Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-07-06
AN ADDRESS
Delivered Before tho Sons OF Vet
Grams Society at their 4th Of
July Celebration by Col.
Milton Stewart.

Delivered Before the Sons OF Vet
Grams Society at their 4th Of
July Celebration by Col.
Milton Stewart.
Ladies' and Gentlemen. Sons Of Veterans:
1t is with extreme reluctance that l arise
before An audience at any time, painfully
conscious, as am, Of my Deficiencies as
speaker, but when the sons Of veterans Of
1861 call upon me for my services in any
capacity. I answer to the summons to the
best Of my ability.
A quarter of . century ago it was my
fortune to spend the Fourth Of July in
slave state. / was but boy then; some |
what reckless as some Of you are today, but
brimfull of patriotism and love for the old
flag. Upon the day alluded TO, twenty-five
years ago, in the city in which then resid-
ed, there was no display of bunting; there
we're no brass bands playing the Star Span
gled Banner, there was no display of fire.
works in the evening. The streets were
lined with people and business was generally
suspended, but there were no hurrahs for
Abe Lincoln nor cheers for the Union. Pub
lie sentiment was divided, and demonstrs-
tons Of . patriots nature were frowned up
on even by extreme Union men in the inter-
est of local peace and harmony. There
were two boys in that city who determined
to celebrate the Fourth of July despite all
opposition. Being one of the two We pro-
cured horses, and hitching them in an alley
entered the back way to the combined store
and residence of . loyal Israelite, and there
obtained the necessary psrsphernalis for
Q complete disguise, then each Of US, with
the American flag in his hand, mounted
and rode through tie principal streets OF
the city, to the CONSERVATION of the Union
people and the open denunciation OF rebel
sympathizers. But we were not to escape
with mere denunciation. A mob Of per-
haps two or three hundred intercepted
our progress, and with stones and clubs put
Us to the right about and followed US so
closely that the new phrase just then coined
of "skedaddle" was put into practical exem-
pliHcation. The yells which followed the
CHATTER of our horses heels was the interlude
to me of that great chorus known as the
"rebel yell" that was oftentimcs to greet my
ears in the four bloody years that were to
follow, for week later had joined Nc
Clellan's army in West Virginia and was
daily being put through the exercises, CON-
mencing with bay foot, straw foot" SO
utterly abominable and non-essential to the
mind of every raw recruit.
1 am not SO very ancient, nor as "sutfi-
GENTLY decsysd" as the daughter-in-law
elect. but can remember as far back as
the Mexican war, the return of the SOL
diers to their homes as citizens, and the
effect their return, in connection with the
recital of events, the fanciful and exaggerated
war stories told by them had upon the
minds of the people generally, but the
young men in particular. As the Army of
Invasion was largely made up of recruits
from the south, these, on being disbanded.
created patriotic feeling throughout the
land, to which full vent was given on the
4th of July, and from 1913 to 1860. particu-
larly in the south, "the day we celebrate
was drank in moro tossts and responded to
in greater flights of spread eagle oratory
than the nation had beheld prior thereto.
1t is needless to say that the 4th of July,
as a national holiday. is not SO popular in
all sections OF our country rs then. In the
years of 1S6l-'62-'6S and "a there was no
celebration of the 4th of July in any portion
Of the United States within the
limits controlled BY the socslled confederate
states government. In such territory the
hand that would have attempted to unfurl
the flag of our fathers would have been
paralized. The voice that would have ut
tered'a cheer when its abroad stripes and
bright stars" cleaned in the sun light would
have changed to dying groan. NV friends
it was to restore this emblem of the free,
made sacred BY the blood of our patriot
fathers that loyal men fought its memoirs
through four years of bloody, cruel war.
You young men who are fresh coming on
the stage of action, can you form any just
conception of the terrible struggle your
fathers passed through to maintain that flag
unsullied. Do you realize the horror Of the
moment, when traitor hands pulled
the flag down, tied corner of it
TO the pummel of saddle
dragged at the horses heels through the
dust and filth Of the street, and beautiful
women all over the south spat upon. it,
whilst men who had been born under it.
and been protected by it. applauded the
action and tossed high their hats when the
bastard stars and bars fosted over united
south. Pardon the egotism. We old SOL
diers venerAte that flag. We fought for it.
starved for it, endured the tortuous marches
by day and the weArisome watches by night
sickness, privations, cold heat, rain, mud
and dust, some of US bled for it, many died
for il, and yet let me tell you that every
drop of northern blood that soaked the
southern soil was she'd in defense of flag
emblem of the free-which, up to January
l, 1863, was . Haunting lie" Think of it.
VIC WoIc ukusAiS w sAe" Wv -
premacy of flag that was the
symbol of freedom in sentiment, but in fact
was thu flag of the oppressor that recognized
and upheld tho legality and righteousness Of
human slavery. On the 22nd day of Sept.
1862, Abraham Lincoln declared that on the
first day Of January 1868, human slavery in
the rebellious states should cease forever.
remember we'll the dawning of that New
Years day, As if it was of recent date
fancied could hear the chains drop from
the limbs of four millions of the dusky sons
and daughters of Adam and the voice Of An
aged father. Of the anti-slavery school OF
Giddings, Smith and old John Brown re-
peating tho utterance "now letteth thy ser
want depart in peace" Here then at last
coming up like the saints, through great
tribulation was the flag immortalized
in song by Francis Key, the SYM
Dol his fancy had painted it
''thas in triumph should wave, DER tho land
of the free and the home of the brave" II
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