hardly died
away in our ea $, but whose thought win re-
main when after years have departed. While
to the Army OF the Potomac was committed the
defense of the capital and the defense of this
line. yet that defense could only be maintained
by your aid, comrades OF the Cumberland, Ten.
nessee, Ohio and the Gulf and all the armies OF
the United States. Every blow you struck was
struck for us. The place where the capital is to be
defended is upon the frontier. The place where
The citadel is TO be defended is the outer guard OF
the city, and so the strength that you gave to
our arms was the courage that you gave to our
hearts, when you sent to us the news of the
ringing victory at Nashville. And here in the
Nations Capital. the emblem of the Nations
life, you have reared this Capital memorial.
IL
stands to-day, crowned by the cunning hand OF
the artist as he depicts your great chieftain.
with the emblem OF lofty patriotism fidelity to
duty and OF love OF country.
The band struck up Marching through
Georgia." The audience sang it and sang 1t
again. They then quietly left the tent.
The Meeting To-day.
The Society of the Army of the Cumberland
met at ten O'Clock this morning In Wizards
Hall, old Boreas having blown down the tent on
the White Lot during the night. The meeting
was called to order by Gen. VIM. McCrary, OF
Minneapolis, MINI.
GEN. ANDERsONs LOYALTY TO THE UNION.
Gen. Sherman read letter from the widow
and daughter of Gen. Robert Anderson repell-
ing with the warmth Of tilial feeling the inSlnu-
alton that Gen. Anderson had ever Swerved In
his loyalty to the union.
General Sherman offered a resolution, which
was adopted by a unanimous rising vote, that
the heartfelt sympathy OF the Society of the
Army Of the Cumberland, be extended to the
widow and daughter OF Gen. Anderson, and that
the society will ever remember him as the first
commander of the Army OF the Cumberland, ,and
that nothing but the poverty OF the society re-
strained 1t from erecting suitable monument
over his grave at West Point. 1t was decided to
ask the consent Of Mrs. and Miss Anderson for
the publication in the records OF the society of
the respective letters of Mrs. and Miss Ander-