Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1852-06-09

Speech Of k0ssItb ~ Bunker lliil.
We cannot see how any one can help adm
ring the man who can give utterance to such
sentimenss.
MY voice shriaks from the task to ming'e |
with the awful pathos o. that majestic orator.
(pointing to the monument) Silent like the
grave anoSet mclodio,.s like the song Of inn
mortality upon tho lfbs Of cherubims--a
seuseless. cold granite, and yet warm with in.
spirsfion like patriots heart--immovablc
like the past. and yet stirring like the future,
which never stops. It looks lihe prophet and
speaks like IN oracle. And thus II speaks i:
"The dAy I commemorate 4 The rod with
which the hand of the Lard hAa epomcd he
we'll " liberty Its watsrA will aews efssy
nsw drop % mastyr b,opd will 3s6lNss s31(
sjas; pssPs,s nsz as
go
Bow. and adore. 2i'S ldY
Such are the words which s66l l. l.
and how, I adore, hope. sss IA
In bowing. my eyes meet the coil of Duuk&t
Hill-that awful opening scene Of the cvenifnl
drama to which Lexington and Concord had
been the preface.
/ ho rst ,e a. bnc.
! see Richard Grdlcy hastily planning the en-
trenchmcnts. l hear the b'unt sound OF the
pickaxe and spade in the hands Of the patriot
band. hear the patrols say hat 'All is we'll
| see Knowlton raising his line Of rail fence,
upon which soon the guns will rest. that the
bullets may prove to their message true. see
the tall commanding farm ofPrescot marching
leisnrely ar"un, the parapet, innaming the
tired patriots with the classical words tina,
those who had the merit Of the labor should
have the honor Of the victory. i see Asa Pol
lard fall the first victim of that immortal day;
see tn" chaplain praying over him; and now
the roaring Of cannon from ships aud from
batteries, and the blaze of the burning town,
and the thrice renewed storm aud the pcrsorer.
remained aud l see Warren telling Elbr,dgc
Gerry that il is sweet and fair to die for the
fatherland: see him lingering in his retreat,
and struck In the forehead fall to the ground,
and Pomeroy, with his shattered nuskct in
his brave hand. complaining that he remained
unhurt when Warren had to die; and sec
all the brave who fell unnamed, unnoticcd and
unknown the nameless corner. stones Of Amer
ican independence.
All the spirits Of that most cvcn,ful victory,
under the name Of dcfeat-I see them all the
eyes of my soul are familiar with the spirits
of martyrs of liberty. But those see around
me have no sad. ghostly look. they bear no
gushing wounds crying for revenge to the Al
mighty God; the smile Of eternal bliss is play
ing around their lips, and though dwcllcrs of
heaven.thcy like to visit the place where their
blood was split. il was not split in van--their
fa,herland is free. and there is a joy in that
thought, adding every new charm.even TO the
happiness of blessed souls. As the fabulous
divInilies of ancient Greece like to rest from
the charms Of heaven on Mount 0 ympus, SO
must the spirit Of Warren like to rest OH the
top of this monument here. ...-.. ....
Martyrs of my country how long will it yet
be till like joy will thrill through your de.
parted soul.g when will the smiles of that Joy
play around your lips7 how long will yet the
gush Of your wounds cry for rcvenge-your
iatherland still bleeding. down,troddon, op.
pressedl There is a sorrow in that thought.
casting the gloom OF sadness even over the bliss
of paradise. ....
Almighty father of mankind. let the day of
thy mercy be not too far. ..r.
Excuse my emation. gentlemen. The a So
sociatons Of my ideas are natural. Your Bun.
ker Hill and our Kapona are twins-boh
called defeats, and both eventual victories -
both result in the decla,ation Of IN indcpen-
nence; bnt yours acknowledged before it was
achieved and supportod by foreign aid-ours
not acknowledged oven when achieved and
meeting foreign aggression Instead of aid.
Well. past is past and cannot be c!anged---
but the future is open yet--and often have
bowed before The recollection &c this hnlpwed
ground. adore thaAlmighty with unfaller
ing hope. Part Of my hope rests in the justice
of Him who rules the universe ana holds in
his hands the dcstnies Of mankind and of men
My peop e's sufferings are recorded in the book
of His eternal DEGREES, and the tears of my
people numbered in his scale. trust TO Him
Part Of my hope rests with our own selves
We know that God helps those that help them
selvcs--and We will. We look not for unmer
ite.l good luck. but for well ncritcd reward
and we decided to merit it Allow me 10 say
that am proud Of my people-rroud not onl,
/ Of its past. but proud of its present also. Al
exile heart not often doea rejoice. but rris1
to know how my people behaved d-soil
nobler yet in its present sufsrtn
it bore up against World in ernssy lll
its country's name higher ii As vsyy iali. .t
it stood ever in its brigh.-s DAY T'.4 lJG,
sibilities Of my position do well guard mr from
easily believing what warmly wish. wsigl
calmly every Incident; but Joy IL 40 conmuni
/ cativc that cannot forbcar so much to say tha
have reason to be proud Of my people. an.
bow with prefnnnd yeneration at its name :
The tidings receive entitlc me to say, Young
Nero in Vicnna's old walls. thou mayest rag
, and pour the en.bers Of thy fury over my peo
r pies head; thou mayst raise thy scaffold, nnt
. pcop'e thy dungeons with thousands Of new
victims. and drain the life sweat Of my people
and whip it with the iron rod Of thy unpar
+ aleIed tyrany; defy thee TO break my people,
high minded spirit Foolish boy; thoumays
torture my family y-break u heart of my old
nother-murder my sisters, aud send fortl
thy assassins against him who. with i'll fated
but honest generosity. once saved thy crown
Thou mayst do al thou canst Thy days are