The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1851-08-07
ADDRESS OF
HON. GEO. w. WOODWARD.
OF wILKEsBARRE.


HON, GEO. w. WOODWARD.
OF wILKEsDARRE.
Delivered on the occasion Of the Erection Of a
Monument TO the Memory Of Francis X.
Skunk, Montgomery County, Pa., July 4h,
1851.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-FErJow ClTI-
zExs Whether the time, the place, or the
occasion be considered, it is good for US 10
be here.
The time is auspicious. 1t is the ami
versary of our Nations birthday. Seventy
five years ago this day, in that city, the roar
of whose cannon, ushering in this glorious
mora, has scarce died on our ears, a trans
action was coEsummated which made thir-
teen subject colonies free and Independent
States, and made hs authors immortal.
And here we arc assembled in one oi
those thirteen Sta;es-on spot endeared TO
every Pennsylvania as the birthplace and
the grave of most worthy son of our noble
State--in a county distinguished for It's
wealth, its fertility, its industry, and for the
number of able men whom, from time TO
time, it has sent into the public service, and
which, moreover, bears the illustrious name
of MoSTeomERy--a name suggestive of
"tho times that tried mems SOULS" aud
which re-siamps the memory with the gal
liant scenes before Quebec.
Aud the occasion is full OF significance
and interest. We come not TO pay
our court 10 living greatness We come
not 10 offer propitiaiory sacrifice to
power. We come not, even, in the full
tide Of gushing grief, to mourn the recent
dead, and with funeral pomp 10 consign
"dust TO dust" Our purpose is higher stili
The occasion belongs TO Patriotism--to In
tcgri,y-,o purity of life and morals-to
that heroic patience, which, content 10 toll;
achieves az iis just r,ward, victory over
the adverse circumstances OF lille. 1t Is
cirtue which we come to; celebrate. We
build up these material snbsiances-we
carye these lines and emblems--we crown
this monument, as signs and memorials OF
the goodness and the greatness which we
reioiceto honor, and whieh we' desire 10
perpctuate.
The time, the place, the occasion, then,
are worthy of this vast assemblage. 1t is
meet tba, old age, and vigorous manhood,
and hopeful youth and female beauty should
gather around this conse Grated place, sacred
TO the memory Of FRAEcIs r. SKUNK, and
on this day, hallowed in the annals of hu-
man liberty, unite in recording solemn act
Of testimony to the signal virtues Of the
man whom, living, we loved, and who,
though dead, lives in the affections Of his
admiring counirymer. 1t is good for US to
be here!
Il has been said that in good works there
is o need of precedent; but if we need
ed precedens for what We do here, we
could find them in every age and nation OF
our race. Mausoleums, Monuments, and
Pyramids-Temples, Towers, and Tombs,-
the sculpiured marble; the chiseled stone,
and die engraved brass, have all been used
to pepesua,e the memory Of great events
and! Of distinguished men. The most solid
and enduring materials have been resored
10, as if TO hinder death and time from OBJ.
Iiteratirg the virtues Of those whose frai
bodies, obedient to the universal decree
have crumbled into dust. "All these people
says Diodorus Siculus, speaking of the
Egyptians, considering the duration O.
human life as period extremely short and
unimporlant regard with the utmost aiten
ton the Immortality which virtue leaves be.
hind il. It is for this reason that they cal
the houses of the living inns, as affordine
only q Temporary residence, whilst they
give the name Of eternal habitations TO the
tombs Of the dead, from whence none eyel
issuc. Hence the Indifference of their kings
in the edi6calion of their palaces, and iheil
unbounded profusion in the construction Of
their .ombs," And hence came, we may
add, those vast pyramids in the valley Of the
Mia. that seem ''iiks the funeral gates o
Egypt or rather like iriumphal arches
reared TO the memory OF ths ilustriou
dead. Pharaoh is there. with all his people
and This sepulchTss are round about him."
This county is too new, and The people
have bean too much occupied in subduini
forests and building ciiies and towns, Il
present 10 the eye of the traveller those nu
merous and gorgeous memorials OF departes
greatness that are found in older countries
And possibly our republican institutions art
unIavorable 10 such displays of posthumou
honors. But jet We have many events ans
characters in our history, brief as il is, whicl
are well worthy of commemoration by al
the means which genius. and art and wealth
can command. Nor have we been alto
ge,her unmindiul of monumental commem
oraiion.z The Washington Monument
Baltimore, ibe Bunker Hill Monument am
that which, delayed too long, is 81 last beint
built by ,he patton 70 the memory OF hin