The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-06-19

SPEECH OF JUDGE CRABrREE AT THE UN-
YELLING OF THE GRANT MONUMENT
AT GALENA.

AT GALENA.
The Galena Gazette publishes full
report of the speech OF Judge Crabtree at
the unwilling OF the Grant statue in Galena.
Judge Crabtree spoke for and In the name
of the Grand Army of the Republic, and his
address created profound impression.
We make the following extract from the
Gazette's report:
Fellow citizens, we do well to love and
reverence the memory of General Grant.
We do well To build enduring monuments
in his honor but above and beyond all love
and reverence for any one man my heart
goes ont to that Grand Armv of patriots
comprising the rank and file, the men who
carried the muskets, and the officers who
commanded them. For four long years OF
danger and carnage, privatiOns aud suffer.
ings, they followed the banner of liberty,
the grand old stars and stripes, fought the
battles which their generals planned, won
their victories for them. and created their
fame. We may justly place upon the brow
OF General Grant diadem of glory, I'M
| perishable, immortal. and at the same time
we may truthfully and justly say that every
star which shines in that diadem was placed
there by the private soldiers. Grant him
self, brave. noble and magnanimOus as he
was. always conceded this, always realized
and acknowledged its truth. While there
| fore we say all honor to Grant let us never
| forget also to say, all honor to the private
| soldiers, all honor to the Grand Army of
the Republic. This Nation owes them a
| debt OF gratitude it can never repay. The
wealth of all the world could never COM
pensate them for their sufferings and sacri-
fees. Like their leader, they fought not
for fame, not for money, but for principle;
they were inspired by a sublime patriotism
and love of country. They saw the Union
founded by the fathers of the Republic i'm
danger of being disrupted and dissolved,
and they determined that at whatever cost
to themselves, even of life itself, that Union
should be preserved, and it was preserved.
Forty-twO stars now shine on our National
banner, representing forty-twO States of a
great Union, not held together by rope of
sand, but consolidated into one great Nation.
one glorious whole. The question of seces-
sion has been forever settled by the stern
arbtrament of war, in favor of union
NOW and forever one and inseparable."
Comrades of the Grand Army of the Re-
public, to yOu and your associates and COM
manders is due the honor of this grand
result, this legacy of free government which
we shall leave unimpared to the generation
which follow u.s. Perhaps they may never
know, never fully appreciate all it costs to
us, but we feel that the purchase price was
well paid, and that it is worth all it cost. II
our sons preserve this legacy for their chill
dren, with the same patriotism and devotion
with which you did for them, then. shall
this government continue to endure, until
the mighty angel shall stand with one foot
upon the sea and one upon the solid land,
and proclaim that time shall be no more.
Comrades, let us be thankful, and let it be
AlN.,N.< .1..,N
lived at time, and were of suitable age
to have some part, small or humble though
it might be, in bringing about this grand
result to our country.
l but voice the sentiment of every old
soldier here when say would rather have
the right to wear this little button of the
Grand Army of the Republic than any other
decoration which could be conferred upon
me by any power on earth. 1t is certif-
cate of honorable discharge from the service
of the Union. 1t is the badge of fraternity,
charity and loyalty. Fraternity born of
four years comradeship in danger and priva-
tons shared together i'm a holy cause, linking
the hearts of the old soldiers with a chain
that only death can sever. That divine
charity which prompts us ever to stretch
forth the generous hand to needy or desti-
tute comrade, and that loyalty, not only to
each other. but to our common country,
which binds us to the faithful performance
of all our duties as comrades and citizens
The Grand Army of the Republic, as the
society exists today, was the natural out
growth of the war. Its aim is to perpetuate
the brotherly and fratemal feelings which
grew up among the soldiers, while encOun-
tering together the dangers and trials of
war, to aid and assist each other when i'm
need, and to inculate and teach the lOftiest
patriotism and undying love of country. 1t
has filed well its mission, and has been
fruitful i'm good works. We love the order
and are proud of its record and its history.
l remember that during the war it used
to be matter of some concern as to what
the condition of things in this country
should be when the struggle should end,
the vast armies of the north and south
should be disbanded and returned to their
homes. 1t was feared that men who had
for four years been Injured to scenes of war
and bloodshed in the field would not readily
return and take up the occupations of
peaceful life and citizenship, but that the
land would be filed with crime and violence;
that the old soldiers would be lawless and
unmanagable when freed from the discipline
of the army. How groundless were those
fears. Those who entertained them forgot,
VI neVcT TtdllLtu, tnt pdtTlOtlSm Oh tfl6 Hell
who wore the blue, or the motives which in
duced them to become soldiers. They did
not enlist from a love of war. With most
of them it was a struggle of lifetime to
give up all and 90 to the army. They went
only from strong sense Of duty, because
they believed that underlying the contest
was great moral principle. They believed
the north was right and the south was
wrong, and appealing to the God of battles
for His support, they went forth to fight for
the Union as their duty. 1t was their daily
hope and prayer that the right should pre-
vail, the war come to an end, and they be
permitted to return to their homes and
loved ones, and resume their peaceful avo-
cations. In the main they were high-mind-
ed Christian patriots when they went into
service, and since they came out they have
been, as whole, as good citizens as there
are in the land. Look at any gathering of
old soldiers today; look at the Grand Army
posts and annual encampments, and see II
those attending them do not compare
favorabfy with any class of men in all that
pertains to good citizenship. The country
has just cause to be proud of its soldiers,
and it is. They are filling positions of
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