The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-08
GEN. SHERMAN.
The General of the Army Addresses the
Citizens of Portland, Oregon.
Portland News, Aug p.

Portland News Aug p.
A reception was rendered Gen. Sherman
on Saturday After speeches by Mayor
Chapman and Major Sears, Gen. Sherman
said;
Mr. Mayor and Commander of the Grand Army.
l came here tonight TO meet you on your own
invitation. When l ouk behind this thin rank
here, this few stand of arms, a large mass of
people, and find the galleries full, it changes
somewhat the aspect of the case. | needed no
assurance of a welcome to Portland. This is my
fourth visit since the close of the war. To be
sure, the same people are not here now then,
but the same spirit exists, the same friendliness,
the same grasp of the hand as of yOTe, and did
not need words nor do ask for deeds of well
come to this great, growing and future city of
the Northwest. Nevertheless, l am deeply
thankful TO you all, comrades and, friends
greeting TO old soldier who remembers
| oregon forty years ago, when the Indians
| were here where Portland now stands; who re-
members when the Columbia river was beau
| tiful clear stream before the miners began to
muddy 1t, and before the forest fires ohscured
Adams, Hood st. Helens and Rainier. WeIhave
! Just come over new rOad-a hard road to travel,
hOys But l am one of. those who like to see
new things, and mad come by every other road
known 10 man, and thought | would take a
| new road, and so come around by British Column
| bia. We have come to Portland from the NORTH
| i'll coed health and good strength feeling well.
taking our ratons regularly and ready to do
more. AS l expected some Of the American cit
liens to follow their usual bent and call for
| speeches, took the precaution to bring man
| along who is a strong man. heavy man, and [
am going to throw off on him tonight the bur-
| dens of speech making.
Now, gentlemen of Portland, you are still the
mere pioneers. You think you have got a fin
ished city and a finished country. Why, you
have not begun yet. You have not started yet.
The old pioneers of '4S and '49-I suppose few
if any, are in this room-the pioneers OF 80 to
80, and go to 10. and you young men whose
faces now see, are the pioneers of the future.
And we old men, who are passing from the stage
of life, commit to you the grand task of build
ing up this Northwest and making it equal, if
ut IN hR pif off ha East md
TO those of the great valley of the mississippi,
and connected to you by iron rails, which, like a
tube placed between two barrels of water. viii
soon make the TWO equal in contents So you
will soon be populated by millions instead
of thousands and hundreds, and you
must prepare the way for those who
are coming, clear the forests, open up the Mines
prepare Your fisheries, every thing-develop
every resource from British Columbia down to
the California line, for there will be a crowd OF
people coming here, and you will be put to the
test to feed and clothe them and prepare them
for their future Now, my friends, you have
done miracles You have done great things
BY the industry aud thrift of your fathers and
yourselves, you have built up here in Portland
city lighted with electricity, traversed by street.
cars, good school-houses, brick buildings three
and four stories high churches, commOdiOus
wharves, and everything which goes to promote
civilization and bring wealth to a country. You
have done your share. Let the young man
keep this on ten years, and another ten years.
and another ten years, so that when they
come to be old like l am they can look back as 1
do with pride, and view the development that
has taken from under their eye. have seen this
city and the whole Pacific coast grow up. came
here in 1S46 before most of you were born.
remember when there was no man here in Port
land-nor woman either.
1 wish you all prosperity. hope you will keep
what God has given you-health and strength
and manliness. Above all things, remember the
sacrifices this little body of men pointing to the
Grand Army of the Republic] made that you
might have a common country, common flag
and common destiny, who maintained that
spirit of freedom which bound us together and
made us one nation forever and forever. AL
ways revere the nag, which is the symbol of our
nationality, and all the peace and glory which
now crowns US, and which L hope Will be i'm
mortal.