Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-07-20
GENERAL GRANTS pEs MONIES
SPEECH

Said to be the longest he ever
made, better Americanism was never
uttered. Few statesmen have the
courage to speak such sentiments to-
day.
Comrades: 1t always affords me
much qualification to meet my old
comrades ia arms Of ten or fifteen
years ago and live over again the
trials and hardships imposed for the
preservation and perpetuation Of our
free institutions. We believe then,
and we believe now, that we had a
government worth fighting for, and
if needs be worth dying for. How
many Of our comroades of those days
paid the latter price for our preserv-
ed Union. Let their heroism and
sacrifice be ever greenin our memory.
Let not the results Of these sacrifices
be destroyed. The Union and free
institutions for which they fell should
be held more dear for these sacri-
fees. We will not deny to any of
those who fought against US any con-
trary, we welcome all such of them
who come forward in good faith to
help build up the waste places, to per-
petupate our institutions against all
enemies, as brothers in full interest
with us in a common heritage. But
we are not prepared to apologize for
the part we took in the great struggle
1t is to be hoped that like trials will
never befall our country. In this
sentiment no class of people can more
heartily join than the soldiers who
submitted to the dangers trials and
hard-ships Of the camp and the bat
tle-field on whichever side they
fought No class of people are more
interested in guadring against re-
currence of those days. Let US then
begin by guarding against every one
my threatening the perpetuity of free
republican institutions. do not
bring into this assemblage politics
certainly not partisan politics; but ii
is a fair subject for the deliberation
of soldiers to consider what may be
/ necessary to secure the prize for
which they battled. In republic
like ours, where no power 3 = 80 : :
except by the will Of the people, il
l
is important that the sovereign-the
| people should posses intelligence
| The free school is the promoter oil
that intelligence which is to preserve
us as free nation. If we are tt
have another contest in the near flu
ture of our national existence, l pre-
| dict the dividing will not be Masor
and Dixon's; but between patriotism
and intelligence one one side, and SUI
1 perstition and ambition on the other
Now in this centennial year of oul
national existance, believe it gooc
time to begin the work of strengthen
menced by our forefathers on hun
! bred years ago, at Concord and Lex
ington. cit us all labor to add need
| full guarantees for the more perfect
security of free thought, free speech
| free press, pure morals, unfetteret
! religious sentiment, and equal right;
| and privileges to all men, prospect
| i've of nationality color, or religion
! Encourage free schools, and resolve
that not one dollar Of money appro
1 priated to any sectrian school Re
solve that either the state or nation
or both combined, shall support insti
tutions of learning sufficient to af
ford to every child growing up in The
land Of opportunity of a good com
mon school education, unmixed witt
sectarian, pagan ,or atheistic senti
ments. Leave the matter Of religion
to the private contribution. Keel
church and state forever seperate
| With these safeguards, I believe The
battles which created us "The Army
| Of the Tennessee" will not have beer
| fought in vain.