River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-02-22
GENERAL SHERMAN.
A Birthday Banquet at the Age of 63
"A Good Speech.

A banquet was given at Washington on
the sth in commemoration ofthe sixty-third
birthday of William Tecumseh Sherman,
general of the army. The guests were Chief
Justice Waite, Gen. P. H. Sheridan, Speaker
J. Warren Kiefer, Senator Joseph r, Haw
lev, Marshall Morton McMichael, Stilson
Hutchins, Gen. Van Vliet, U. s. A.. Chief
Justice Carter, of the District supreme court,
Senator Sherman, Senator Logan, Justice
Macarthur, Senator Allison, H. J. Ramsdell,
Henry Watterson, Justice Stanley Matthews
and Justice Miller. In reply to toast to
his health, Gen. Sherman made speech of
some length from written notes.
He began by saying; According to our
family Bible, was born Feb. s, 1920; con-
sequently, am in my sixty-fourth year Of
life. and if survive another year will pass
from the active command of the army OF the
United States to comparative ease and re-
tirement. The law for the compulsory re-
tirement of all army officers at the age Of
sixty-four was in my Judgment wise and
proper. did not ask for or wish an ex-
ception in my own case, and | declare that
l then, as now, Apr owed the measure and
asked my friends not tn interpose any OBJ
iections by reason of its effect on me. /
think am duly grateful that have passed
through sixty-nine years of varied life with
my mind and body sound enough to prom
lie a reasonable remainder, and am thank
full to congress that a suitable and liberal
provision has been made for me and those
dependent upon me to en-
able us to live out our appointed
DAYS in comparative ease" He then re-
viewed briefly the progress of the world in
arts and civilization during the past century,
referred to stirring events which had taken
D ace in this country within that period,
and especially to wars in which the people
of the United States had been engaged. Re
ferring to the late civil wa, Gen. sherman
said: II need not speak to you of the civil
war It's history is written, and all who
now hear me remember its details. ! will
venture to say, however, in this connection
that friend and foe alike now share its glor-
les and fruits. No part of the Union expe-
rienccd a larger measure of profit than the
section over which we seemingly triumph.
| believe nine out of ten of the soldiers of
the south would to-day rather be me nbers
of our present glorious Union, ct peace
with all the world, than citizens of south
ern confederacy with slavery as the corner
stone and at constant war with their neigh
bors / have not the least desire, here or
elsewhere TO boast of nv share in that war.
but 1 90 feel a sense OF PRIDE and salts &C
ton that we, as people met
issues on that day like blave men and car
ried our ship through breakers, which for a
time appeared to be a shipwreck; that
!, ace and good order now reign supreme,
and that may lay aside the armor with
which have been clothed with honor and
safety. Another will take up the task where
l leave off, and our army will move on in
its glorious career to an ultimate destiny
which no man may foresee.p In conclu-
sion the general said: s'The occasion is not
suitable for me to say even this much, but
though my military career is in Its penuitl-
mate, cannot help pleading to my country
men at every opportunity to cherish all that
is manly and noble in the military profession
because peace is enervating and no man ID
wise enough to foretell when soldiers may
be in demand again.
Speeches were also made by Chief Justlce
Waite; Justice Miller, Gen. Sheridan, Sena-
tor Hawley, Senator Logan and Mr.. wat
terson.