The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-18

on a few tablets, and q few war trophies may be
utterly destroyed, but as long as right and truth
shall battle with wrong and error on the earth,
the memory of the Union soldier cannot die.
Bronze and marble may break and crumble, and
monuments of every kind may fail to stand
"'Gainst the tooth Of time.
And razure of oblivion"
Yon great Capitol itself, just new risen, with
its irm-ixed foundation, corner stone and all
that it contains, may return to dust and be for
gotten; but the record Of the Union soldier
his gallant deeds and glorious achievements
will endure forever.
We do not wish to glorify ourselves. but. re-
Numbering our dead and knowing how soon we
must follow them, we think we have the right
to Despeak for them and our cause at least the
truth of history. We must soon leave to you,
my fellow citizens. the duty Of reporting our
cause al: CAT. For the mere glory of war, if
that were all, we care little. Glory has
been the common heritage Of soldiers in
all wars, in all ages. Such glory We
for they too were soldiers-better never drew a
sword nor fired a gun. But we believe that
theirs was something more involved in the late
war than the mere bubble reputation. which is
won at the lannon's mouth.
The soldier of the Union was not a soldier of
fortune. The war for the Union was a conflict
between right and wrong-between truth and
error. The Union soldier stood embattled on
the side of right and truth. The confederate
soldier was arrayed on the side of wrong and
error. Under the blessing of God, the
right and truth prevailed. There can be
TO compromise upon that. Right and wrong
cannot be reconciled. Right is right and wrong
is wrong to the end of the worlds reckoning.
In recognition of the valor of the confederate
soldier-in recognition of all his rights as a citi-
zen, in kindness and friendly feeling towards
him personally, the Union soldier is second to
none; but he is not willing now or hereafter to
surrender the cause for which he fought and
which he won. No, not one jot nor title of it.
In this there is no selfishness. The war for
the Union, in its great cause, and its great
effects, was waged for mankind. On the side Of
the Union the great underlying principles of the
new revelation were involved, and the success of
the Union arms gave emphasis throughout the
! world, and realization in this country, at least,
to the common brotherhood of man, and the
common fatherhood of God. Cur flag is Free
dom's now and Fame's. : 1t is the symbol Of hope
to all struggling and oppressed people on the
face of the earth.
Fellow citizens, our ranks are thinning day by
day. The Union soldier hands that glorious
standard, with its banner of beauty, down TO
you. ard through you to after generations.
With 1t he leaves his name, and fame, and
cause. and all that they imply to your keeping.
He leaves them all, in full confidence and faith
that the trust is well placed. The good. patri-
otto people of this country are his heirs-appar-
emit.
Now allow me, my fellow-citizens, without
more ado, because there's much to follow, to
again thank you for your kindly welcome. and.
in turn, in the name of every comrade, to well
come you to our annual campfire here tonight.
At Masonic Hall Governor Gray was to have
spoken to the sentiment, The Commonwealth
of Indiana but found himself unable to attend.
At almost the last moment, with but fifteen min
utes' preparation, Rev. Ira j. Chase, of Dan
vile, was substituted. His speech was exceed
ingly humorous in the beginning, but of true
pathos toward the close, and his description of
the grand review Of Sherman's army at Wash
ingtor, their bayonets shining like a stream of
silver a mile long was heartily applauded. He
spoke of the friendship that those who wore the
blue have to those who wore the gray, but not
to forget that he of the South was on the wrong
side and he of the North was right-right in
truth and loyalty. II love him" said the speak
err, but I never will believe, unless there is a
new Bible gotten up, that the man who wore the
gray is just as good as the man who wore the
blue"
CORPORAL TANNERS ADDRESS.
Corporal Tanner. Of New York, who wears
two artificial legs, having been deprived of the
natural members by a cannon ball, spoke to the
sentiment, "The Union Volunteers" He said he
was standing tonight before a great many who
were not in the war, but who have entered upon
existence since those old days when "we drank
from the same c~anteen;" sometimes water. some
times milk, and sometimes applejack, and the
only time he had had any jealousy of Indiana
troops was when they had first got at the supply
of applejack and created a dearth of that article.
Some people have spoken of the Generalization
of the army. They do not remember that the
most stirring hymn we now have, Hold the
fort for I am coming" came to them
by way of Allatoona Pass. Sixteen hundred
men under John M. Corse were holding that
pass, and 5000 rebels were making a terrible
fight for it. just as itseemed as though our brave
fellows must give up, from Kenesaw's distant
peak the signal flag waved the words Hold the
fort. for I am coming" They did hold the fort
ltumultucus c%heering] and that order was signed
by William I. Sherman. And Corseis answer
was Il am short one ear and part of my cheek
bone, bat we can lick all hell yeti" l am glad I
| was born as early as I was, so that l could follow
the stars and stripes. "Old Glory" as the boys
the slave but God Alrighty's hand urged US on
to that.
"As Christ died to make men holy
So We died to make men free"
The Eighty, eighth New York Regiment were
10 a battle in which every man who took the
colors seemed marked for death. Eight or ten
had grasped the flagstaff, one after another in
quick succession, as it fell from the bullet-smit-
ten standard bearers. They lay piled up about
the colors, and for a moment the men seemed
panic -stricken. The colors were about to fall
when a drummer-boy, throwing aside his drum,
grasped the tottering staff and cried out, I'm
good for a minute, fellows!" and held it. Only
for a moment, for he too, was shor, but that
boys example was inspiration to fifty men, and
strong hands and brave hearts carried 'old
glory" to the front.
GEN. CARNAHANS ADDRESS.
Ex-Adiutantrg general James r. Carnahan
spoke to the sentiment "The Grand Army Of
the Republic" He said: Comrades, I stood on
this platform this morning as our chaplain made
the opening prayer, and looked over this hall at
the upturned faces reverently turned to the AL
mighty, and I said to myself there is a picture
that Init few men ara narmitfad 70 lnok ,nnna.