The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-02-09
LATEST TELEGRAMS
TEcUMP, TALKS
or Mts Own Life and the
Array.

AG~Xa
Washington, S.-The following is
an abstract of the speech of Gen
eral Sherman at q banquet com
memOrating his SD birthday. Cen
eral Sherman began as follows:
According to our family Bible, l
was born on the 9Th of February,
1920, consequently am In nay cath
year, and If | survive another year,
will pass from the active command
of the army of the United States, to
a life of comparative ease and re-
tirement. The law for the compul.
sary retirement of all army officers
at the age of "a, was in my judg-
nent wise and proper. / did not
ask for or wish for an exception in
my own case, and / then as now ap-
proved the measure, and asked my
friends not to interpose any objec-
tions by reason of the effect on ae.
l think l am duly qualified,
that 1 have passed through
sixty-three years Of varied life, with
mind and body sound enough to
promise a reasonable remainder,
and am thankful to Congress that
suitable and liberal provisions have
been male for me and those de-
pendent on me to enable US to live
out our appointed days of compare
tive ease. He then reviewed Lriefly
the progress of the world in the
arts of civilIsation in the past half
century. He referred to the stirring
events which had taken place in
this country in that period, and
especially to the wars in which the
people of the United States had been
engaged, and said even now, after
a very short lapse of time, it could
be seen that these wars accom-
plished valuable results, which
could not have been reached in any
other way. AS an illustration of
this he cited the Mexican war,
which extended our system of
government from the Atlantic to
the Pacific, converting lands which
had remained for centuries in pos
session of wild beasts and wilder
savages, into prosperous states and
territories in short period of years.
After pointing out the fact Of the
acquisition of California as one of
the results of this war the general
reviewed briefly the rise and devel-
opment of that great state and
the opening of railroad communica-
ton across the plains. In these
mighty enterprises" he said, "the
soldier went hand in hand with the
civilian" Referring to the late
civil war, General Sherman said,
Il need not speak to you of the civil
war. Its history is written, and all
who now hear me remember its
details. / will venture to say, how
ever, in this connection, that friend
and foe alike now share its glories
and fruits. No part of the Union
experienced a larger measure of
profit than the section over which
we seemingly triumphed. 1 be-
lievo nine of ten of the soldiers of
the south would rather to-day be a
| member of our present glorious
| Union, at peace with all the world
than citizens of southern confed-
eracy with slavery as the corner
stone, and at constant war with
their neighbors. l have not the
least desire to boast a share in that
war, but do feel a sense of pride
and satisfaction that we as a people
met the issue then like brave men
and carried our ship through the
breakers.
In conclusion the general said
the occasion is not suitable for me
to say even this much, but though
my military career is in its penuIti-
mate year? can't help plead to
my countrymen at every oppor-
tunity to cherish all that is manly
and noble in the military profession,
because peace is enervating and no
man is wise enough to foretell
when soldiers will be in demand
again.