Middletown transcript., 1893-09-16


>lbGS Indiana Volunteer
assembled in great
er number than at any reunion since the
war.
AS those brave men gathered about theil
old leader, and the torn and shot-ridden
flags of the country they had faced death
to defend, were exposed to view, it is small
| wonder that some battle-scarred veterans
were overcome with emotion, and that tears
mingled with their shouts of joy. After a
brief address of welcome from Captain
Carson, General Harrison spoke as follows;
Comrades, 1 have listened, as you have,
with great delight to this message of well
come from son of the old regiment.
That one born year after the war closed
should stand before US, as young Carson
has this morning, in the perfection of an
eager, cultivated. generous manhood, to
speak with grace and force that is rarely
excel'ed anywhere. these words of wei
come to his fathers old comrades, fills my
heart with delight and wonder. [Applause.]
As look upon the sturdy old father and
upon this young man see that this war
had not only its destructive side, but it had
forces that lifted men up, and families
The generation to which this latter and
many of us belonged did not have the
opportunities of to-day. Beginning life in
poverty, with no capital of education, with
no resources but the strength of sturdy
arm, they are now succeeded by sons who
have reaped the fruits of their sturdy,
honest toll, and are ready to step forward
and take the first place in public affairs.
[Applause
accept young Carson this morning as a
type and representative of the boys you
have been bringing in. [Applause.] am
sorry the programme does not bring to the
platform some representative of the girls
who are to succeed the mothers of war
times, for do not doubt that these same
influences have been at work in the house
hold, and that the daughters of these
mothers who kept their silent, anxious
vigil in the home, while we were at the
front, will come on to do them honor, to
grace American womanhood and be the
mothers of still more patriotic generation.
Yes, out of the blood stained field, fertilized
by the corpses of the dead. have come these
sweet, and gracious, and perfumed flowers
1t is as mems hearts are stirred by some
great emotion, that breaks the narrow
circle in which we ordinarily walk, and
lifts up the plowboy into the atmosphere of
an inspiring emotion, that men and nations
are made great. Just that work was done
by the great civil war for this generation
that is coming on. Not only do we have
the prints of it in preserved condition, in
asfiag into whose folds have been woven
memories that increase its preciousness
beyond expression, but into human life,
into the household and into the state, there
has come new, sturdier and worthier
citizenship. [Applause.] We may con-
template these years of old age and failing
strength, these times of the yellow leaf,
with some tinge of sadness; but, thank
God, the horizon of the future for our
country is bright and glorious, and the
colors that shoot up from the setting sun
gives assurance of sunrise for our country.
[Applause.] Bright days shall succeed the
night, men shall go on to accomplish
better work for humanity and for God.
Was there ever time when the flag was
more loved than now2 [Cheers and cries of
mo, no."l On the dreary stretches of the
South where those of us who had been
accustomed to bluegrass sod fairly wept
for carpet of green, that we might stretch
ourselves on it, and rubbed with impatience
from our clothes the sand that clung to us,
and that ineradicable pitch that came from
the yellow pine of the South that We had
cut down for breastworks, it seemed to US
that there was nothing lovely, but the old
flag. [Applause.] No grace of woman's
presence, no bit of color, no smiling land
scape-all sand and devastation
How thrillingly recall that scene near
Cassville, when. after being in the woods
for many weeks where it was impossible to
see the length of single regiment, old Joe
Hooker's corps-the corps OF the North
Star-[Applause] swept out of the woods
into one of those open glades they call
savannahs, and we could look up and down
for miles and see the banners in the air and
greet our comrades; what kindling there
was of hope and courage! think we were
not right certain during the Atlanta cam
paign up to that time that we did not have
it all on our own shoulders. [Laughter.l
1t has been to me often an illustration OF
how men who fight in any good c,use and
think they are alone, occasionally, in Go rs
providence, get just glimpse of the mighty
army of men and women who love the
truth and stand for it. [Applause.l
There is great reserve of patriotism.
We differ and fall apart, and things fall
into evil ways in public; affairs. Some say
free government is failure and the people
going wrong; but, my countrymen, it is not
SO. MIR. Lincoln expressed it truly when
ne said "the popple may get off the line,
but they will wobb!e right after hile
So let US not losa faith. When the powers
of evil seem to lift themselves, when men
throw out the red flag instead Of the starry
banner that represents law and liberty,
when riots break out upon the streets Of
our great cities, do not be discouraged; do
not forget; for I tell you, when tbs appeal
comes to the great body Of the American.