The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-23
Hon. Baxless w. Hanna,s sneech.

tOn."
Hon. Bayless w. Hanna's Speech.
In presenting the above welcoming address of
Mr.. Prentiss, Mr.. Hanna said:
"Mr. Chairman have listened tonight, with
deep satisfaction, to Major Gordon's discussion
of this interesting question IOf justice to the
Mexican veterans. l have no personal interest
in it beyond my desire to see even-handed justice
melted out, in a matter which l conceive vitality
affects the honor of the republic. Major Gordon,
1t seems to me, has presented the entire question
in its clearest, strongest light. l would surely
be a convert now, if ! had not been so long ago.
We have heard his plea in behalf of these vete-
rams, already well sprinkled with the frosts of
years, who thirty-seven years ago returned
from the battle-tields of Mexico, with the
eagles of triumph upon the banners OF our coun-
try. We have heard their cause sustained by
the strongest arguments, magnetized with the
finest eloquence. l wish the entire country
and especially that portion of it charged with
the enactment of laws which should express it's
cOnvictions-could have heard this appeal for
simple justice to the heroes who have borne our
burdens and fought our battles.
1T has been said hope deferred makes the
heart sick. The thirty-seven years of promises
unfulflled have brought us here for inquiry. AS
citizens, in the hearing and with the approval
of the country, we demand that the Congress of
the United States shall answer why 1t is so. The
task OF the government, should it go to the
furthest extremes of our demands, will be
AAanlf lAlttu liz IOSIGL IL blCHC NCNC
rams is already well thinned. The few re
naming will soon follow on. They saved
the country from lasting reproach, and
poured countless millions of treasure into her
waiting lap. 1t is admitted everywhere that
the swords of a nation never leaped from their
scabbards with brighter CLEAN than when
clasped by these citizen-soldiers for the brilliant
struggle of which they are now the neglected
survivors. Their hOnors are secure, they will
cover them in their graves-they are imper1sha-
BILE. How stands the question with the benehci-
aries of their patriotic sacrifices2
The distinguished gentleman who preceded
me has placed the whole matter fairly before the
country. Himself a soldier in the triumphant
battles of Mexico for the ascendency of our in
stit1ltions and the honor of our flag, on behalf of
the surviving comrades he has made an appeal
all AKIN to an inalienable heritage. These
men are begging nothing, but the
question is, can the country afford to
situiitraliy Itself. Ben0iG again The results u the
Mexican war! 1t is a startling and magnificent
showing-the addition of more than 500, 900, 600
acres of land to the public domain! Rated
at less than One-half the average price Of Amerl-
can lands, here is the stupendous acquisition to
the national wealth, even now, of
5000, 900, GOO! Who . can reckon what
the value of this territory will be
thirty, forty or fifty years hence2 This is not a
sordid view-it is one of gravest meaning. Let
the business idea which pervades this age look
even no further than this single revelation, and
IL must see IL Is u pFOOl9lOuS question. Inc Clli6l
intention of all wars has been not so much the
glory of ascendency as the conquest of land, Re
move that contingency and wars will be no more.
Armies take the place Of money when the failure
of its purchasing power stands in the way OF
conquest. The shadOwy mountains of barbarity
cannot long obscure the light and glory of ad-
vancing civilization. Incidence cannot fold its
black wings upon one square inch of earth where
enlightened industry seeks a settlement.
'"Hhat the land was made for man is demoera-
cy and emancipation; that man was made for the
land is empire and degradation. That was the
idea on which the Mexican war was fought. Lib
erty to reclaim the soil from savagery and dedi'
cate it to the uses of industry cannot be re
stricted. 1t knows no ~restraint-it has no
bounds. 1t is the strongest, safest and noblest
royalty connected with mankind. That is the
one ~undisputed law of nations. Its interpreted
ton was applied to the struggle with Mexico.
The result has proven its wisdom. The
wheat, and corn, and cattle OF Texas
are already almost sufficient to subsist
the dependent industries of one-half
the nations on the globe. That will be the
apology history will make for whatever may
have seemed harsh III the demands of the United
| States on Mexico, and for the sacrifice of the
precious blood which stained the walls of Mont
Grey, and with such holy conservation, baptized
the unregenerate plains of Buena Vista.
"Our cause then was just, it was sustained by
the army, and here are its survivors. We gather
around them tonight and demand of the Con.
gress of the United States that all the people of
the naUlOn may De authorized TO 10 Jnem feVef-
ence. Every American citizen, from the lakes
to the gulf, and from ocean to ocean, with the
love of country in his heart, will be glad to
moisten his brave face, wit the sweat of a little
toll, for the affectionate compensation of the
survivors of the Mexican war, who have achieved
SO much for him.
1.-THE banished Corsican leaped into the arms
of France, and instantly kindled such a flame Of
NATIONAL confiagration that it required years of
the united resources of all Europe to ouench.
Such was the illusory power Of empire that gave
nothing in return. 1t ended as it should have
done-in the fall of the second Babylon, which
can never be re-established. Our government
has been erected on the adamantine foundations
of individual superiority. 1t has never been
touched by the hand of ambition. Its chief aim
has been the dedication of its soil to the bless
ings of industry, and its highest rewards the
fidelity and gratitude of its people.
"Citizen warriors, | have Just fallen into pos
session of the speech of welcome, which first
greeted your ears, when fresh from the scenes of
war. with faces homeward turned, you had again
set foot on the friendly soil of your grateful
s~issippi's fairest daughters, closely allied to the
household of it's illustrious author. Long cher
ished as a personal jewel Of Southern pride, I
now give it to the American press, where it may
henceforth flash its charms, no longer for the
South alone, but for all the nation
from whose bosom it was dug, and
from which it can never be taken away.
1t may be, some here present wero there, and
caught its frey sentences from the warm lips Of
the matchless orator who uttered them. l well
remember with what enthusiastic delight thu
late eloquent Henry S, Lane, who heard tho
speech, portrayed its power and effect, 1t was
the speech of Sergeant S. Prentiss, the deftcst
magician of modern eloquence. 1t tells the
story of your trials, when freshest in public sym
pathy. 1t furnishes the best reasons which car
be given why you should forever have "A lodg
ment in the heart Of your country, and be
awarded a full share of the bounty She has re
Gently so generously and so justly lavished o.
oil e,,.I Il, auOtlar 1vpr nc haNa ctal-a1 lif,