The National tribune., 1883-12-13
THE LOYAL LEGION.
Characteristic Speech by Senator Logan, Of ILL.,


nois.
The second meeting of the season of TIE
Washington Commandery of the Military Order
of the Loyal Legion took place at the Airing
ton Hotel on Wednesday evening December 5.
Among the invited guests were Generals
Logan and RoSecrans, Governor Eli FL. Murray,
of Utah; Colonel Mike Sheridan and Captain
Volkman, of the staff of the general of the
army; Governor Curtin, of Pennsylvania and
Senator Ben Harrison, of Indiana. At the
banquet Senator Hawley, the newly elected
Commander, took the head of the table, hanked
right and left by Past Commander Senator
Miller OF California, and the German Minister,
Baron Isenberg.
General Van yliet, the prince of bonvivants,
always to the fore when fun and good cheer
abound, was on hand with his improvised glee
club, VINO led OFF with that notable melody,
Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are March
ing Age has Whitened his abundant locks,
but has not dimmed the fire of his eye, nor
brought a culver to his voice, non yet faded his
rubieund complexion. In response to toasts,
Ex-Governor Curtin, the happiest after-din
speaker in this or any country, spoke of his
recent trip over the Northern Pacific, and of
the boundless pleasure it afforded him to re-
fleet that this great country was one and in
sporadic. OF his own part in the war the
great war governor spoke with becoming pride,
relating several interesting anecdotes relating
to his frequent visits to the front, where he had
gone TO look after disabled Pennsylvania sol
diers.
General Murray, in response to call from
the Commander, spoke of the early days of the
war in his native State kentucky, where the
duty of serving ones country often required the
sundering of social ties, and involved personal
sacrifice unknown to volunteers in the North
ern States.
The presence of General Logan reminded
m of afc r.Yad.s 4i~aa
hibited by private soldier in Legan's corps
that he had often wished he could initiate.
1t was during the heat of battle at Resaea
His brigade of cavalry had held position on the
front line until the infantry came forward to
relieve him. "As that magnificent command
swept forward said the general, through
storm of shot and shell / saw a soldier on
double-quick to the front picking chicken"
Baron Isenberg, ii response to a toast to the
German Empire, said that it seemed to him
that a meeting of the Loyal Legion was an
appropriate place in which to speak of legion Of
loyal Germans who had made this great country
their home. In his travels in various parts of
the world he had observed the intelligence and
gentiemanly bearing of American officers both
Of the army and navy, and he attributed much
of the respect in which the American Nation
was held by foreign people to the dignity and
courtesy of these representatives of the mill
tary and naval seryice-a compliment which
| the gentlemen of the army and navy present
received with evident relish.
TO the toast The Union and the Constitu-
ton" Senator Logan responded as follows:
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND COMRADES OF THE LoYAI.
LEGION. have Speech having Just this mo-
ment arrived, and sir.ee taking my seat find
that directed by the commanding officer
to respond TO the first toast. To this toast
much might be said but viii be very brief. The
! Union, as il Is now designed under the amended
| Constitution, is not the Union of the past, with
Liberty written upon its brow, but with oppression
rampant in its heart; with freedom upon its banner
and tie chains OF slavery forged by its power; with
freedom sham and the rights OF men a bar
rcn pretense. AS NOW designed and intended to
be understood. however, it is q Union iron bis
tered in the fire Of steel, cemenfed by the best
blood of the land. with the brow OF liberty dec1cd
and ieweled with reality and glory that shines
as brilliantly as the stars the plains OF heaven;
ii Is Union Of States held, ii We're by hooks OF
steel; Union of common interest; OF common
/ purpose, one that when passion eools, viii last
with human governments when all men las it
/ viii finally cone1o be- shall have the same rights
/ not only guaranteed, but recognized and enforced
! by one common sentiment, demanding a strict
enforcement of the rights of all the Citizens under
/ the Constitution and the laws. Applause
But what has produced the great change, and TO
/ whom are we indebted for all this? To the sol
dlel ard 10 the loyal people of this country, would
be the response from all here tonight, / am very
sure. sfis grand achievement for the benefit of
1 huniasttS aid true Republican Government must
/ not, however, be claimed 10y any set of
men. Tie soldiers bore the greatest bur-
dens, and are entitled 10 equal share in all the
1 praise and glory that belongs to our success APP
| plause
Nor could we alone, without other factors,
| have made the success as grand we did Be-
hind US and with were the masses of the people
The business interest that sustained the credit of
| our Government, and all the power Of the loyal
people was exeTted in our behalf We had their
| sympathy, their energy, and their prayers with us
1 We had the good women of the land with us at
home, in hospital with the sick, with the wounded
and the dying. They came like ministering angels
sent from heaven to soothe the feelings, TO smooth
the brow, and TO give comfort and consolation to
the suffering. lAppiausel Angels seemed to be
reaching their hands out from the windows of
Heaven 70 these good women, giving them en-
| enlargement TO go in their good work and
when their mission on earth is ended, may they
ascend to the great white throne of our Father
where they can forever sing the praises of Him who
| guided us in our great struggle to final victory
| tAppause.l