The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1892-06-02
INGALLS, Al JEFFERSON CITY.
Gl.wing Tribute Paid to the g. A. r.
BY the Ex-senator.
The Government Still a Debtor to
the Old Soldiers.
Tho War, Its Causes and Effect
Patriotism OF the Meu of tho
North-Coss OF the Conflict
in Blood and Treasure
Duty Of tho Hour.

the usual manner, but an attractive
feature of the occasion was an ad-
dress from Hon. John j. Ingalls,, of
Kansas. Owing to inclement whether,
the address was delivered this even
ing in the hall of the house of repre-
sentatives. Thc hail was crowded
almost to s~uffocation, and Mr.. ingalls,
delivered an address that pleased
every Substantially he said:
"My military service was so brief,
inglorio'Is and obscure that | always
feel a sense of apprehension in ad.
dressing an assemblage of soldiers.
| was in two or three companies and
under fire, and l assure you that |
was as badly terrified as if l had been
in every engagement from Bull Run
10 Appomattox. In M of the Ell.
gagements | saw q Missouri battery
prepare TO open fire on the position
we occupied. During that time the
minutes were prolonged into hours
and hours into eternity of time and l
remember distinctly of observing that
the rocks and trees were inadequate
TO the demands of the occasion. But
| feel that there is a bond Of trepida.
ton between us all. | was certainly
as frightened as any man who served
in the war and if a man is entitled TO
recompense on the ground of being
scared l am entitled to as much pen
sion as any one who lived through the
war.
81 accepted with gratitude the in.
vitation of james A.. Garfield post, of
this city, TO celebrate with them the
anniversary commemorative Of those
who gave the full measure of their de-
votion that you and | may enjoy what
we have. 1t is a source Of gratiiica-
ton that L ain permitted TO address
comrades of the G.. A. II. and explain
what the organization means. 1t IS. a
source of qualification that at this
capital the ayocations of life are sus-
pended and the people are assembled
to commemorate the day. 1t is the
cause for which men died that in.
duces this assemblnge here to day,
and the nation scatters flowers Of
bcnedlctlon oper their graves. Of
what avail is life or land if freedom
fails.
~ do not apologize for the caist-
ence of the G.. A. II. or its ~organi2a,
ton, or right TO exist, but there is
prevalent a disposition TO question the
propricty of survivors of the late war
associating together to relate Incl
dents of tie war and review old ties.
There is an objection TO the badges
and a perpetuation of the memories
of the CONFLICT, l do not so pcad tho
objects of the G.. A. Il.
81 stand here against all challenges
aud accusers to affirm that the G.. A.
II. is the most patriotic of all %organi-
cations. The Fourth Of July is a day
that pcrpetQates that which might
better be forgotten, but who dare say
that the Fourth Of July shall be known
no more? The G. A. II. commemo.
rates events of a most heroic and In.
d%ispensable conflict.
What would be the condition of
Missouri to-day if the men whose
graves were decorated had not given
their lives, or the men vino either
wear this uniform or sleep in their
silent graves! There would have
been no Union, no United States and
the name would have been blottcd
from the map Of the world. Had
they not fell we should to-day have
celebrated II government founded
upon slavery, rebellion aud dis
loyalty. But for them the cons,itu.
ton OF the United States would he an
autiquated thing TO be purchased only
at some second hand book store. In
place of n Union we would have a
mass of petty dynasties, a wreck, a
ruin and u desolation to which tyrants
could point With derisioH,
There is no explanation necessary
for the existence Of the G.. A. II. /
do not think that the contest was one
ia which no one knew whether he was
right or wrong. 1t was not u war be.
tween the states, but between those
who belieyed in liberty and those who
wished to destroy it. Missouri was
not out OF the Union as she was re.
presented in the Federal gre
during the entire struggle. Those of
her sons who fought for tile Union did
so because they loved it, and those
who fought against it did 50 because
they hated it.
"Palsied be the tongue OF the one
that attempts to say that no one could
tell whether it was right OF wrong TO
fight against the Union. Which is
right slavery or freedom? Immortality
right were the men who fought to
preserve the flag as a symbol of n
great country, and gave their lives
that we might live under the flag and
be citizens cf the nation. have no
dopbt that those who opposed Us
thought they we've right, but main.
tain against all that it becomes the
dignity Of history and patriotism that
the young should be taught that those
who saved the Union were Ii2llt.
'If these men did not give their
lives for the right then the war had
no more dignity than is attached to
The result of Il prize fight. Wars
have been waged for dynasties and
thrones, but those whose graves you