The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-08-20
An ELOQUENT ADDRESS.

The soldiers of Toledo were specially de-
lighted with an address delivered on the
day of Grants funeral by the Rev. Patrick
O'Brien, who when boy was gallant SOL
der in the 10th Ohio-an Irish regiment
and is now the well-beloved pastor of the
Church of the Good Shepherd at Toledo.
After paying splendid tribute to Grants
character and achievements, he said:
All honor TO the Grand Army of the Republic,
who left the Office, the store. the workshop and the
field, and went forth to battle for the Union All
honor to the Grand Army of the Republic, whose
patient endurance on the march and bravery on
the field of battle for the hero Grant the title
of General" Our own beloved State of Ohio
gave birth to this great man, who in his boyhood
performed the work usually allotted TO boys of his
age on a farm. Who that saw him when lad of
10 driving his fathers team distance of 40 miles
to market would predict for him the great name he
afterwards achieved soldier and statesman?
This is another remarkable illustration of the
derful genius of American institutions by
which poor farmers boy enabled, not by
wealth noble BIRTH but by the force of his natu-
raj genius alone, to become the Commander-in-
Chief of our armies and the President of great
Republic
Here in this glorious land offreedom and equality
the poor and lowiy-born are equally eligible with
the rich and the college graduate to the highest
Offices in the gift of the people Were it not for
this noble equality of citizenship, Grant - the
farmers boy and the tanners son-might have
died unknown to the world, and his great services
been lost to the country.
From first to last his remarks were warmly
applauded, and no part more than the fol-
lowing passages:
1t is said that Republics are ungrateful, bnt the
charge cannot be laid against our Republic for its
treatment of Gen. Grant Nor has the private soldier
been forgotten. nor the widows and the orphans
left by the brave who fell the field of battle.
Every man who risked his life in defense Of the
Union, from Gen. Grant down to the huniblest SOL
der who bore musket deserves well of his country,
and he his widow or his orphans, should not be al
lowed to suffer day for the necessares of life.
Wecan never repay, in full the brave Union soldiers
for the hardships they underwent, the fatgues the
long and weary marches, the heart-yearnings for
the loved ones ut home, and the sufferngs of the
hospital and the field of battle Let us be kind and
generous to the survivors, and keep green the
memory of the dead by frequently recounting their
exploits and srewng their graves with the choicest
of flowers. One by one, the Grand Army of the
Republic is passing away. Those solid ranks once
led to victory by Grant and his Generals rap
idly thinning out and there is nothing now left but
the skeleton of that once mighty army. But,
though it is sad to the defenders of our Union
passing away into the dark and silent shadow of
DEATH must not despair for in the past 20 years
another Grand Army of young men have grown up
in the land who, if necessity should require it, will
replace the fallen heroes of the late war. As the
blood of the hundred thousand Christian martyrs
was the seed from which sprung the millions of
Christians of all denominations of to-day so from
the blood Of the hundreds of thousands of patriotic
martyrs that fell during the late civic war, shall
spring up millions of patriots who will be ready at
a moments warning to rush forth to battle for the
Union, and bear again the Stars and Stripes " to
victoryl But thank God, there is no need for such
an army at present. The white-winged messenger
of peace how hovers over the land. Time and gen
erous treatment of the South have healed the
wounds caused by the late war, and the country is
now united and happy.
His fame is not the inheritance Of the North
alone but of the whole country-North. South.
East and West. Amid the tears and lamentations
of the whole Nation his remains being laid to
rest to-day Now that he is dead, let his grateful
countrymen raise n monument to his fame that
shall pierce the clouds, and, the rays of the
morning and evening sun play upon its summit
forming a bright aureola, IL shall symbolic the
diamond gemmed, golden crown he deserved 10
wear for his grand services to his country and hui
mainly.