The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-13
GEO. II. PECK SPEAKS.
His Address On General Thomas
Made Last Night
AT THE LOYAL LEGION MEETING
Held &C IndEanaDOlIs-1ar. Peck Re
calls scenes or the War


mandery Of the Loyal Legion Of the
United States at Indianapolis last even
ing, by George r. Peck:
aCommander and Companions.-An or
| ganizatiOn which bears IN its name the
word loyal does a comely and betting
thing when it pays homage to one in
whom loyalty was a constant and endur-
ing sentiment. Courage and fidelity
have always been counted among the
highest ideals in human conduct And
yet, the merely heroic is often but a wild,
unregulated thusiasIn, an ardOr in the
blood, or a boyish fondness for dra-
matte effect The murats and Ru-
perts of history fascinate and be-
witch mems minds by the very
audacity Of their soldiership. They are
the leaders who face danger with scorn
and laughter aud ride into battle as gay
ly to a festival The plume and the
bugle have no doubt their uses ia war, but
after all, the issues Of life and death take
on sober cOlOring in minds which look
beneath the surface.
The world can never restrain its
praise for the brilliant and the daring
but who does not feel a deeper thrill
in the presence Of those rare, calm ma
lures, whose depths are not sounded in a
moment, and whose plain. steadfast sense
Of duty inspires but does not dazzle?
Such a man was George II. Thomas
1h0se who served under him or with
HIM knew then, as they know now, why
he was the idol Of his soldiers. They
knew he could be counted upon always
and always to stay by them and with
them whatever fate might come.
Faith Is a curious sentiment but when
it once gets into the heart it does
more than remove mountains. The
Army of the Cum berland believed
in their great commander unreserved-
~ and with confidence that was based
on something better than admiration.
had m fri 90 had
in the storm with him and they had
learned how God had gifted him with the
sublime quality Of being able to stand
fast wherever il was right for him TO
plant his feet Here I stand. 1 can no
other. God be nv helpr said Luther at
the Diet Of Worms. It Is better that
every man of her Majestv's guards
should lie dead upon the held than that
they should now turn their back upon The
enemy said Sir Colin Cam bel on the
shores of the Alma. I viii hold the
town until we starve,' was the grim mes
sage Thomas sent to Grant from belea-
guered Chattanooga 1t stirs the blood
in our old veins to think Of it, for we
know how we'll he kept his word
"The years have transformed him into
a type lie is no longer merely the sue
cessful general, the leader Of an army,
sage in counsel, and resolute in battle.
He has become symbol; a synonym; an
emil lem- When American citizen
seeks for a word which shall mean duty,
honor. modesty, and worth; and hlch
shall signify the courage which, because
it IS both moral and physical can alone
carry its pOssessOr to the highest heights: !
when he would put purpose. will and
strength into single name, he thinks of
George H. Thomas
o, iron nerve to true occasion
that tower Of strength
blew.
Look with me something more closely
into his career and into the Influences /
which, perhaps joined with hereditary
traits. made him what he was He was a
Nirginian. Let Us be just We who 4
were born in the north cannot fully COM
prehend the Significance of birth Per !
sOnally count it more distinction to be 4
of kin to those who won at NaseDy and /
at Dunbar than 20 trace ancestral lines \
to those who lost 1t is a matter Of tasie.
"And yet 1 can we'll understand how I
some should think il more honorab Bile to +
have been defeated for the king than vic
torious for the parliament The history
Of Virginia is tragic from beginning to
end. PrOud-and Justly sO-Of her great
names; proud of Washington and the
rest she has drunk the cup Of sorrow
aud worn the weeds of mourning. But
she has never forgotten her ancient line
age nor yielded one jOt of her asserted
superiority. IL would be better, / think, if
she had; but in sadness and humiliation
she has kept the faith that Virginia is,
by right, first among states and greatest
among sOversignties-
Under such influences Gen. Thomas
was born In his veins Cavalier aud
Huguenot mingled; and this fact, if it
has any significance, must be considered
in estimating his character and his ca
reer. | cannot find that he belonged TO
what is called old family, or that he
ever counted much upon the azure blood;
but doubtless he felt netting of the
pride which even the lowly born expert
ence in the thought, Il am a Virginian.'
His home and his birth place were in
Southampton county, in the SOUTH easter m
part Of the state, the North Carolina
line. II is not an attractive region, but
here is no law governing the birth
places of great men. His b0yhOOd was,
like that of all boys. the world
0vers not entirely happy, nor altogether
unhappy. full of adventure and Of play.
with glimpses-such az come. alas, too
sOOn-Of the sOrrOws and the Gisa ppoint-
ments which are in store for ALL
Speaking Of the Atlanta campaign Mr..
Peck said:
The Atlanta campaign IS one Of glo-
.ious memories The army, went for
ward, sounding on its way, through val
eys, over ridges. singing the old songs,
pressing on with light hearts to the cita-
lei, Atlanta the Beautiful There were
Iome sad days; some nights when that
which il best in life seemed almost lost,
but yet it was a grand campaign, Joyous.
gallant and victorious Who that was
here can ever forget the rapture of the
lay when we knew for certain that Hood
vas broken and that Atlanta, and all that
Atlanta meant, belonged to the United
states of America? Then we rested, but
lot for long. " HON the gods would de-
troy they first make mad
Hood, restless, disappointed. fretting I