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those gathered together at the beginning of the

war.

Now the army of the United States is not composed merely of the enlisted men and the officers -that is not the army of the United States. The Secretary of War has stated properly that the whole population is the army. Of them, we have about eight millions-a very respectable army, gentlemen, comparable with that of Russia or any of the great powers of Europe. But of course out of this mass of men must be taken a few like your State troops, making a force say double the regular army. The government could, at little more than the cost of the present army, maintain one hundred thousand men, all-sufficient for all the chances of war in the near future.

We cannot see far ahead, but the art of war should be kept pure and simple, and at the base of it should be patriotism, that love and devotion to our country-to the whole country, not to any little piece of it, or to any State because you happen to be born there, but to the whole United States.

And what is the emblem of that power that binds our hearts? It is over your heads now,

gentlemen.

In these navy pennants you see fluttering in the breeze all around your beautiful city, the birthday of our national independence. But I have seen it upon the high seas. I have seen it come out of the water, first a little fluttering something with glasses pointed to it. Little by little it comes above the horizon, more and more your glass tells you there is red and there are white and blue. And the ship rises above the horizon and you see the gallant-masts, and the royals coming up also, and recognize the star-spangled banner, and your heart beats with a new throbbing worth living for.

Yes, my friends; on the vast plains of the West I have seen the same thing. As you approach one of those little military posts, perhaps of one or two companies, there is the flag. You look for it and see it fluttering on the flag-staff, and you feel at home just as soon as you recognize the stars on the blue field. You and I have seen it on the battle-field, and when you have recognized it coming to your aid when you have needed aid, oh! how beautiful it was! You all know that feeling. Certainly I do, and I can recall a thousand

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instances. Not only is it beautiful, but it is grand and glorious.

My friends of the Army of the Potomac, remember that whosoever follows yonder flag is your brother in arms, brother soldier and citizen, fellow in all respects, elbow to elbow, and all bound to gain the ultimate goal-glory and

independence.

!

SHERMAN ON LONGSTREET.

WHY HE REFUSED TO RECOMMEND HIS FRIEND FOR A CABINET

AN

PLACE.

N Atlanta (Georgia) dispatch stated that by permission of the gentleman to whom it was directed, and with approval of the family of the late General Sherman, the following letter, which was written soon after the election of President Harrison, is given to the public:

"No. 75 WEST THIRTY-FIRST STREET,

"NEW YORK, Dec. 21, 1888.

"To Hon. E. A. Auger, Atlanta, Ga.

"MY DEAR SIR: I thank you for your good letter, of the 20th, about General Longstreet, and promptly assure you that I will rejoice at every piece of good fortune which may happen to him in his old age to give him comfort and honor, but I must not be an active agent, because I am overloaded with friends who now turn to me.

"Naturally and properly I will not write a personal letter to General Harrison, whom I know to be an honest, true and able man, perfectly qualified to fulfill the office he has undertaken and who should be allowed to choose his cabinet as unbiased by outside pressure as in selecting his wife.

"I hold that any intrusion now would be a positive wrong. He has a heavy burden to carry during the next four years, and I, of all men, must not add to that burden a single ounce. have thought over the subject long and my thoughts have crystallized to positive conclusions.

I

'The men of mature years who, from 1861 to 1865, endeavored to disrupt our National Government should not be entrusted with foreign legations, with cabinet positions or with seats on the Supreme Bench. In all the other offices they ought to have a liberal share. I know that Longstreet would be absolutely true and faithful to any office in the gift of this Government, but no nation on earth can afford to put a premium on treason. But if he will be content to be United States Marshal of Georgia, postmaster of Atlanta,

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