National Republican., 1883-02-09
GEN. SHERMAN.

general oil the armies OF the United states.
GEN. SHERMAN.
When the applause which greeted the
culonel's speech had subsidized Gen. Sherman
responded, saying:
NJ! good friend, Col. Corkhil at tho time of
Offering me tins great compliment. was kind
!. enough TO give notice that he would propose my
health and CxreGt n response; that tie press
would be at hand, and that must not io sur
piised II uur dOugs aud sayings gut into the news.
papers. Now the press has II wuy of making us
do things we never meant to do, and TO say things
we never meant IT, say therefore, beg you TO
pardon me for having, against my usuge, prepared
notes and IT, in referring to them. bore you,
"CharIe 1t to Buster
According to our family Bible was born on the
eighth Of February, 1870, consequently am in my
sixty fourth year of ilic, and If survive another
year will pass from the active command of the
army Of the United states 10 Il lie of comparative
case and retirement. The law for the compulsory
retirement Of all army officers at the age of sixty
four was, IN my Judgment, wise ana proIer. did
not ask for or Wish an exception III my own case,
and declare that th,n, us nOw approved the
measure nid asked my friends NOT TO interpose
any objections by reason Of its effect on me. ]
think am duly grateful that have passed
through sixty three years of varied life with mind
and body sound enough TO promise reasonable
remainder and am thankful to congress that
suitable and liberal provision has been made for
me and those dependent on me to enable MS to
i've out our appointed days in comparative ease.
When we who are seated at this table tonight
look back over the past hulf century and compare
IL with any other equal period OF which history
treats, we must confess that our lot bus been Il
happy one. steam and electricity have brought
oil parts OF the human family into closer and more
that before another century passes Burns's propE
esy Will be fulfilled, and
"When man to man, the warld DER
Shall brothers DC for q thatv
The photograph, tho Telephone, the Mccormick
reaper, and hundleds Uf lubOr.s,ving machines
have in our day vastly added to the worlds
his fair share Of the fruits OF The earth and the en-
bellSumtnts OF liie But on this particular occa-
sion feel sure you would, rather have me come
nearer tie OCCASION which brings US together.
Though watching with intense Interest the
course ut pubic events throughout the world, my
own personal and professional experience has
brought me more closely in contact with the stir.
ring events OF our own iand-thC Florida war, the
MeXicAn wul, tho civil war, aud of that other
greater war; which began when the first pilgrim
stepped ashore at llYmouth Rock and is not yet
ended, namely the war Tor The extension of civil
they are part Of The grand machinery by which
this world is goyeruCd-thunder storms which
purify the political atmosphere, test the manhood
OIL leOple, ana Prove Whelher lhey be WOrlhy TO.
take rank with others engaged In the same task by
different methods Looking bnCk over these wars,
even nt THIS short distance OF time, they already
seem 10 be meIe episodes III the general history,
accomplishing valuable results which could not
have been iCuchCd IN any other way.
PHrRduAiCal as u may sound wars in our COun-
try have always been madh by men who profess
peart, and peace lus been made possible by those
peacGmakers ut our country; and, again. few of
The men WHO clus Il these wars ever saw ut the
time INC zeal gONseQlN nCeS even TO lnClr own gem
eiauoh, Many Ol lhc elders now present can re-
call the battle cry OF lSl6-" American blood has
been shed on American soil consequently war
when Gcn, Taylor himself had asserted thai his
army would be an invader the moment he crossed
tho NueGvs river. 1t is reported that Ger. Grant
has recently said that had no Just cause o! war
with MeNiCoi yet who of us now VIII question
the great truth that the fruits OF that
war have been most bountiful and bencl-
System OF government from the Atlantic
g. tho Pacific, ana from the Sabine to the lilo
Grande; converting lands whcl had remained
for centuries IN lnc possession Of wild beasts ana
wider sGNngcs into prosperous states and terri
tories IN ne SNORT period OF thirty seven years.
IN consequence Of thHt war the flag of the United
states was hoist, over the old custom house at
Monterey Cnl., On tho sixth day OF July, 1916, by
pauy ui artillery sent around Cape Horn $4,000
miles, in smiling ship, cunsuming l9S days in the
yoyage, t. G"rl,oll uo place We found a Gordi.
itself but not in harmony with The busy world
outside.
Gold was discovered in the spring of f1SlS, when
began that most marvellous change which reached
the ullCTmoSt parts of earth; but the genius of
our people ana Of our peculiar form of govern
ment proved equal 10 the event. PundemOnIum
prevailed for Time, but urdcr came out of chuos
and there arose on our western iirmanCnt that
bright star, California, wach has exercised n
positive influence on The destiny of mankind
ever since. | was sitting one duy in Monterey
with native lady, sul! living, held by us then
and and now III great honor who was looking
over an illuminated Bible. Coming TO the chill
dron Of Israel sitting by the wiyslde waiting for
"These are my countrymen, sitting mt ease, wait
ing for the cattle to breed that they may have
meat turning leW more pages, she came TO
Moses in the desert, who hud tapped the rock aud
water had guShed forth, and said, "This is a YAM
kee. No sooner has he reached California than
he strikes the earth with his pick and shovel,
whcI gold comes forth. and with II MI the enter
PRISE ana wealth of the Yankee race"
Mexico had then held California for u hundred
years, and we found II uninhablted, undevcOped,
with no san Francisco no commerce. no manu-
iuGInres' no communication WIN the outer world
nothing 10 prove that 10y practice she was qualified
10 make that region tulHll its natural destiny. In
1879 tie population lad so Increased that they de-
manded The right 10 enler the union Of American
states, Hnu tuat light had 10 be admitted.
sun California was Mr aWay-two thousand
miles OF inleNenlng wilderness, occupid by saw
ngo tribes Of luGiuns-whCu enterprsing men
established steam lines by Panama and by Nica-
Iaguu. These shortened the time 10 twenty four
daS s. and yet this aid not satisfy the demand.
Nothing but a railway would answer the purpose,
and congress made provision for the survey of the
four great transcunuucntUl lines, which were con-
ducted in lSal-'5-6r under jon Davis, secretary Of
war. Estimates OF cost were made, but the least
tgure-Sl2O,OlOOOO-Wu Il sum of money 100 large
I'd anybody Mt that day 10 comprehend.
Thea CAME the civil wHr-unc Of tho most
e-luscless foolish wars ever devised by the brain
of man. We cum now look back on IL with as
much calmnesS and philosophy MS we can ON any
other past event, We can now sean its causes,
the early confusion aud disasters, the asscmblago,I
of its vast armies, tho bloody battles, segcs, and
tumults without number, ana all The possible
complications of civil war. In my Judgment
slavery was the preteXt, and political ambition
the real cause. Though half million Of precious
lives were suCrihCed though thousands Of millions
of dollars were wasted, though devastation ana
ruin marked the land from Pennsylvania to the
gulf, great and lasting good has resulted; slavery
has forever disappeared from our country, the
strength OF our government has been proved, the
manhood OF our people universally recognized, !
and the minds OF our leading men raised to
level with the demands OF the age.
In the very throes OF the war, when success was |