Page images
PDF
EPUB

to every soldier that ever served under the American flag; a name that should be, and will be forever green as long as a member of the Army of the Tennessee, or his descendants shall live; that name, sweet blessed name-the name of honest old Abe Lincoln, of Illinois, [applause] his name comes to us; then immediately following him comes the name of the man who led this army for a time, a man distinguished in the service of his country, a man distinguished for the services he rendered the country, by a people that applauded his patriotism and elevated him to the Presidency-General Grant; [applause] and there comes from a sister army another distinguished one, the lamented and loved Garfield; [applause] and every soldier repects and loves the names of these

men.

You will excuse me from trespassing upon the time of this Society longer. When I was notified this evening that I was expected to respond to a toast that two or three other gentlemen. had been selected to respond to before they got around to me, I said, "I am a good-natured man, and the fact that you offered this toast to all of the various others before me, does not in the least interrupt or interfere with me. I am always ready to obey orders."

Missouri, while she cannot furnish Warner to-night, always furnished her quota of troops, whenever they were called for during the war, [applause] and I will tell you more, we not only furnished our quota and gave them to the army, as they were called for by the President of the United States, but at the same time I do not think there ever was a call for troops that they did't get them from the same place two or three times, [applause and laughter] and it was about as near a fighting community as a fellow ever struck when he got into Missouri; [laughter] they were all on one side or the other, so if the President of the United States made a call he was sure to get them, and if Pap Price made a call, he was sure to get them too, so that with the calls on all sides we had very few men left in Missouri; but unfortunately, those men who were left have given us a great deal more trouble in that State than the fellows that went out to fight on the other side. [Laughter.] Now, Mr. President, I thank you, and thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for your presence and attention. They will excuse these hurried and desultory remarks. General Noble, who sat by my side at dinner, said to me, "Why, you look as though

you were afraid

had you got to make a speech; well, now, I knew a fellow down in Philadelphia who tried to make a speech and lost it-he had it in his pocket."

Now, I don't know how Noble is-he is going to respond to a toast, but I expect he has got his speech in his pocket, "but this man got up and started in saying that he wasn't-ah-he was going to speak extemporaneously-he wasn't going to show his manuscript at all,-it wasn't necessary." He started in by saying: "Ladies and gentlemen, a few years ago, all around Philadelphia and this immediate vicinity, [here he paused,] it was a howling wilderness," [another pause,] and he went down into his pocket for his manuscript, but some fellow had stolen his speech, so he started in again by saying that "a few years ago, ladies and gentlemen, all around Philadelphia and this immediate vicinity, was a howling wilderness," and felt again for his speech, but it was gone, and he commenced over once more, and said: "A FEW YEARS AGO, in this country, all around Philadelphia and this immediate vicinity, it was a HOWLING WILDERNESS!" and he added: "I wish to the Lord that it was a howling wilderness NOW!" [Laughter and applause.]

MUSIC by the Fort Snelling Band.

The President:-Ladies and gentlemen, I need not tell you that we live in a big country. We find ourselves now in Minnesota; we are now under the guardianship of the State of Minnesota— one of the brave members of our Union. I suppose that you know that this was the land of the Dakotas and of the Sioux, The word Minnesota, in the Indian tongue, means Running Water, Minnehaha, Laughing Water,-I believe that is right, at all events I have some of the originals right around me here, [laughter,] we also have the Governor of the State with us here; also Governor Ramsey, who was its first Territorial Governor. Also the present Governor of Minnesota, who was a fellow soldier, and one of our own Society of the Army of the Tennessee, will now speak in his own favor, on behalf of the State over which he rules so well and so popularly, Governor Hubbard.

SECOND TOAST-"The State of Minnesota,"

Response by Governor HUBBARD.

