The National tribune., 1883-10-25
NATIONAL TRIBUNE: WASHINGTON G. THURSDAY

w WADHlNU1UN, ~. VI, IHU.
| for your country, made this Government not what
it was before, but what it is now not mockery of
but Government of authority, Government of
power, and q Government of freedom controlled
/ by free men. Unlike the armies that were led by
Alexander of old, who fought for control of worlds
as known to history; who fought for conquests and
| to conquer only; unlike the wars that have been
| prosecuted by other nations; unlike tho wars of
/ Napoleon who sought for Europe; unlike the wars
fought by Wellington, who carried out the plans of
diplomacy unlike the wars fought by other nations
of the earth this was war for the liberty of man.
| kind, for the unity of this country
that the Government might be one, whole In all
its parts, with the same privileges given to each
! and every man in any part of the country where
the flag was unfurled and floating. 1t was not war
| for conquest not war for power, not war for
| spoils, not war for glory and honor but war
where the people OF this country sought for union
of the States and the rights and privileges of men,
| and Union, my countrymen you made 1T. A
| Union that passed through the fiery furnace, n
Union that went through the blaze of the furnace
of steel and came out iron blistered. The Union to-
day is pure as the wines from the tIodden grape,
the Union to-day is like unalloyed gold the Union
Is bright and shining In the constellation OF the
| nations of the earth as the brightest gems taken
| from the Golcondas, a union of States, union of
sentiment union of glory, union of power, and
| a union of liberty forever. This is what you
complished. You accomplished this with your
| strong right arms; you accomplished this with the
burning patriotism that gowed in the bosom of the
your hearts were in the work you accomplished
this because you believed in the principles for
pished this, and in doing it You have set an exam
pie to the other nations of the earth that they well
| might follows
Now my fellow countrymen as said did not
| wish to detain YOU did not wish to take up your
time in talking at length, only say to you that
am glad that am with you. am always glad to
be with the Army of the Tennessee or with the
soldiers of any other army. claim nothing for
what did, for did nothing. claim for the SOL
der that carried the bayonet, whose patriotism
impelled him onward and forward, having leaders
| that led him in the path where he could perform
his duty and performed twel, to him be the honor
of saving and preserving this, the mightlest and
greatest nation now on earth.
GENERAL BELKNAP CALLED FOB.
Calls were made for General Belknap, who
responded briefly. Said he:
There is not time enough for me to express my
thanks for this compliment, but will take time to
say that when learned that the old commander of
the Third division of the Seventeenth CorpS-Gen-
eral Leggett-had been placed at the head of your
committee on arrangements, knew that this Re-
union would be a success. When first began to
learn to be soldier was taught that soldier
should be light and thin; that is far avoirdu-
pois is concerned and felt fear of my adapt
ability until l got to the field and General
Leggett pounding away, succeeding in everything
he did or undertook Then concluded that was
in favor of heavy-weights. I glad to be in
the Fourth division, because General Leggett was
in the Third SO that could be near him, like the
old lady in Iowa, who said she was glad her son
was in my division, the Fifteenth, because he
could be near his brother, who was in the Four
teenth. (Laughter.l In assuming to speak for the
men of Iowa who are here, thank General Leg
gett thank the beautiful ladies of this lakeside
city, and thank you. gentlemen of Cleveland, for
the reception we have met In Cleveland. lap
plause.
General Noyes came forward, also, to repeated
calls and spoke briefly. Said he:
In France when the soldiers who have fought In
wars for conquest and been crippled go abroad in
the streets, emperors and kings lords and princes
stand aside with uncovered heads to let them pass
by. We ask no golden dome for the Union soldier
ask not that the humbest citizen shall step aside
for US, but that we, the boys of '6l, grow
ing old and gray and are beginning the march
through the valley OF the shadow way to
the other side where our comrades are mustered
out shall we not leave to our descendants title of
nobility in their recollection that their fathers
fought to save the Nation7 tApplause.
General Lucien Fairchild recounted his re-
cent visit to the South. !" ] come here almost
with feelings of sadness" he said, turning to
General Sherman: :" came here direct from
your first battlefield"
"Bull Rum said General Sherman
Yes" continued the speaker, from Bull
Run. I saw where the shot and shell wrought
fearful carnage-where the blow was struck
that raised the patriotism of the Nation. /
came from the second Bull Run, where the
victory was almost ours but yet not ours.
saw the place where thousands of men had
marched in to meet their death. I saw little
who went over the field with me said, There
lies one of your men, and there, and there and
over yonder.' I went over the battlefield at
Gainesville and saw similar sights. But, my
friends, although I am sad to think that 80
many men perished, / am happy in the belief
that they did not die in vain. 1t is source of
happiness TO me that I have lived to see the
Government transmitted to our children pure
| and undefled-a Government in which every
man stands freeman and the equal of his fell
low. / thank you for the reception you have
given u.s."
Brief remarks were made by General Leg
gett, General Fletcher, General Force, and
others, and, at nearly midnight, the meeting
adjourned. Thursday afternoon two brilliant
receptions were rendered the visitors at the
beautiful residences of Col. w. H. Harris and
General Leggett. The ladies of the city and
the wives of the visitors aided in entertaining
the guests, and this feature of the visit proved
a most pleasant one.
THE BANQUET.
The banquet was held in the Roller Rink on
Euclid avenue The utmost pains had been
taken III preparing and in decorating the in
terror. Thousands of flags and banners, shields,
triumphal arches, portraits of distinguished
warriors the everything names of great battles,
stacks OF arms rows of cannon, paintings of
war scenes, shining words that recalled me-
morable events, tropical plants and blooming
MOWERS III endless prOiuslon, all lntertnlngied
with an artistic hand and lighted up with hum
dreds of gas jets and electric lights formed an
elaborate and beautiful scene. The rink had
been converted into bower of magnifcence,
and the tables in the midst of this varied tab
leau shone with fantastic adernment, burdened
with miniature forts and army divisions in
battle array with martial bands, booming can
non and streaming flags, all of which provided
each guest with souvenir of the occasion. On
a raised platform stood the tables where sat the
orators Of the evening and distinguished guests,
Sherman Fairchild, Logan, Belknap Fallows,
Hickenlooper, Strong, Governor Foster, Gov
ernors Fletcher, Fuller, Manning, and Chet-
lain. At the conclusion of the banquet Gen.
eral Sherman announced the toasts. Colonel
Henry Wilson, in an eloquent speech, respond
ed to the first toast, " The beginning and the
end" Governor Fletcher, of Mis-, told
What we fought for" and General Belknap
paid an eloquent tribute to The Western Sol
! dier.0 General Fuller recalled some of "The
memories ofthe wal" while Governor Chas Fos-
, ter responded for "The State of Ohio" "The
surgeons of the army" and The Grand Army
| ofthe Republic" were responded to respectively
by DR.. H. J. Herrick, of Cleveland, and GEN