Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-06-06
ARMY Of the Republic was delivered by

Army OIL inc hepuDilC was uellVeTeu ny
Capt Peter Is, Ayars. He said:
In the name of my comrades Of the
Grand Army Of the Republic of the city OF
Wilmington. accept this tribute Of loving
remembrance Of their deeds of valor on
many battlefelds in defence of our
national liberty.
This cotnpltment-coming as it docs |
from cOmmtee composed of the Chief |
Justice OF the State and prominent bust |
ness men OF our city-is very touching |
and tender to She hearts of every Della |
warean who stood under the folds of the |
old flag. with no hate in their hearts, but |
with a tirp determination that this coun-
try should never he dismemb ered, but |
should remain forever, as it was given lis
by our fathers of the ReTolution-"One
Country and Une Flag"
This was tie principle which carried
them into the thick of the contest, on
every battlefield from Bull Run to Apo
mattox.
No exposure, no danger, no defeat could
even shake or daunt this resolution; the
principle was dearer to their hearts than
home or friends, or life itself, and for this
principle 200, go men of the Union army
laid down thar lives, and 2oU,U00 more
were willing 10 go through life crippled
and manned that the nation might live,
and even we IT the people, and for the
people-North, South, Fast and West.
When the veterans of Robert Il. Lees
army laid dowa their arms at Appomatox
the quarrel was ended; the veterans of
GrauI's armies struck hands with them in
friendship, and fed them from out their
hayersaciss. Then turning their forces
northward, thousands OF happy voices
sang over and over again that glad old
| soul-stirring hymn, "Home Again" Yes
| they were going home, their battles had
| been fought AMI their victory won, and
the faces OF tn, dear ones at home came
up before them Realizing that their toll
| ing and suffering and hard labor were at an
| end they were iappy.
But now great problem presents itself.
Those in Authority at Washington stand
almost appalled, AS the fact dawns upon
| them that the war is over and 1000. 0OO OF
men are to be discharged and sent into
every city, every town and hamlet in the
United States. The press OF Europe argued
that riot and murder, and arson would
| follow as the result; indeed 1t was so
argued by many of those in authority at
Washington, and the press of our own
land became alarmed and wrote against
their hurried discharges.
Then in tbs halls of Congress arose our
comrades, Garfield and Logan. Hancock,
Grant, Sherman and others said: dis
charge them; let them go to their homes,
declaring that the men who had been
trusted for four years with the destinies
of the natiCp could be trusted anywhere,
and that ths same principle which had
made them soou soldiers would abide with
them and nike them good citizens. And
so they were discharged, each man taking
with him his rifle and accOutrements, and
such ammunition as he then had.
What other nation on the face of the
earth but ours would have dared done this?
The scattering of the great army of nearly
two million'ot soldiers who, for years. had
been trained in all the art of war and had
witnessed nilinchingly ali the horror vi
all awful war, was like the dropping of q
pebble in aclear pool of water; the surface
was ruthet but for moment, the wavelels
: spread and widened and broadened until
they leave themselves on neither shore. Sc
came the discharge Of these men. Every
train on every railroad carried them il
every city snu town and village, and to the
, farms, ana there was no disorder, no riot
ing, no boodshed. Very soon-quicke
: than was rsalized-the vast army OF mer
was swallowed up, and almost forgotten il
the whirl and rush OF an everyday life
each one dropping into some place wherein
he could gain livelihood.
: There have been disorders and riots, anC
! even boodshed from various causes in on
fair land since then, ana men have armet
z themselves and defied the powers an,
d authorities of nation and State, but to tn
| cNGIlusllilE BlOiy VI bOlli
rades OF the war, be it said, that at n
time has the soldiers of that grand oil
!, army been found in opposition to tn
authorities of city, or State, or nation.
They were intelligent soldiers. not tn
y "hireings of Europe" OF course Europ
3 could not understand how they coul
t make good soldiers. Yet after fightin
y such battles as the world deemed imposs
u BILE they could not understand now thi
country would dare send them armed I
Their homes. But the wise men who love
v liberty, and loving it they were willing t
give their all for the priceless boon, thu
those who were to follow them might i
IS free indeed.
u Now, in their name, and in the name {
1t our comrade, James A. Garfield, whom "
e today honor, let me thank you for tn
y mark OF esteem tor my comrades of til
% war
Is should darkness and clouds of war eve
Ie cone again to this fair land Of ours (whic
y God Forbid may the youth and your
q men of our beautiful city catch an inspir
q ton from this stutue unveiled to-day
v our loved and maItyred President, and r
!, member always that God reigns," and r
'e solve that the government ut Washingto
I shall never perish.
!. The Interesting exercises conclude
At with the benediction, which was pr
!. nounced by the Rev. Philip B. Cabell.