MR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

I protested to the committee on toasts, when notified of my assignment this evening, that in my opinion Minnesota deserved better treatment on a notable occasion like this than to be surrendered to such tender mercies as I might accord to it. My protests were not heeded, and I, therefore, wish to give notice that the responsibility therefor belongs to the committee and not to me. However, Minnesota speaks for herself in a manner that renders it less essential that she should have an able representative on this occasion. A few years ago it seemed necessary to herald and advertise the attractions of our State, that the country might know of the existence of a paradise within her limits that seemed to be neglected. To-day it has become one of the chief pleasures of our people to welcome and entertain the throngs that seek our borders for recreation and enjoyment. It is, of course, most gratifying to feel that we are at last appreciated. To know that others realize and desire to participate in those benefits with which nature has liberally endowed us. Minnesota, however, is modest. She does not herself wish to speak her own praises. She simply echoes and reflects the expressions of the thousands who annually seek the exhilarating influences of her climate, and upon the shores of her beautiful lakes and at other of her attractive resorts, look for that relief and rest that can rarely be found in an equal degree elsewhere upon the continent. That Minnesota has material resources and capabilities of a character and an extent equal to the demands of the highest civilization, has long been recognized and conceded, but that she could offer attractions to the seekers after pleasure and health, equal to the most famous resorts of the world, is a fact until recently not generally known. It may surprise even some of you ladies and gentlemen to be told that Minnesota has within her borders a vast natural park, a prominent feature of which is the existence of seven thousand lakes, nearly every one of them a gem, of which this lovely Minnetonka is a sample.

Minnesota did not obtain, in the war of the rebellion, a prominence to compare with most of her sister States. At that period of our country's history Minnesota as a State was but an infant. She had but just been christened. Her people were few and widely scattered along an extended and an exposed frontier. Hostile savages, in numbers almost equal to her own population,

swarmed upon her western and northern borders.

There was not

a mile of railroad upon her territory. Her only means of communication with the outer world was the Father of Waters during the season of navigation, and the time-honored stage coach when the river was closed. Yet Minnesota sent more men to the war than now constitute the entire regular army of the United States, and she is especially proud of the fact that they were largely assigned to service with the Army of the Tennessee. Though Minnesota was an infant then, she appears before you a stalwart in her majority to-day. She has made strides in population and material development since the war that are almost without a parallel in the history of the country, and her people believe that the possibilities of her future are even beyond any realization of the past.

Minnesota feels complimented and honored by your visit, ladies and gentlemen, on this occasion, and I assure you that you can recognize and acknowledge her hospitality in no way that will please her so much as to prolong your visit to the utmost limit and repeat it on every possible opportunity.

THIRD TOAST-"The State of Wisconsin."

Response by Governor Rusk.

General Sherman:-The next regular toast on the programme is as I have read to you, and to this General Rusk was to respond. He is now the Governor of that State. To me this is one of the most attractive toasts on the list. Governor Rusk is not present, I am sorry to say, and if there be any honored citizen among the soldiers here who will speak for his State, I am sure everybody will be pleased to hear him. If there be none, I certainly must pay them a compliment, for all who were with us in the Army of the Tennessee can remember those Wisconsin regiments. [Applause.] I have sounded their praise so often myself that I am almost ashamed to trespass upon your time now, but surely I never heard the name of Wisconsin mentioned except in honor, for she deserved it richly. Standing just across from Minnesotaa continuation of the same kind of country, with its beautiful lakes and cities-lakes Michigan and Superior on the east and north-the State full of an intelligent race of men, women and children; there is no better population on the face of the globe than now occupies the State of Wisconsin. And so it was during the

civil war, when she was prominent among all the Union States for the great volunteer regiments which were sent to us, to the front, for one special reason, that she always kept her regiments full. Therefore I have always remembered my service with the Wisconsin troops with satisfaction. I regret that there is no one here "native to the manor born" to make a response for the State, but I am sure every member of the Army of the Tennessee will thank me for saying what I have in honor of the great State of Wisconsin. [Applause.]

MUSIC by the Band.

General Sherman:-Now, gentlemen, we come to the fourth regular toast; I am glad we have a gentlemen present who will respond to it.

FOURTH TOAST-"Our Country."

Response by General CHETLAIN.

General, you may choose your own place for speaking. Ladies and gentlemen, give General Chetlain your ears and attention.

General Chetlain:-Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, the theme which your committee has assigned to me, is a broad and comprehensive one-so broad and so comprehensive, that I can but touch upon it in the brief time allotted me to speak.

Our country to-day embraces within its limits the finest part of the best continent on the globe. Its people are without doubt the most free, intelligent, enterprising, progressive and prosperous to be found, and its history is full of thrilling interest to all peoples who love liberty and desire the blessings of good government.

Two and a half centuries ago, a few feeble colonies planted themselves on the very verge of the continent and struggled heroically against disease, privation, famine and the merciless attacks of hostile savages. A century ago, these colonies had grown into a nation of over three million souls. They were a Godfearing and a liberty-loving people. Unwilling to endure the injustice and oppression of the mother country, they rebelled, and declared themselves a free and independent people, and after a long and bloody war, having gained their independence, they founded a government whose corner stone was liberty and

« EelmineJätka »