respect for him and because he was a typical private soldier, I desire to single out one of the sons of Pennsylvania for mention. I do so not only because of my respect for him but by reason of my love and reverence for the memory of my old chieftain, the Commander of the Army of the Cumberland, the grandest of all military leaders, General George H. Thomas. At the capitol of this nation there lies to-night, cold in death, a native son of this State, and one of the most distinguished citizens of this municipality. Cast in rugged mould he brought to the performance of every duty an honesty of purpose that commanded the respect of all, whether political friends or foes. He achieved high civil position but he won no place that honored him more than that of having been a private soldier from this State. The particular incident in his career that I would recall to-night is this: Samuel J. Randall at a critical time in the early part of the war, being a private in a Pennsylvania Cavalry Company, wrote a letter in the confidence and trust of personal friendship, to Simon Cameron, then in the zenith of his great fame and a power mighty for good. In this letter he spoke of the inefficiency of some of our military leaders and declared that in a state of war inefficiency was criminality and incompetency deserving of severest punishment. He urged that efficiency deserved and should receive recognition and declared that Colonel George H. Thomas, then obscure and almost unknown, was the proper man by training and experience to be made a Brigadier-General of the U. S. Army. I believe that this unsolicited tribute from this far seeing and observant private soldier went far to cause the appointment of that modest leader and great soldier to the position he so thoroughly and completely filled to the good of the Republic. Both are gone! Peace be with them. My friends, I do not propose to detain you further save to thank you for your attention and to say that the only comfort to me as one of the ciphers spoken of by General Porter is that I stand on the right of the line of figures where I may hope at least that I add value and increase rather than decrease quality. Of quantity surely you have had enough. MUSICAL PANORAMA. BAND OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS. From the Lakes to the Gulf Stream, the voyage of a Man-o'-war's-man All hands on deck The boatswain's whistle All hands up anchor "Then fare thee well, my own Mary Ann" Ho, Ho, blow the man down "The Red, White, and Blue" "A Wet Sheet and a Flowing Sea" We'll rant and we 'll roar like true Yankee sailors The Storm The Prayer in the Storm The White Squall "Soiree Dansante" on the fo'c'le Passing the Confederate Forts The Confederate band plays "Maryland my Maryland" and "Carry me back to ole Virginny" The Man-o'-war's-man's band answers with "We 'll be gay and happy still" and "Star-Spangled Banner" "Dixie" and "Yankee Doodle" follow The Apotheosis Hail Columbia Military Order of the Legal Legion of shellnited States. The Commandery of the State of Pennsylvania requests your presence at the reception to be 18.9 Wednesday evening, April 16th 1890, 8 until 11 o'clock. 1865. |