The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-03

also to have been here-one of our
| grandest soldiers, but he is In New Mexico. But
we have Hon. James E. Murdoch, man noted
for his devoted loyalty, who will render the
| grandest poem ever written; and we also have a
man from Ohio. Laughter. II there is any
/ place on earth where the Ohio man does not
appear don't know of it. He is at once cy-
clone and sunshine and his name is Gen. w. T.
man who occupies high position in
the Nation, who is commander-in- chief
| or that glorious order, the Grand Army of the
Republic. Gen. S. S. Burdette. Cheers. We
ought to have bad the President Of the United
States here, all the other great men are here,
but understand, that just now, he is otherwise
engaged. [Laughter.l And we are going to
nave some music, interspersed with the speeches,
that kind of music which every old soldier
understands. Comrades, do you remem-
| followed Sherman and Logan2 Frequently, after
hard days march or fight some musical fellow
away down the line would start up John
brown and every soldier would get up on his
elbow and listen Then when that died out
some other person would start rally round the
flag" and everybody would join in, and then a
band would start 1.-The girl ] left behind me"
and every one of u.s. from the generals down,
would resolve to be better soldier on the next
day than he was on the last That is the kind of
music we are going to have tonight and this is
| all the speech have to make.
Columbia, the Gem Of the Ocean," was sung
by Mr.. A Smith and the chorus, in a very pleas
ing manner, and was well received by the audi
ence, which enthusiastically applauded the rem
dition of the song.
General Harrison. the first speaker of the
evening at the conclusion of the song, was pre-
sented to the audience by General Bennett.
SENATOR HARRIsoN's SPEECH.
Ladies and Gentlemen-When came here to-
| night L could not understand why my name
should appear on the programme before the
names of these distinguished generals who are
mere with us, but in turning the matter over in
my mind L came to the conclusion that this was
IN accordance with established military custom,
| for it was a common practice during the war to
send out those who had no titles, or very little
| titles. to begin the fight, and after they had
brought on the engagement the great
generals, who commanded corps and
divisions, came out and settled matters Laugh
ter. So think this is the rule that is being OBJ
served here to night. My fellow citizens don't
feel at home here o-night 1t would be hard to
realize that were in Indianapolis were it not
for the kind and familiar faces that see in front
OF me. look upon this magnificent hall to-
night for the first time and l congratulate the
good people of this city, that they at last have
such a splendid place of assembly.
cannot but gratefully remember that cit-
zen, who has passed away and who made
this building possible. and must express the
hope that his noble example will find imitators
among those who are still among US, and that
other such institutions, alike creditable to our
city, may be endowed by them.
But it is not this magnificent hall nor this in
telllgent audience not even this great chorus
and orchestra and artists, not any of the trap
pings nor incidentals that give this occasion it's
great interest 1t is the noble cause in behalf of
which we have assembled [cheersl, and it will be
worthy OF remembr ance that this magnificent
structure was dedicated with patriotic songs and
by the Grand Army of the Republic. am glad
to be citizen of this proud State that sent out
zoo. 900 brave boys to battle for the flag and who
still have that attachment for the flag, and the
Union. and the Constitution, that again lifts up
and gloriies the memories of that great war
We cannot afford to forget them, and the
country cannot afford to have them
forgotten That war not for our
selves, it was not sectional, but it was
a national war for one flag, one Union and one
nationality. Cheers. 1t was war whose
purposes and results affected the whole country
1t was the only war In history that enfranchised
instead of enslaving the conquered. 1t emanci-
pated the South. and advanced it to anew and
higher civilization than it would otherwise ever
have realized. 1t was the only in history
In which the vaDquished were admitted to all
the victors achieved. My countrymen, we
must keep these truths alive. We must
not allow them to be questioned in debate as we
did not allow them to be questioned on the bat
tle-held There must now be no debate on the
question whether the North or the South was
right. We would not deny them the privilege of
honoring their dead but the question as to
which right cannot aud must not be de-
bated Cheers. Theirs was a lost cause a
cause that never deserved to live. Ours was
won cause; one that did deserve to live and will
live in the ages to come. To-day was more than
proud of the city | love- when these gallant
cheftains who came here were welcomed as
they were in Indianapolis l was glad when the
flowers were strewn in their pathway. l was
glad when men and women and even little chill
Irnv 1aA IL
whom we owe much. I bid hearty welcome
to Sherman and Logan, and all the other distin-
guished gentlemen. cannot forget that under
God, you were allowed to do so much, and
we, who did so little, yield you willing honor
honor that great commander, who, taking an
army Of those despised Yankees" drove it like
steel wedge through Georgia, from Chattanoo-
ga to the sea, splitting the Confederacy in twain
Indiana boys gladly followed him there, and we,
unframed in military schools, did the best we
could, and -ejoiced that this great government
maintained national institution that furnished
ns such leaders as Grant and Sherman.
Great cheering 1t was demonstrated,
lawyers and Congressman could learn to fight
very quickly, and that an Illinois Congressman
without much military training, but with heart
pledged to his country and his flag pushed to
the front. from Donelson, until he. stood with
the grand army III the very shadow of the ma
tionai capitalize commander of that army,
a commander who had acquired the habit of
whipping those who opposed him. 1 don't
know whether he is entitled to much
credg for it or MOTT was so much
a matter Of habit with him. Laughter He
is here tonight, honored by his State with the
highest position in its gift. and bearing on his
own body. the wounds made by rebel bullets
Long continued cheering. 1t is not necessary
to name him, for every body knows mean John
A. Logan. For his sake, for the sake of the
dead We strewed from Louisville to the Gulf,
and from Washington to Appomatox we
pledge ourselves to but one flag. [Great
cheering. But you must excuse me for keep
ing these generals so long in the rear Although
it may be very comfortable. and, possibly,
usual place for them aughterl, want to bring
them to the front.
have here adispatch from An Indiana soldier
who was not only loved by his companions, but
by everybody who was so fortunate as to know
him. 1t is not signed, but I will read it, and