The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-06-24

emen,-While we are assembled here tonight
in this beautiful city, surrounded as we are by
friends, who meet us cherrily and greet us kindly
we cannot but allow our minds to wander away
from here momentarily at least, to where the old
commander, grander than all, suffers with a
disease that has brought him to the very verge of
the grave In my Judgment time has not given to
any people grander commander of men, a great
er director Of forces a more magnificent cam
palgner, lapplausel a man with more ability to
execute, than U. s. Grant Applause For this
country he has done as much as any man that
ever lived has done for any other country TGreat
applause.] No matter what may have been said,
no matter how aspersed by those who despised'
he has passed up and beyond all the clouds that
have surrounded him, and his character shines
out to-day before the civilized world as bright as
the brightest star that decks the heavens. GAp-
plauSe.] believe there is not a citizen in the
United States of America that does not sympa-
thize with his misfortune and suffering now aud
i is the prayer OF the G; A: r., am sure, that
God, who disposes all things, will permit this
grand old man to live as one of the citizens of
this grand Republic. For him can say no more.
than that when he passes away this country and
civilization will lose one of the greatest supporters
of liberty that ever lived and one of the grandest
citizens that ever died.
=, Comrades, we nave met again according to
the forms of our organization, an association
based upon fraternity charity and loyalty, frater
nifty that lives, and is worth recognition, which
has been iron blistered in the fire of steel. 1t is
that character of fraternity that sshnes out like
the brightest gem of the Golcondas. 1t is fra
ternity not to be broken 1t is as fixed as the
stars 1t is as strong if held together by hooks
of steel It is that character of fraternity not in
Idilt, Dub tidl WHICH llfeS anu SW6lIS I'D the
heart and that which tonight goes far travels long
in darkness and in light in sunshine and in storm
to stand by the side and aid and assist in all prop
er ways the comrades that touched elbows in the
time when shot and shell rained like the hail from
the clouds above. lApplausel The charity that
belongs to our organization is that that Heaven
descended. Charity whose heights have not been
taken and whose depths cannot be fathomed 1t
is that charity that stands ready at all times to
snatch the body of the poor from the potter's
field and place in the grave, and at the head shall
be marked: HE fell fighting for his country"
1t is that charity that hears the wall of the
widow of comrade; it is that charity that hears
the cry of the orphan, that aids and assists the
sufferer. 1t is that charity which pledges one
comrade to another that the poor-house shall not
be the dwelling place of comrade; that he shall
stand before the world proud American citizen
having fought and preserved the Stars and Stripes
and beneath its folds he shall not be disgraced
tremendous applause.) 1t is that charity which
collects not for the benefit of those who can pro-
tect themselves, but for those who need help:
and which pledges itself that when a grand, great
government like this allows a poor man who
suffered for its existence to creep along and beg
for food, comrades will step in and supply that
want
The loyalty upon which this great organization
is based is not that loyalty that Shrinks before the
Stars and Stripes. 1t is not that loyalty that begs
pardon and makes excuses for having at least
tried to save this Union. (Applause) It is not
that loyalty wherever found, on land
that fails to recognize the laws, that