Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 November 1879 — GRANT. [ARTICLE]

GRANT.

His Heeeptton by tne People of Chicago. The reception of Gen. Grant by the citizen* of Chicago, to which many days of preparation had been devoted, waa everything that the most devoted admirer of the ex-President con'd have desired or asked for. The people of the city turned out by the hundreds of thousands and were reinforced by hundreds of thousands from abroad, so that there wac no lacking in numbers; of enthusiasm there was also an abundance, and the procession was the largest, the finest, and the beet gotten-up affair of the kind perhaps ever witnessed in the West From the Chicago papers we condense the following account of the reoeption exercises: The train bearing the distinguished visitor, which came over the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy road from Galena, arrived at Park row, on the lake front, at 1 o’clock p. m. The rain began to pour down, bnt the thousands of people who thronged the Lake park and all the adjacent streets did not seem to heed it in the least, but pressed forward to get as near as possible to Gen. Grant’s carriage. In spite of the disagreeable weather, the decorations’ the gay uniforms of the militia, the thousands of wagons carrying flags and mottoes, and the smoke from booming batteries on the lake front, presented a scene at once beautiful and grand. Haste was made to set the huge procession in motion. The rain pouring down in torrents made this a matter of great difficulty, but finally the column began to move down Michigan avenue, which was crowded with moist spectators from one end to the other, as far as tho line of march extended. By-and-by the sky cleared, the sun came out and made everything infinitely brighter. The militia led, followed by all the veteran organizations; then came the civic societies with a largo number of carriages, and fiDa'ly the fire department, with thousands of vehicles of every description, with all sorts of mottoes. The head of the column had reached a long distance down town before the wagoDS had fallen into line. The pobce had great difficulty in clearing the way. Grant was everywhere greeted with the vociferous cheering. As the procession moved down town toward Washington, State and Lake streets, the jam of human beings became, if possible, greater than ever. By 2 o’clock the head of the procession passed the corner of Washington street and Fifth avenue. The sky was now perfectly clear, and the streets along which the parade passed were literally impassable. Every available inch of standing room on sidewalks and steps was occupied, and every window had its spectators. The South Sid", in the neighborhood of the Palmer House, was the destination of visitors and residents alike. From early morning until noon, from all sections of the city, there was a rush to the section named. At noon, on State street, from Lake street up to Harrison, there was a perfect jam. Once mthe crowd, it was an utter impossibility to advance or recede Not only was the street packed, but the windows were black with human heads. This crowd was not confined to State street, but all along the line of the procession the sireets were densely packed, while every window, every roof, every housetop was crowded by spectators to its very utmost The procession, aaseen from State and Washington street, was grand and imposing b3yond description. As far as the eye could reach flags fluttered to the breeze from every window and point of vantage. The fronts draped in bunting—the red, white and blug—showed that thq city had put on holiday attire. The sidewalks and streets were blocked with people, orowded so closely together that passage was impossible—a vast multitude, in which the movement of individuals was scarcely perceptible—a closely-packecLthrong, which was hardly stirred at the approach of the riders, and which constantly threatened to verge upon and precipitate itself upon the procession. Standing for hours, many of them in the mud and water that had collected from the rain, every head was turned and every neck was craned forward, as the head of the grand army made its appearance as it moved north from Washington street A cry went up from the throng in the street that was echoed from the windows and porches, also black with peoEle —cheers that drowned the music of the ands, the trampling of the horses and ihe tread of the rapidly-marching host—voices that were hoarse with long waiting and standing ir the water and mud, and that rose and swelled in volume as tho contagious enthusiasm spread instantaneously through the throng. As the carriage in which Gen. Grant sat, facing Hon. Thos. Hoyne and Mayor Harrison, made i*s appearance, drawn by six horses and guarded by a platoon of police on each side, the vast multitude broke into a cheer that extended all along the street, in a universal, hoarse, deep-throated, shout of welcome. As the shout went up all along the long route, Gen. Grant raised his tall silk hat, and, bowing silently, kept his head uncovered