It always affords me much gratification to meet my old
                          comrades-in-arms of 10 to 14 years ago, and to live over again the
                          trials and hardships of those days - hardships imposed for the
                          preservation of our free institutions. We believed then and believe
                          now that we had a government worth fighting for, and if need be,
                          worth dying for. How many of our comrades paid the latter price for
                          our preserved Union. Let their heroism and sacrifices be ever green
                          in our memory. Let not the result of their sacrifices be destroyed.
                          The Union  and the freedom for which they fell should be held more
                          dear by their sacrifices.
                          We will not deny to any of those who fought against us any
                          privileges which we claim  for ourselves. On the contrary, we
                          welcome all who come forward in good faith to help build up our
                          country against all enemies, as brothers with us in a common
                          heritage. But we are not prepared to apologize for the part we took
                          in the great struggle. It is to be hoped that such a trial will never
                          again befall our country. In this sentiment no class of people can
                          agree more than the soldiers who submitted to the dangers, trials,
                          and hardships of the camp and battlefield, on whichever side he may
                          have fought. No one is more interested in guarding against another
                          war than the soldier.
                          Let us begin by guarding against every enemy threatening the
                          freedom of our country. It is a fair subject for our deliberation, to
                          consider what may be necessary to secure the prize for which they
                          battled. In a country like ours - where the citizens are sovereign and
                          the public official is the servant, it is important that the people
                          should possess intelligence. The free school is the promoter of that
                          intelligence which will preserve us as a free nation. If are ever to
                          have another contest for our national existence, I predict that the
                          dividing line will not be the Mason and Dixon's, but between
                          patriotism and intelligence on one side, and superstition, ambition
                          and ignorance on the other. 

                          In this Centennial year of our national existence, I believe it is a
                          good time to begin the work of strengthening the foundation of our
                          national house, begun one hundred years ago at Concord and
                          Lexington. Let us all labor to guarantee the perfect security of free
                          thought, free speech and a free press, pure morals, and of equal
                          rights and privileges to all men, irrespective of nationality, color or
                          religion.

                          Encourage free schools and resolve that not one dollar of money
                          raised for their support shall be appropriated to the support of any
                          religious school. Leave the matter of religion to the family circle, the
                          church and the private school, supported entirely by private
                          contributions. Keep the church and the state forever separate. With
                          these safeguards, I believe the battle which created us, "The Army
                          of the Tennessee," will not have been fought in vain. 
                          Encourage free schools and resolve that not one dollar of money
                          raised for their support shall be appropriated to the support of any
                          religious school. Leave the matter of religion to the family circle, the
                          church and the private school, supported entirely by private
                          contributions. Keep the church and the state forever separate. With
                          these safeguards, I believe the battle which created us, "The Army
                          of the Tennessee," will not have been fought in vain.