The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-07-19

from the results of your courage, fidelity
and patriotism.
The State of Pennsylvania, during all
your services, has not been uumindful of
you. You were followed to the battle
fields by the benedictions and prayers of
the good, and benevolent people carried
to you the contributions of the patriotic
and generous at home. Never, at any
time during the war, did this constant
benevolence shrink, and always good,
Christian men and women were found
willing to endure privation and suffering,
to reach you On the field and in the hos
pital. So far as it was possible the State
always made ample provision for the
removal of the bodies of the slain for
Christian interment, amid their kindred
and friends. When it was practicable,
the sick and wounded were removed to
enjoy the tender watching and care of
their friends at home. And as the
crowning glory of this great Common
wealth, she has gathered together the
helpless and the destitute orphans of
dead soldiers, and adopted them as the
children of the Commonwealth. The
Legislature of Pennsylvania, moved by
justice and christian charity, for three
years have made munifcent appropria-
tions of the public money to place within
the care of the State the homeless little
ones OF your dead comrades. They are to
be brought up as the glory and honor of
the State, monument that Pennsylvania
raises to the memory of the slain, more
enduring than brass or marble, and in
harmony with the christian teachings Of
her people. Here are twelve hundred Of
these little children before you to-day,
the children of comrades left upon the
fields Of battle, bright jewels in the crown
of glory that encircles this great Common
wealth, the strongest evidence of the
fidelity and patriotism of her people
Let his work be SO now engratted upon
the public policy oe the State, THAI it
shall endure until the last orphan of the
Pennsylvania soldier shall be trained,
nurtured and educated.
This is a hallowed place-this is a
haliowed day. Here and now, in the name
of Pennsylvania, [ accept these colors
fifty, for we are assembled upon the
birthday in the birthplace of American
liberty.
We are forced to contemplate the won
drous march of this people to empire,
colonization, the Revolution, the DecIara-
tion of Independence, the Constitution,
the Rebellion-its overthrow, and the
publication of our Government, and the
change of our organic laws by the lesson
of discord, and our hopes for the future,
following each other in logical sequence
and the duty and responsibility of this
labor for mankind are developed by the
grace of God and the hearts and arms Of our
soldiers upon the loyal people Of this land.
In the presence Of these mute symbols
of living soldiers, [pointing to the flags j
of yonder touching memorials of our dead
soldiers, [pointing to the children j in
fealty to the blood poured out like water
in remembrance Of the sorrow yet to be
assuaged, and the burdens yet to be
borne, the graves yet to De numbered, and
the horrors yet to be forgotten in loyalty
to our State, to our country, to our fellow
men everywhere, and to God, let us rise
to the height of our great privileges, and
| place the American Government upon
the enduring basis of justice and liberty
This is the great lesson of the war, and
the very rock of political truth. "Who
soever falls upon it will be broken, and
| upon whomsoevcr it shall fall it will grind
| him to powder"
Then our Government will represent
the result of American civilization, and
| then these old flags will glow with the
| light OF their true meaning, aud the valOl
of the soldiers of the Republic will receive
its just reward in rendering memorable
service to mankind for then, in the word:
| of our illustrious martyr, we will take
care "that the Government of the people
by the people, and for the people, shal
not perish from the earth"
And now, having received these stand
ards, he who addresses you has performed
his last official act connected with tn,
military service of the war, and his rela
tions to you, SO long, SO intimate and 81
cordial, arc severed.
| In this, our last interview, when tn,
ties that bound us so closely for thest
eventful years just passed, and. the reia
tions so intimate, SO cordial are closing
he would be insensible to the constan
fidelity, to the pleasant relations, to th'
| forgiveness of error, to the ready ait
| generous support, to the many, very man.
evidences of kindness and affection h
has received from you and your com mrades
if he has failed to express to you hi
personal obligation and thanks he recur
with qualification to the fact that he di
for the soldier what he could. He regret
that he could not have done more. Blu
he will carry with him to the grave, an
leave as a rich legacy to his children, tn
consciousness that you, at least, believes
that he did what he could ior his DIS
tressed country, aud that, after the expe