for a few minutes. As soon as he had replaced it, another shout would again cause him to repeat the operation. He wore a heavy black overcoat, with nothing about him to indicate his distinguished position as the guest of the city. A clear, ruddy color in the face, the beard but Blightly grizzled, the hair hardly tinged with gray, tho face without a wrmkle or furrow perceptible from the street, Gen. Grant looked in the very prime of manhood and vigor. On the arrival of the long procession at the Palmer House, the General was met by the Reception Commi'tee of 500 prominent citizens of Chicago, and Carter H. Harrison, Mayor, made a speech of welcome. Alter the conclusion of Mayor Harrison’s short welcoming address, Gen. Grant stepped to the front of the balcony, aud, in a low voice, unhe trd by a large majority of the large crowd, spoke as follows: Mr. Mayor, and Gentlemen of the Committee of the Chicago Reception, and Gentlemen of Chicago and of Illinois: I feel very much honored by the welcome which lam receiving at your hands to-day. I feel highly honored by the speech of welcome that has just been uttered by your worthy Mayor. It is something so personal to myself that it would hardly be iu good taste for me to respond to the language of it, and it leaves, therefore, nothing further for me to do than to repeat my thauks to this committee and to the citizens of this ci'y for the hearty reception which they have given me. In regard to one allusion to my reception abroad, I will say that in every case I felt that, it was a tribute to our own country. I will add, further, that our country stands differently abroad, in the estimation of Europeans and the Eastern nations, from what it did a quarter of a century ago. An American citizen is regarded in a different light from an American citizen of one-quarter of a century ago. At that time it was believed that we had not a nation—that we were a mere confederation of States, tied together by a rope of sand that would give way upon the slightest friction. They have found out their grand mistako. They know that we have now a Government, that we are a nation, and that we are a strong, intelligent and brave people, capable of judging, and knowing our rights, and determined on all occasions to maintain them against either domestic or foreign foes. That is the explanation of the reoeption which you have received, through me, while abroad. Gentlemen, I thank you. The remarks were received with loud and long-continued applause. After a short informal reception and a shrke of the hand with a few personal fr ends, the General was driven to the residence of OoL Fred Grant, where ho took dinner with a family party. In the evening, a brilliant recection was ten ■ dered to Gen. Grant by the Army of the Tennessee, headed by Gen. Sherman, at Haverly’s Theater. The theater was magnificently decorated. The exercises were opened by prayer by Rev. Dr. Thomas, followed by Hon. E B. Washburne, who delivered the main address of welcome. Speeches of welcome were also delivered by Gov. Cullom and Mayor Harrison. Gen. Sherman then delivered an address in response, in behalf of the Army of the Tennessee, after which Gen. Gresham delivered the annual address of the society. A flag was presented to the society by Gen. Logan, on behalf of the Citizens’ Committee. Gen. Sherman responded in a brief speech, and introduced Gen. Grant, who spoke as follows:

Comrades of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee: After an absence of several years from the gatherings of the Sbcietv of the Army of the Tennessee, it affords me heartfelt pleasure to again see you, my earliest comrades in arms in the great conflict of nationality and the union of the States under one free and alwa s-to-be maintained Government. In my long absence from the country I have bad the most favorable opportunities for seeing and comparing in my own mind our institutions and those of all the European countries, and most of those of Asia, and comparing our resources and their development, and the capacity and energy of our people for upholding toe Government and developing its resources, with most of the civilized peoples of the world everywhere, from England to Japan, and from Russia to Spain and Portugal. We are everywhere understood; our resources are highly appreciated, and the skill and energy and intelligence of the citizen recognized. My receptions have been your receptions. They have been everywhere a kind of an acknowledgement that the United States is a nation, a strong, independent and free nation, composed of strong,* brave and intelligent people, capable of judging of their rights, and ready to maintain them at all hazards, This is a non-partisan association, but composed of men who are united in the determination that no foe, domestic or foreign, ahafi interfere between ns and the maintenance of our grand, free, and enlightened institutions and toe unity of all toe States. The area of our oountry, its fertility, and the energy and resources of our people, with the sparsity of population oompared to area, postpone the dap

