Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1870-11-23
after which the President, General Bell,
introduced General McCandless, who de-
livered the following

|
E livered the following
ADDRESS:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: When SOlon
the great Atnenan lawgiver, was entertainer
at the court OF the Lydian monarch then tn
mightiest and wealthiest of pOientates, re
joicing in the fullness Of his glory and th'
extent of his realms, he was asked by thu
vain monarch, who expected and desired ,
reply flattering to himself this question
"Who, Oh! 81 Ion. was the most happy mar
you have ever knowny" The king wa.
amazed and startled at the answer. ''Tellus
an Athenian mechanic" replied Scion, IVA:
the most happy of men whom | have evel
known. He, after life spent in doing good
to his fellow citizens, having had family OF
stalwart sons born unto bin, died goriously
| fighting in his country's service at the close
of II victorious battle wherein her rights had
been asserted and her freedom assured, to
which result he had greatly contributed by
ms personal valor." Well might CrGsus be
astonished at this reply of the man whose
laws have ma 1e his rame immortal, TOR in il
was contained the germ of the principle that
makes small states great and republics pow
erful. This WAS u recognition that the feel
ing of patriotism clevates and dignities the
u
yond The heigh; OF kings, and sublimes even
ordinary virtues when displayed in the ser
vice OF ones country into greatness before
which the power of monarchs and the gran
deur of courts sink into insignifcance. 1t is
a beautiful expression OF that noble senti-
ment that ''it is sweet and becoming thing
to die for ones country" 1t WAS this willing
tribute to the memory OF her sons who died
i'll battle that made Greece in her day rs u
republic the mistress of the world in arms
and the great master of science and of art
which constitutes her the beacon-light to
which all succeeding ages have turned their
eyes 10 guide their course, and which has
exalted her into model 10 which all who
aspire u do gallant deed, perform gsner-
Gus action, or think no5.c thought forever
look for inspiration. Under such teachings
the heart OF the citizen expanded with the
glory OF his country; its hCnor and greatness
were paramount To all other considerations
and rs constant in his mind as is the norther.l
star in The armament History, which is
philosophy teaching by example, proves
that this amor pdtria in its purity is peculiar
to tree governments 1t is cminenily their
characteristic. Among them it reflects its
greatest efiulscnce. AND why should it not
be so? for there alone the individual feels his
manhood acknowledged, and his acts apprc
cated; there alone the individual is lifted
out OF the condition OF cypher and becomes
a part, an essential and important part, OF
the body polite. The greatness of his coun-
Try does not represent the aggrandizement of
despot or the enrichng of class, but it
represents happiness to him and an increase
of liberty TO his posterity. Sometimes for
the perpetua,ion of dynasty, sometimes for
ha nf ha nc
arch, and sometimes to please the whim or
caprice of Madam De Pompadour armies
may and have occasionally achieved victor
les, but such success as it does not elevate the
Cilizen nor tend TO the general good, will
prove only ephemeral. 1t has been the re-
suit of spasmodic effort and not the legitimate
product of genuine virtue; it proceeds from
temporary energy or perhaps the ability of a
ruler, and when these cease to exist, the soul
of nation being dead, internal corruption
and external disaster destroy and oyerturr
the splendid but baSeless superstruciure. The
courage of such people lacks the real AMI.
mating influence, which is love of country
This alone can give nation that pride of
mind drawing its inspiration from freedom
which fills the heart with a courage undaunted
by disaster and unsubdued by defeat. and
which, ever like Ant9us touching his mother
earth, springs elastic with new vigor The
individual sovereignty which citizen of a
republic enjoys, stimulates him either on the
weary march or amid the carnage of battle
he is willing TO die for the liberty he loves
From this pure spirit of patriotism free gov,
spring, without which they will be
as evanesccnt as the mist upon your noun
tain sides. This love OF country, my friends,
is prolific theme; it inspires the mind i,
guickens the pulsation of the blood it nerves
the weak and presses onward the strong; il
makes the soldier valiant and the orators
delivery grand; it is as old as time, and in
republic as certain as eternity; it comes with
breath and departs only with life; it will as
sert itself IN the traitors heart like Banquo's
ghost, it will not doom but ever chide him in |
his thoughtful moments. No nation can be !
truly great without it. Poetry draws from
It its inspiration; society its charms; the arts
and sciences their impulse. and language its
eloquencc. Well might the great Waverly |
inquire,
"Brcathes there man with soul so dead, |
Who never To himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land"
es, dead must be the soul that does not |
swell with emotion at the thought that this |
IS ms own land, and dead soon would be that .
and whose children did not glow with pride |
II the mention of her name
This love of country then being the green
,St laurel that bedecks the brow of liberty, |
now will we entwine its tendrils around the
hearts OF coming generations i'll order that
imc may increase its growth? My country.
men, this is q problem that every nation on
he surface OF the earth has nt some time or
)ther in its history attempted to solve. The
most effective method ever discovered to keep
slive this essential feeling of patriotism you
ire practising to-day. You have erected and
ire dedicatng to all future times monu-
nent commemorative OF the services rem
Tered to the state by your own patriotic sons
4 monument which to all the future will
ecal! the memory of great deeds, of earnest
patriotism, and OF unhesitating devotion to a
worthy cause.
Here will be found exemplars worthy of
This inarticulate marble will
each enduring lessons. The widow of the
departed hero will repair to this spot with
Ter son; point out to him his fathers Mauso-
cum; explain to him how he volunteered and
,al!antly defended the flag of his country;
low he fought and how he fell The maiden
whose lover has fallen in this bloody strife
will also come here, her hopes blighted and
er heart broken and on this, to her, a hal
owed spot, she will drop tear to the memory
f him she adores. Here will come the aged
rippled veteran with his grandson byhis side
nd standing before this monument all his .
outh will revive; the old days will pass be-
ore him anew; the old feelings will again in
ame his 5reast,-ihe great cause.-The ear
est love OF liberty--ihe ardent love of country
the, the weary march--the dreary 5ivouac
the desperate battle-the Temporary defeat and ,
ne final victory; all all these will pass in re-
lew before his mind, his ancient ardor will /
evive and he will recount in stirring speech ,
nd martial phrase the glories of his youth. {
nto the gready ear of the listening lad the ]
Id man will pour the story of the battles, 4
eges, fortunes through which he has passed, f
nd fired by recolections of these scenes he G
ill shoulder his crutch anG show how
eds were won;" point to this column en- I