The National tribune., 1882-09-23
THE WEIRS REUNION.

General Sherman Makes Stirring Address to the
New Hampshire Boys.
Special Correspondence National Tribune
WEIRs \. H., Sept. 15.-Over 5000 veterans
and between ten and twenty thousand specta-
tors gathered here to participate in and wit
ness the four days Reunion. These gatherings
of our brave veterans are becoming deservedly
popular and are always eminently successful.
The miserable weather experienced at times
during the entire period of the Encampment
did not dampen the ardor of the boys in the
least.
The patient crowd braved the rain and wit
messed the festivities. Camp Evarts w. Farr
echoed with songs and martial music continu-
ously. General Sherman, escorted by Gov
ernor Bell and other prominent citizens, was
greeted by an artillery salute as the train rolled
into the station, which reused the enthusiasm
The exercises were then proceeded with
The newly elected president, Gen. J. n. Pat
terson, introduced Gen. H. w. Fuller, who
delivered the Grafton. Then Gen. Sherman
was introduced by General Patterson. He was
received with three times three" and took
the stand amid the waving of hats and flags.
He then addressed the veterans as follows:
sHERMAN's SPEECH.
The cheers which greeted Sherman as he
stepped to the front were as enthusiastic as
any ever given in New Hampshire. He said: {:
" l have not come prepared with a speech. l
come, rather, at the request of the president of
your society as a witness coming before you to
lend testimony rather than appeal to the
feelings of your hearts, as you all know was
but one of those leaders who fought in the war
We are all veterans who realize that our days
Of fighting are past, and that our days of
peace and rest from the gun are here. / be-
lieve we fought a good fight, that we won
glorious victory, and that now we may rest in
peace, certain that that for which we fought is
now assured, and assured forever. (Applause.)
Not we alone, not the people of the United
States alone, but all mankind is interested in
the cause in which we became victorious. We
fought for all mankind, for all the earth for
all civilization, and now we stand foremost
among the nations of the earth with glorious
and magnificent future at which we may all
rejoice. My friends, l have come from Wash
ingtop purpOsely to meet you, who have come
to drink anew at the fountain of patriotism.
w IGl NOu uSdI IL SpOhCh Iis1J w hoslluSlOh 10
all corruption it is a great mistake. 1t is a
beautiful city, with fine population, and the
work of the Government is done well and eco
nomically. know our newspapers and public
speakers are apt to say that Washington is
sink of iniquity. 1t is not Sc; there are a
great many good people there yet. (Laughter.)
You may 90 there in peace and safety, and look
upon the Capitol and be proud Of the work of
your people. The Government collects over
$I,O00000 daily, every cent of which is ac-
counted for ] doubt if there is merchant on
the Merrimac who can show as clean set of
books as are kept at Washington. We soldiers
fought for freedom.
GROWTH OF TIE SOUTH.
Throughout the South to-day there is as
much freedom as there is in New England, and
You will probably see the same form of gov
ernment before long. New England has not
kept pace with the rest of the country. The
South has gained in population greatly, and
kept pace with the great West. She gained
fifty where the Northern and Western States
gained twenty-one. Anybody can fight stran-
gers. Anyone can shoot Indians, and it does
not take much courage to pull the trigger on a
foreigner. lIIauSnLcT.) DuV WHch you come
to shoot each other as we did when we fought
our Southern friends, sometimes in our own
streets, that calls for nerve, and that is what
| want the citizens to bear in mind when they
look upon the soldier. They had nerve; they
fought, conquered, and when it was done they
stopped and went home. (Appause.) We
have fifty million people to-day who are capa-
bic of going on the field and proving them
selves as good men as Sheridan, Sherman, or
Grant ever was. (Cheers.) The work is not
yet done. I do not think there is any more
civil war before u.s. but we must be prepared
for what God brings up and be true to our
selves, true to our country, and true to our
God" Cheers and applause.)
General Sherman was rendered big rccep-
ton at Tilton by Charles 4. Tilton.
Among the prominent persons present were
Secretary Chandler Gen. Walter Hartman,
Senators Rollins and Blair, Congressman Ray,
Col. A. S. Twitchell and Col. G. ID. Wright.