for generations to come when onr descendants will nave to consider the question how the soil is to support them and how the most can be produced for the support of human life, without reference to the taste ordeeire of the people, or when but a few can exorcise the privilege of the plain luxury of selecting the articles of food they are to eat or the quality and quantity of clothing they are to wear, bat will remain the abundant home of all who poesess the energy and strength to make good use of hem, if we only remain true to ourselves. Such a country is one to be proud Of. lam proud of it—proud that i am an American citizen. Every citizen, North and South, East and West, enjoys a common heritage, and should feel an honorable pride in it I am glad theee society meetings keep up their interest so long after the events and scenes which they commemorate have passed away. They do not serve to keep up sectional feeling or bitterness toward onr late foe, bnt they do keep np the feeling that we are a nation, and that it must be preserved one and indivisible. We feel the kindest for those who fought and fought bravely on the opposite side from us. They equally claim with ourselves the blessings of our great common country. We claim fo.* them the right to travel all over this broad land, to locate where they please, and the right to settle and become citizens and ODjoy their political and religious oonvictions free from molestation or ostrreism, either on account of this, or their connection with the past We ask nothing more for ourselves, and we rejoice to see them become powerful rivals in the development of onr great resources in the acquisition or all that should be desirable in this life, and in patriotism and love of country. Other speech-making of a light nature was indulged by Gov. Oglesby, Gen. Sheridan and Gen. Schofield, after which the great humorist. Mark Twain, was called upon, and perpetrated the following: Ladies and Gentlemen: I just within a moment heard Gen. Sherman sty to a gentleman sitting in my neighborhood that, if he would promise not to speak more than two minutes, he would let him get np. He didn’t say that to me, and I judge, by his remarks to' me, that be wouldn’t allow me quite so much. [Laughter. and a voice, “Louder.”] But—is that loud enough [laughter]—l have not listened to a bad speech to-night, and I don’t propose to be the one to furnish you with one; and I would, if I had time and permission, go on and make an excellen t speech. [More lan ghter.] Bnt I never was happy, never could make a good impromptu speech without several hours to prepare it. [Roam] On the following day, the ex-President was present at McVicker’s Theater at the meoting of ol i soldiers from all armies, at which Gi n. Chetlain presided. Speecheo were made by Corporal Brownell, the avenger of Ellsworth; Gen. Logan, Wm. Hendersliott, Emory A. fctorrs, Gen. Fuller, Gov. Oglesby, and Gen. Woodford. Gen. Grant spoke as follows. Comkades and Friends of the Late War; 1 was entirely unaware of the object of my coming here this morning. I thought it was to see the place whore you were to meet this evening or some other fime. I was not aware that I was going to meet so many of my old comrades, but I assure you it affords me very great pleasure to meet you here, and to meet you everywhere. Yeteraus of the late war to me are companions, and in all my travels I have been in hardly a country, in hardly a town, and hardly a place in the two and a half years that 1 have been away from my own country that I have not met some of your number. As we heard last night, wars, while not desirable, are not perhaps unattended with good. We believe sincerely that the war which we waged has been attended with solid good to onr country. We believe that our victory redounded to the benefit of tho vanquished as well as to ourselves. We believe that they would have been iu a very much worse condition than they are now had tlieir cause succeeded, and we certainly would have bean infinitely worse off. But wars render another benefit. People who grow up in a time of profound peace are very much accustomed to vegetate and live along in or noar the place of their birth; but having been torn away from their homes, as all of you were, they got weaned from their homes, and at the close they seek the best place for the development of their energy and their talents, and in that way the veterans of our war are scattered over all of this broad land, and are now developing our Territories, building railioads, opening mines, opening farms, cultivating the soil over a vast territory which can be made, and is being made, available for the support of man. They have scattered, aud are building homes in foreign lands, and opening in that way the commerce of our country; they are making our country felt, and known) and appreciated wherever a flag oan float. Now, gentlemen, I have said a great deal more than I had any idea I should say when I came here. And, as Mark Twain very aptly remarked last night, 1 could make a