Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-05-29
MEMORIAL THOUGHTS.
Maj. j. q. Buffers Grafton i'm the
South.
A Mastery Effort at Augusta which
is Heartily Commemorative
trio ism and Good Taste.

OF the ,rmy officers who from time
to time have been stationed at Rock ISL
and arsenal, none were more popular in
Rock Island than Capt. ]. G. Butler. who
left here less than a year ago. in obedi
ence to orders assigning him elsewhere.
Since his departure he has been promo
ted to the rank of major, and is now
commandant of Augusta (Gs.) arsenal.
At recent southern survivors celebra
ton, at which Wade Hampton was hero
of the day, the crowning event was the
banquet, at which 200 southern veterans
Toasted. Mai. J. G Butler was one of
the chief speakers, responding TO the
toast. The Army and Navy" The
Augusta papers are profuse in their
praise of the officers response which the
Augusta News terms the gem of the oc-
casion. magnanimous as well as appro-
pirate. The Augusta Chronicle devotes
great deal of space to it and says:
The beautiful and conservative address
of Mai. J. 6. Butler was the subject of
much favorable comment last night. The
presence at the memorial exercises of
Maj Butler, the commander of the Au-
gusta arsenal, was a graceful and hand
some testimonial from popular Union
commander. Mai. Butler appeared in
full army dress. His response at the ex-
position dinner was in splendid taste and
style. He is public spirited and mag
unanimous soldier. Maj. Butler has al,
ready won the respect and admiration of
our people.
The same paper then goes into a syn
opss of MAJ. Buffers address, which will
be read with interest, not only by the
majors N any friends here, but bv the
union veterans of the war generally.
Here is what the Chronicle saws on that
subject:
The next toast was The Army and
Navy of the United States, to be respou-
ded to by Mai. j G.. Butler, command
ant of the l. S Arsenal in this city. Be.
ing regarded, as he naturally was, as the
representative of that people who con-
stituted the foeman of the southern con-
federacy at the period OF the civil war, q
well as the impe rsonation of the union
20 which, under the wide wings of PEACE.
those recUncied champions OF secession
now subscribed in loyal allegiance, con-
siderable interest was manifested in what
he might have to say. That he acquitted
himself WELLS putting the matter mildly,
and the manner in which be handled the
subject, ceding to the confederate soldier
that integrity and con scientiousness, that
valor ard patriotism which is claimed
for him, and yet without the least reflec
ton TO the uniform he wore, won for him
worthy and extensive commendatiou.
Maj Butler began by saying that
among the remarks Of the honored guest
of the day, Gen. Wade Hampton, was
one in particular in which he felt in sym
pathetic accord. and he could under,
stand the feeling which sometimes
prompted the remark that one would
rather fight than make speech, adding.
land If the courtesy which has made me
your guest had extended so far as to have
exempted me from this call, my gratitude
had hardly been less and my enjoyment
positively unalloyed. But when chal-
lenged by kindly sentiment which ap,
peals equally to my pride and patriotism,
l can do no less than acknowledge nv
hearty appreciation of the toast.
In speaking OF our small army let me
take this opportunity to say few words
in its praise, since have not had the hon.
or of sharing in any of its recent hard
ships. An European officer has lately
said that the service performed by sin
gle squadron of American cavalry or bat,
talon of infantry would be deemed suffi-
GENTLY exscting for couple of German
regiments. This little army, scattered
over an empire of territory, has protected
the construction of nearly every trunk line
OF railroad west of the Mississippi; it has
advanced by many years the population
and civiliZ alton of million of square
miles. and, whether suffering and crippled
by the rigors of Dakota blizzard, or
toiling half famished and exhausted, over
the burning sands of trackless desert or
suppressing mob or fghting-often as
| forlorn hope-against willy and blood
| thirsty foe alternately armed and exas-
persted by wretched political agency,
l think 1t but just TO claim that it has
performed its duty honorsbly and with
| faithfulness even unto death.
And our navy; how often has its very
weakness been concealed and the honor
and dignity of the government maintained
solely by the valor and boldness Ct had
almost said the effrontery) of its officers
! and men. And how often in the dark
days of disaster in the field has come the
news of some brilliant exploit of our al
ways gallant tsrs to thrill with pride the
hearts of the people and to brighten the
gloom of dependency. 1t is not true of
such men to say that they desire no other
| reward than the consciousness CT duty
well performed. but it is true of them that
in the simple approval of their fellow cit.
izers they have their abundant reward.
AS to politics, the army and navy have
20 politics. that is Cunning TO Congress-
nan Barns), unless we happen to want
something. The only political lesson we
are taught is. that in this country the mil
itary must be subservient to the civil