The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-05-06

Ao mauy present who know and remem
ger you as their comrade and leader
curing the many years of the war, wher
tne eyes OF the civilized world were upor
.nem ana upon you. and when the unity oi
tne republic and the existence of constitu
tionaI government and popular liberty on
tnls continent seemed to depend upon
tnelr patrioti ,m and courage, guided by
your wisdom and skill, and supported BY
your never faltering irmness. In the
uarkest hour OF the struggle. general, your
m, 1Incers and soldiers never distrusted you.
ihey know that you would fight it out on
tnat line and on all the lines until the
arms OF the republic were triumphant and
its nag again respected aud honored every
Where. Gen. Palmer then related how
uen. Grant at the time of the rebellion
assisted 10 organizing the military at
springfield and how be won the confidence
OF the people, who have watched bis
career with pride.
concluding, the speaker said But
tneir numbers have been lessened by the
memorable work of time. Yates, the elo-
queni orator and patriotic governor, sleeps
quietly at Jacksonville; Dubois, the
rugged, generous Dubois, and Butler. the
others who you will remember followed
you to the field and perished there or have
died at their homes; while Gov. Wood so
earnest and sincere in his patriotism, near
the end of an honorable, useful life. is
struggling with age and disease at
quincy. and Hatch and Williams and
Mather and Bradford are present to greet
you again. They survive and with others
VINO nave passed through the periods of
anxiety and doubt that preceded aud
attended the war, and Of the depression
and bankruptcy which followed it's close.
are here. They have not escaped uuscath-
ed. Their locks are whitened and their
forms marked by age. bat they welcome
you to day and rejoice with you that
liberty is the law of the republic: that
peace and order and prosperity prevail
everywhere within its boundaries. l will
not detain you to the attentions of nv
fellow citizens, who are anxious to.tender
you in person proof of their sincere and
unaffected respect.
Gen. Grant responded as follows:
Gen. Palmer, Gov. Cullom. citizens of
Springfield and Illinois After an absence
from my country of nearly three years, in
which have made circuit of the globe.
it has seemed to me fitting and proper
that should come to this city from which
first started in the memorable struggle
In which first became acquainted with so
many y'cltizens of this state. | assure you
IT Is with great pleasure that / see you
here to-day and thank you for the hearty
welcome which has greeted me here. In
all my travels L can say to citizens here
before me, that none have a country, a |
climate, fertility of soil to surpass lust
what we have around this capital of the |
state of Illinois, and if all of you could |
see, as L Eave seen, other countries, other |
people and the struggle for life and exis-
tence there, it would make each |
one if possible a better citizen of his /
own country and he certainly would feel |
that he had nothing to complain of here.
Our Union, as Gen, Palmer has said, |
has cost US great struggle to preserve,
and see before me here many of those /
who went to the Geld with me determined
that it should not perish; and if they had |
seen what l haye they would feel certainly
as we'll satisfied that what they fought for
then was worth even more than the price
we paid for our present Union. Iu my
travels through our own country am
happy to say that thought | saw signs
of returning prosperity in the section that
we we're lately in conflict with, and with
prosperity returning love to the flag that
foats on this side of the platform. That
IS what we desire certainly, that there
snail De no sectional feeling, that there
should be substantial, solid unionfeeliug in
'very section of the country, and no mat
er what the public position of parties
nineteen years ago they should all feel
hat now they have a common interest in
he country and are protected by the same
lag, and if necessary should fight for it
,oo Gentlemen, | don't know that it is
necessary for me to say any more. re.
urn thanks again and give you an oppor-
unity to get out of the sun.
Miss Minnie Wright. of Mendoza, re-
'ited the poem, by the Left Flank"
after which a public reception was held 10
he Governors Office. lasting nearly two
hours. This evening Grant and party
we're entertained at dinner by Judge
stephen T. Logan. at the residence of
Ion: ID. L. Littler, after which General
md Mrs. Grant were rendered a public
ocial reception at the Executive Mansion.
ieneral Grant returns TO Galena TO NOR.