The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-14
LISTENING TO SPEECHES.

LISTENING TO SPEECHES.
General Harrison Delivers Admirable
Address TO His Comrades.
Looking from the speakers stand nothing
could be seen bat people packed into acres Vt
space. Unfortunately, the stand had been
placed at the foot of slight elevation, with the
front toward the summit Only those who were
Immediately in front of the platform had good
view Of what was going on. and the crowd in the
rear pushed and jos,led in moving for a good
position. A fair estimate OF the sssemblags
must place it ct least 1900 persons, but con-
spicuous among them from the general to the
private, were the members of the Seventeth
and their families Not the least konOred was
the bugler, j. r. Ringgold. who
brought with him the buels he used
TO call together the boys on the march
and in camp. Then too, there were several
survivors who had come from distant homes to
greet their old commander. Among them were
Captain Meredith. of Chicago Lieutenant Har-
denbrook, of Kansas; Captain Record. OK
Nebraska; o. W. Bartholomew, OF Chari-
ton, Ia; Captain Tousey, Of Win
field. Kan; Private Snow, of the ssms
State, and Cyrus Butterfeld. Of Minneso... Is
was during the gathering around the platform
that music could be heard in all directions. at
tho stand the Danville band played, and OF
the outer edge drum corps from the city gave
inspiring martial airs. d. e. Baldwin g.
Co. added 10 the success OF the
feature by leaning piano. which
was used by the Clayton Glee Club. an excellent
organization. A half hour before noon General
Harrison. as president of the convention. raped
for order and announced that the proceedings
would be opened with prayer by Sergeant Meteer.
The sergeant became q Christian convert whilo
in the service, under the preaching OF Chaplain
McCabe. His prayer was impressive in it's elm
pie eloquence Following this came the singing
by the elee club of that grand hymn, America"
and during it's rendition many of the vast crowd
were moved to tears. Moses G. McLain. secre-
tary Of the association. then gave the proceed
ings business character by reading the minutes
Of the reunion OF a year ego lt wae mere fol-
lowing Of forms, but the great throng OF listen.
ere remained patient under these, the less inter
esting details.
Miss Mary Mitchell, Of CLAYTON. when basi-
ness WAS ont OF the way, came TO the platform
aud delivered with good elocu;iOnsry effect and
and eloquent phrase the address OF welcome.
When she spoke with po.tic fervor OF the sol
dier's life and the cause for which he made
his sacrifices many ewes were wet, and an ~
usual stiffness rested upon the audience when
she turned TO the presiding officer and said:
General Harrison: must say IN behalf of this
vast multitude assembled TO do You honor. that
we are proud Of you citizen OF our State; We
are proud OF you az q soldier and as states
man; and, air. proud of your grand re-
iigious character which has ever shown out with
such luster and brightness as TO be unassaiia-
bic. We rejoice that the members Of one of the
great political parties OF this Nation have it in
their hearts. their heads. and IN their hands 10
confer upon you the highest honor possible 10
American citizen We are proud OF you as the
leader OF the gallant cid Seventieth that was
ever led to battle for the right
To this sentiment there was applause, and
directly afterwards the lady closed rs eloquent
ly Re she began.
When General Harrison came forward 10 re-
spond warm greeting and the closest attention
were given him. On the outer lines OF the crowd
IN all directions people who had beer walking
or sitting under the trees fastened 10 positions
10 see ana hear. Tie General said:
Miss Mitchell. feel quite incompetent 10 dis
charge the duty that now devolves upon me.
that of making suitable response 10 the touching,
cordial and sympathetic words which you have
addressed 10 us. We thank you and the good
citizens Of Clayton, for whom you have spoken,
that you have opened your hearts SO fully to &c
to-day. am sure we have never assembled
under circumstances more attractive than those
that now surround Us. The mellow sunshine OF
this autumn time that falls upon US, the balmy
air which moves the leaves OF these shadowing
trees. the sweet calm aud spell OF nature that ia
over everything, make the day one Of those
that may be describsd in the language of the old
poet as
"A bridal of the earth and sky"
Your hospitsole welcome riakes US feel at
home; and In behalf of this large representa-
tion OF our regiment, possibly the largest that
has assembled since the close Of the war, gath
cred not only from these adjacent counties, but
from distant homes beyond the Mississippi aud
and the Missouri, We give you to-day, in return,
our most hearty thanks for your great kind
ness.
The autumn time is the fit time for our gath
ering, for our spring time is gone. IL was in
the spring time OF our lives that we heard our
eountrys call. Full of vigor and youth and
patriotism, We responded TO it. The exhaus-
tion of march, ana camp and battle, sndthe civil
strife of these yeers that have passed since the
close of the war, have left their marks upon US;
and, as We gather from year TO year we notice
the signs of advancing age, aud the roster of our
dead is heightened. We are reminded by the
minutes Of our last meeting. that aavs been
read, OF the presence at our last reunion or that
faithful and beloved officer who went out from
this county, Major Reagan. With a prophetic
instinct of what was before him be told us then
that it was probably the last time that he should
gather With U.s. God has verified the thought
that was in his mind, and that simple true
hearted, brave comrade has been enrolled with
the larger company. We are glad to-day 10 Dc
together, Yet our sladness is sobered. As look
into these familiar faces notice a deep sense OF
satisfaction; bur have not failed 20 observe
that there are tears IN many eyes. We are not
moved to tears by any sense. of regret that We
gave some service to our country and 70 its flag.
but only By the sense that we not all
here today; and that all who are here
will never gather again la meeting like this.
We rejoice that We were permitted to make
some contribution to the glory and credit and
perpefuity of the nation love. lApplsuse.
Comrades who served under other regimental
flags aud who have gathered here with us to-
day, we do not boast Of higher motives or great
er service than yours. We welcome you to
participation in reunion We fully ac-
knowledge that you had full--possibiy a full
ier--share than we in the great achievements Of
the war. We claim only this for the Seventieth
Indiana; that we went into the service with the
full purpose to respond TO every order, Cries of
That's so, u and that we never evaded fight
or turned our backs to the enemy. Applause.
We are not here to exalt ourselves but cannot
omit to say that purer, truer. self-consecra-
ton to the flag aud country was never
offered than by you aud your dead
comrades who. in 1862. mustered for
the defense of the Union. Applsuse.l 1t was
not in the heydsy of success; it was not under
the impression that sixty days would end the
war, that you were mustered. 1t Was when the
clouds hung low and disasters were thick. Buell.
was returning from the Tennessee; Kirby Smith
coming through Cumberland Gap, and McClel-
Ian had been defeated OF the peninsula. Il