Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-07-18
Speech of General Andrew
HickeRlOOper.

The ex-Army and Navy Society, of Gin
cinnati, last week, visited the Soldiers and
Sailors Home, at Dayton, on which occa-
sion a number of short speeches were made,
prominent among which were rsmarks by
the Republican candidate for Lieut.. Coy
ernor, Gen. Andrew HickenlOOper.
The Enquirer's report is as follows:
After a good and substantial dinner,
Senator Stanley Matthews arose and in
few well chosen words introduced ''Gener-
| al Andrew Hickenlooper, the next Lieuten
ant Governor of Ohio" General Hicken-
| looper, in quiet, business-like way, arose
and went at his speech at once. lie spoke
| earnestly and elOguently. He said:
Comrades: 1t affords me pleasure 10 re-
spond to your call. l am sure that you
all, with myself feel happy in being once
more permitted to visit this beautiful
Home which grateful Republic has pro-
/ vided for our war-wOrn veterans, and their
willing hands have adorned and beautitied
to such an extent as to make it almost i'm
possible to realize that it is not the work
| of magic. That here where We now stand
was but few short years ago almost a
barren waste.
/ to the establishment of the institution, it
appears like mirror rejecting the won
| derful changes which have followed each
\ other with lightning-like rapidity within
/ the brief period Of eighteen years, fixing
| the impression so wildly upon our minds
| that it appears as but last nights dream,
/ in which we seem to hear the first low
mutterings of discomfort coming from the
| South, as comes the first rumblings OF the
/ thunder which presages the coming storm.
The believing of the guns Of my old bat
/ tery, which now stand silent on yOndeF
| lawn, (applause) the wild excitement fol-
| lowing the first insult to our flag, the fir
| ing on Sumter, the cali to arms, the pain
| full separation from loved and loving
| friends, the first disaster at Bull Run, the
| first glorious victory at Donelson, where
was born to fame the greatest of soldiers
and Wisest of statesmen, U. ). Grant,
loud applause) the bloody field of Shiloh;
the frowning heights of Vicksburg, the
terrible battle of Gettysburg, upon the
fate of nation hung trembling in the
balance; the battle above the clouds; that
long and tedious campaign, which was
ended by the electrifying message OF our
grand old chief, atlanta is ours and
fairly won;" the romantic march to the sea;
the fall of Richmond; the homeward march
and grand review at Washington; the fin
al muster-out and complete absorption, as
if by magic, of half million veteran sold
iers in the quiet pursuits of civil life.
But dreamlike as that all appears, it is
not less wonderful than the civil and po-
litical changes which so rapidly followed.
Who among us at the close of the war
would have believed that within a period
.e Oh o-E
would be occupying our legislative halls,
debating laws for us to obey; that in no
inconsiderable portion of our country, SER
vice in the "Lost Cause, would still be 3
condition precedent to political prefer
ment, and the wearing Of the blue would
be a badge of dishonor and social criticism.
(Applause.)
speak not as politician, but as fel-
low soldier and loyal citizen, and as a low
er of my country, to men who shared with
me the heat and burden Of the day; to
men, who. in the light Of recent events,
appear to have suffered in vain, and the
memory of whose valient deeds appears to
be only too rapidly passing away.
While we should cherish no feelings OF
resentment toward our late enemies i'll the
field, and most earnestly desire that all
unkind thoughts engendered by the un-
happy strife should be forever buried in OBJ
livion, never can be made to think, say
OF believe that SIT was a mere question of
Greek meeting Greek, without special
credit to one side or discredit to the other"
that there is no difference between loyalty
and treason, or no more credit due the
soldier who struggled to maintain, than
the one who attempted to destroy our Ma
tIOnal unity. cloud and long applause.)
To feel otherwise would be to insult our
loyal living and brand with infamy the
memory of our dead comrades.
TO my mind there is vast difference
between reconciliation and TetrGetlOn, be-
tween magnanimity and cringing serVillty.
For myself I have no apologies to make,
and only favor a reconciliation based upon
the admitted justness of the cause for which
we fought, and from the effects of which
our country is still suffering; for recon
ciliation based only upon the admitted
justness Of every war measure upon our
statute books, including payment in hon
est money OF every pecuniary obligation
incurred in putting down this causeless re-
belliOn, (applause) for a reconciliation bas-
ed only upon an acknowledged equality
under the law of every loyal citizen of the
Republic, whether he be black or white,
Jew or Jentile, Northerner or Southerner;
for a reconciliation based Cnly upon the
acknowledged supremacy of National au-
thority oyer State rights.
But l will never, never, be for any re-
Cancellation which involves the expense Of
National honor or the surrender Of princi-
pies to sustain which we marched through
the throes and commissions of civil war to
a final and complete triumph. Cloud aP-
plause) And now comrades, before part
ing, name but one wish to express, but
one favor to ask: As soldiers be true to
yourselves, be true to your army record,
and, above all, be true to the great princi-
pies which form the very foundation to
the government you have done so much TO
preserve. (applause.)