Year: 1867

Speech.


| September 10th was the ami.


versary of Perry's victory on Lake


Erie, and as such was made the oc.


casion Of reunion of soldiers of


the late war at Toledo. Gen. LOGAN,


Of Illinois, was one of the speakers,


and we give the following report of


his speech, reported. to the Cincinnati


Gazette


On ascending the platform, Gen.


Logan was greeted with cheers, and


when presented, the cheers and


shouts were repeated. He acknowl-


edged the compliment with grateful


bows, and proceeded with q speech


Of great pertinency and power, of


two hours length, the immense au-


dience growing larger to the end,


and applauding at frequent intervals.


1t was, he said, great pleasure to


him to see SO many present, especial


ly to see them assembled for the


purpose Of showing charity to Or


phans and widows of fallen heroes


Of the late war, on the day that has


been made memorable by the great


contest on the waters near by, in


which Perry gained a glorious vic


tory. When is considered the great


debt we owe to those who were made


helpless by the fortunes of war, it


becomes a duty that ought to be


pleasing to all men to perform.


If we contemplate the blessings of
the great country, the rights and
privileges we enjoy, and the struggle
through which we have passed to pre-
serve them, this country, dedicated
to liberty, liberty Of men, liberty of
conscience, liberty in its broadcast ac-
ceptance, with its fertility, its beauty
and grandeur, and ask ourselves to
whom we are indebted for all these
blessings, the answer must be in
one word: To the soldiers. From
the revolutionary struggle, when our
fathers bore the starry emblem of
the young Republic over mountain
nights and heightened plains, estab-
lishing it among the nations of the
earth, down to the present time, we
are indebted to soldiers for all the
rights and privileges we enjoy. If
this be so, then, it is the duty of
each and every one of US to meet, on
days like this, around the festive
board, and send up prayers to heaven
that these blessings may be preserved
to future generations. 1t is well to
inquire on such occasions what was
the cause that led to this state of
things. Why have we these widows
and orphans among us2 IT'S be-
cause of the war that has been &C.
ing on in the land, war between two
great political elements of this coun
try, Republican liberty and freedom
against principle of aristecracy
that claims the right to exercise all
the powers of government. Not
many years have gone by since we
first found treason in this land, but
it was crushed out. For a time it
claimed the right not only to own
persons and traffic in human blood,
but to extend its institutions over
the whole land. 1t was this idea that
caused the bloody rebellion through |
which we have passed. 1t is not
true that the war was produced by |
agitation on the part of Northern
men. 1t is not true that the princi-
pies Of liberty and justice to all men,
which runs hand in hand with
Christianity and virtue, ever pro-
1uces war and bloodshed in the
earth. 1t is oppression that brings
about war. 1t brought about this
war. When the power passed from
the hands of those men who had con-
trolled the Government for an age,
they were unwilling to take back
seats for little while, and they re-
belled against the lawful Govern
ment. But we ask any soldier if
he ever found a man of the Republi-
can party who was rebel, or who
committed treason against the Gov
ernmentp Some one may say, "Why,
you were q Democrat yourself. -
That is true, and there were great
many Democrats that are not Demo
Gratis now, thank God! Let me ask
again ii you ever saw leader in
this rebellion who was not leader
in the Democratic party3 II You
never have, if these things are so,
it ought to be sufficient reason for
every conscientious man to leave that
disloyal, rotten and disorganized par
ty. In 1916 the Democratic party
claimed to be war party. When
ever an outrage was committed
against the Government, and up to
1850, there was hardly Democratic
orator in the North but would wind
up his speech always with something
glowing and glittering in reference
to the permanency of the govern
ment Twas glad to hear it always.
l used to adopt such language my
self. But let US see what their con-
duct was during the war. There
were two great parties, one Demo
cratic and the other Republican,
The leaders of the Republican party,
rank and Ale everywhere, went through
the country saying there was no
peace, and could be none until the
rebellion was put down by the strong
arm of the Government. They told
you that they were willing to give
men and money for the purpose of
the preservation Of the Union intact,