The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-09-20

other. but between its friends on both
sides; that they fought not for conquest or
inherited constructions of the governments
fundamental law.
CAUSE FOR AMAZEMENT
mo wonder that christendom was
amazed that at the end OF the struggle
the soldiers OF both armies and the peo-
pie Of both sections were found standing
faithfully for the DEGREES of the battle
and all for the cherished Constitution of
the fathers. No wonder that the civilized
world regards our civil war, as history
will yet proclaim it, the most remarkable
conflict in human annals.
Verify. my, countrymen, it was a re-
marAable war in all its aspects; remark
able for the similarity and elevation of
sentiment which inspired and the impulse
which guided it; remarkable for the char
acter or the c0mbatantS which Ii enlisted
and the death roll which il recorded; but
more remarkable for the patriotic fervor
which WHICH 1t evoked and intensified among all
people and all sections; still more remark
able that each side fought beneath the
Aegis OF written Constitution with like
that the raliying cry which rang through
the ranks of the blue and gray was 'Iib-
erty as bequeathed by the fathers but
FAR more remarkable-most remarkable of
all--for the legacy of a broader fraternity
and more complete unity, which left it to
America.
rs this fraternity to last? Is this unity
to endure? III yes then liberty shall live.
II no., then the Republic is doomed; for
in the womb of our country's future are
mighty problems, instinct with life. and
power and danger to solve which will call
into requisition all the statesmanship, all
the patriotism, all the manhood and loyalty
to law OF all the sections. The patriotic
American who loves his country and its
freedom, and who fails to discern these
coming dangers, and the urgency for united
l.
and the statesman, il / may so character
ize him. who realizes these dangers, would
still. for personal or party ends. ALLEVIATE
Perish, then, forever perish from American
minds and hearts all distrust, all class and
party and sectional bigotry and alienation;
but live, long live. forever live, as the last
hope of the Republic, mutual trust, conf
dence, brotherhood and unity between their
children who are the heirs of their i'm
mortal honors. Forever live the spirit
which animated the American Congress
and government in making possible this
inspiring hour; and may, the. spirit of this
ants through all generations.
And why not? Why not mutual. abso-
lutte CONFIDENCE trust and m unity , What haods Is
Shall answer? do answer, because the
answer is great truth: which history rIi Viii
basis for brotherhood, vouched by the dead
heroes who fell. and the living around me
to-day, is the monumental fact that every
struggle was the priceless tribute paid by
liberty-loving men to inherited and pro-
foundly cherished convictions, Every uni
form worn by the brave. whether its color
from the ranks and rifles of both; every
cannon that shook Chickamauga's hills or
thundered around the heights Of Gettys-
burg; every whizzing shell that tore
through the wilderness at Charlottesville
or Shiloh: every bullet-rent flag that float
ed In victory or went down In defeat on
falA ma
waited heavenward from the North or the
South: every loving and tender ministra-
ton at the dying soldiers side: every ag-
ing tear on devoted womans .cheek-all.
all were contributions to the upbui.dlng OF
a loftier American manhood for the future
defense of American freedom.
"And now. by the authority of the Amer
\ lean Congress, and the executive depart
ment of the government; in the presence
of these survivors of the great struggle;
in the midst of this historic woodland,
whose leaves were redeemed with heroic
blood and whose giant oaks still bear upon
their shivered trunks the visible track of
shot ard shell; by these flowing FOUNTAINS,
whose crystal waters symbolic the purity
of purpose which convenes us-in the pres
ence of all these witnesses, and In the
name of this great Republic and its people,
we set apart, as an American Mecca, and
consecrate for all time. this immortal bat
tleground. made forever glorious py Amer
lean valor.''
The next person introduced was Gen.
James Longstreet. He said in part:
ION a similar occasion at Gettysburg.
President Abraham Lincoln said: 1t is for
us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here
to the unfinished work; and again Mr.
Lincoln said for us to be here dedicated to
the great task remaining before u.s., and as
from such green graves some good Is born,
would look to the uniinisned ,n1 eot work, ann 40
which the blue and gray, and the sons and
daughters of veterans on both sides can
seadiy emn aod 3od1n perpetsatng 3e Of
the people, by the people, and Tor the peo-
pie: ,,,,s
in 1898, to the exasperating European inter
ference in Hawaii, Nicarauga, Venezuela,
Trinidad, and the general but steady pur-
pose of Great Britain to nullify or en-
croach upon the Monroe doctrine. Maxi
MILAN attempted infringement of this
document, and although the guns at APP
pOmattox had scarce ceased their rever-
berations. the brave soldiers Of Lee plainly
Indicated that they would follow Grant
and Sheridan in driving any European gov
ernment from the Americans. And 1 be-
lieve there Is an abounding patriotism.
broad and deep in all Americans; that
patriotism throbs bs,r in the ar6eafv aearf aas as
of the South Carolinian as. the
Massachusetts, Puritan: that the liberty
bell in its Southern pilgrimage, VIII De as
reverently received and as devotedly loved
in Atlanta and Charleston as in Philadel,
phia and Boston; that we all idolize Old
Glory and with Barbara Fritchie we can
all now say: Shoot, If you must. this old
gray head but spare your country's nag
And to stimulate and evolve this noble SEN
timent all the more, what we need is the
resumption of fraternity at the ratio OF
16 to 1-sixteen strong heart strikes of mu-
tual esteem and love to a feeble, expiring
one of waning sectionalism; the hearty res
toration and cordial cultivation of neigh
borly brotherly relations-faith in Jehovah
and respect for each other; and God grant
that the happy vision that delighted the
soul of the sweet singer OF Israel may rest
like a benediction upon the North and
Snuth' upon the blue and the gray,
strengthen the army and navy. look
and render more efficient our sea-
coast defenses; in word, make
the United states the first naval power OF
the world, and when another landing py
England at Corinto is attempted; when
European colonization is attempted; when
European aggression In venezuela Is es-
saved: and when British greed in Mica
rauga is repeated or any other INVASION or
encroachment of the Monroe doctrine IL
threatened the followers OF Lee and Grant
the sons OF veterans of the blue and gray,
some Decatur, Jones, Perry, Farragut
Senmes or Maffit, upon the quarter aecK
IF an American man-of-war. Will unfurl the
aag of Washington, Lincoln. Grant and
7 ae ;n the English channel, and the Yankee
buzzah' and the rebel .yelr viii resound
along the British coast.
General Longstreet was frequently inter-
runted by enthusiastic applause After a
~xoaohac tho audeupo sang