very much better extemporaneous speech if I had a couple of hours to prepare it in. It is impossible to describe the enthusiasm with which all these speeches were received by the crowd of veterans that filled McYkker’s spacious theater; but suffice it to say the roof was not lifted sufficiently to endanger the budding, though there was some very loud •’leering. in the evening took place the banquet of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, at the Palmer House. No finer sigut was ever soon in Chicago than the banquet hall, with its decorations, and its long tables, occupied by near 700 gentlemen. At about 8 o’c’ock the exercises commenced with prayer by Prof. David Swung, after which the fine supper was partaken of, and toasts were given and responded to as follows: The first toa“t, “Onr Country,” was responded to by Gen Grant, as follows:

Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee and Guests: Notice was sent to me some days ago that I was to respond to a toast here, but I paid no attention to it at ihe time, and had no idea, until I got here, of the toast I was to reply to. I had relied upon it that there wou’d be half a dozen or more speakers before I would be called upon and that, during, that time, there would be a mau out in the hall I would want to see, or thought I would exert some other flank movement by which I would got out of it. Finding, however, after my arrival here, that I was to be the first one called upon, and hardly feeling it would be proper to look for that man so early in the evening, I put in a substitute, but the President of your society has not called upon the man. I know if he had called the name on his paper you would have heard much more said about the position of our country among the nations of the earth than I can say to you. I can feel what the Mayor [Harrison] would probably have said if the President had called upon him. But, aB I have to say a word, I shall rely now upon your signifying, in a very few moments, your disapprobation of. what I am saying, so as to let me off. The President ha 8 given notioe that we are not to speak any longer than we can hold the audience. Our nation we have been in the habit ourselves of looking upon as being one of the first nations of the earth. For a long period back the Yankee has had not only a very respectable opinion of himself individually, but ot his country as a whole. It has been our own opinion that we had nothing to fear in a contest with any other power. I am pleased to say that, from the observations that I have been able to make in the last two and a half years, we are beginning to be regarded a little by other powers as we in our vanity have heretofore regarded ourselves. We do, among other nations, I think, to-day, not only in our own conceit, but in the acknowledgment of other nations, occupy the position of one of the first powers in all that goes to make, up a great nationality. We have the strength, we have the individual self-assertion, independence; and we have to a greater degree than almost any other nation the power of colonizing, of sottling up new country, opening it and developing it. We have also the very great advantage of being without neighbors to molest and make us afraid. It is true we have a northern frontier, and we have a southern frontier, but we get along with a very small army. We keep no standing army. What little we do keep, as some one remarked the other day, is a standing army because it has no time to sit down. Mr. President [who was seated], I find you filling the position with a good deal of ability. [Laughter J I don’t know of anything I can specially add to what I have said, except in the way of advice; and that is, let us be tcue to ourselves; avoid all bitterness and ill-feeling, either on the part of sections or parties toward each other; avoid quarreling among ourselves, and we need have no fears for the future of maintaining the stand that we hare taken among nations, so far as opposition from foreign nations goes. Gentlemen, I am much obliged for your attention. Gen. Logan responded to the toast “The President and Congress;” Gen. Hurlbut to “The Atmy of the Tenressee;” CoL Vilas to “Our First Commander;” Admiral Stevens to “The Navy;” Hon. Leonard Swott to “The Mexican War;” GeD. Wilson to “The Army of the (,’umberland;” Gen. Pope to “All Other Union Armies;” Robert G. Ingersoll to “ The Volunteer Soldiers;” Emory A. Storrs to “ The Patriotic People;” Gen. Fletcher to “ Woman;” “Mark Twain” to “The Babies;” Gen. Woodford to the “Army of the Potomac;” and Gen. Scboftv Id to “The Army.” After the regular toasts a large number of regrets were read from prominent men in all parts of the country who had beeu invited to be present. A very enjoyable occasion it proved to be to the large number of old soldiers present, while tne speeches were models of after-dinner rhetoric —short, sharp and eloquent Prevent crooked boots and blistered heels by wearing Lyon’s Heel Stiffeners. Can be applied at any time.

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