Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-18
Gen. Garfield i'm New York.

IN response 10 Il ScTenaue dJ Jile ullu aN'-
nue. hotel, New York, on Friday even
ing:
Comrades of the boys in blue and fellow
citizens of New York: cannot look
upon this great assemblage and these old
veterans that have marched past us, and
listen to the welcome from our comrade
who has Just spoken, without remember
ing how great IA thing it is to live in this
Union and he part of it. (Applause)
This is New York, and yonder towar the
battery more than hundred years ago a
Young student of Columbia college was
arguing the ideas of the American Revo-
luton and the American Union against
the un- American LOYALTY to monarchy OF
his college president and professors. BY
and by he went into the patriot army and
was placed on the staff of Washington
(cheers) to fight the battles OF his country,
(cheerS) and while in camp before he was
2l Years old upon drum head he wrote
a letter which contained every germ OF
the constitution of the United States.
(Appnuse.) That student, soldier, states
man and great leader of thought, Alexan-
der Hamilton of New York, made this
republic glorious by his thinking and left
his last impress upon New York, the fore
most state of the Union. (Applause)
And here on this Island, the scene OF the
early triumphs, we gather to night, sol
diers of the new war, representing Tue
same ideas of union and glory, adding to
the column of the monument that liam
iIton and Washington and the heroes OF
the Revolution reared.
Gentlemen, ideas outlive men Ideas
outlive all things, and you who fought IN
the war for the Union fought for immor-
tai ideas, and by their might you crowned
our war with victory. (Great applause)
But victory was worth nothing except Tor
the fruits that were under it, In 1t ana
above it. We meet tonight rs veterans
and comrades to stand sacred guard
around the truths for which we fought
Cloud and prolonged applause) and while
we have life to meet and grasp the hand
of a comrade we will stand by the great
truths of the war. ("Good,' Good"
and loud cheers) And, comrades, among
the convictions of that war which we
have sunk deep in our hearts there are
some that we never can forget. Ihink OF
the great elevating spirit OF the war itself.
We gathered the boys from our farms and
shops, and stores and schools, and homes,
and from all over the republic, and they
went forth unknown to fame, but returned
enrolled on the roster of immortal heroes.
(Great applause) They went in the splr-
| it of those soldiers of Henry Agncourt,
of whom he said: "Who this day sheds
his blood with me to-day shall be my
brother. Were he meier so vile, this day
shall gentle his condition" And it did
gentle the condition and elevate the
heart of every working soldier who fought
in it (applause), and he shall be our broth
er forevermore.
We will remember our allies who fought
with us. Soon after the great struggle
began we looked behind the army OF
white rebels and saw 100000 OF black
people condemned to toll rs slaves Tor
enemies, and we found that the hearts OF
a, ,OOO, 600 were God-inspired with the splr
it of liberty, and that they were our
friends. (Applause.) We have seen
white men betray the flag and hight to
! kill the Union, but in all that long, dreary
war, we never saw Il traitor in black
skin. (Great cheers) Our prisoners, es-
Gaping from the starvation of prison, fleelng
to our lines by the light of the north star
never feared to enter the black man s
cabin and ask for bread. Good, Good,
That's so. and loud ohoers.) In all that
period of suffering and danger no Union
soldier was ever betrayed by black man
or woman. (Applause) And now we
have made them free, so long rs we ilVe
we will stand by these black allies. (Re-
newed applause) We will stand by them
until the sun of liberty fixed in the hrma-
ment of our constitution shall shine with
equal rays upon every man, black or
white. throughout the Union. (Cheers,)
Now fellow citizens, fellow soldiers, in
this there is all the beneticences OF eternal
Justice, and by this we will stand forever.
(Great applause.) The great poet has
said that in individual life we rise
ION the stepping stones of our dead selves
to higher things" and the republic rises
on the glorious achievements OF It's dead
and living heroes to higher and nobler
national life. (Applauoe.) We must
stand guard over our post as soldiers, as
patriots, and over our country as the com
mon heritage of us all. (Applause.)
: thank you, fellow citizens, for tins
magnificent demonstration. In 50 Tar as
| represent in my heart and life the great
doctrines for which you fought, l nc 'ept
this demonstration as Il tribute to my re-
preventative character. (Applause) In
the strength of your hands, in the tervoI
of your hearts, in the tirmness OF your
faith, in all that betokens the greatness OF
manhood and nobleness Of character, the
republic finds its security and glory
5 (Applause.) l do not enter upon con
trVverted questions. The time. the place
the situation, forbid it. | respect thu
traditions that require me to speak only
: of these themes that elevate us all
Again thank you for the kindness ant
enthusiasm of your greeting. (Iremen
dous cheering)