Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-01-27
Vice-President Colfax's Address at a
Festival for the Benefit of the
Soldiers Orphans Home.

Vice-President ColfaX presided at a
grand musical entertainment at Washing
ton, the other evening, for the benefit of
orphans of the Soldiers and Sailors Or
phans Home. He delivered the following
address
Ladies and gentlemen: came hither to-
night, at the request of the Grand Army
of the Republic, to speak briefly to you in
behalf of the beneficent endeavor to add
to the future comforts of the orphans of
the Soldiers and Sailors Orphans Home.
No time could be more fitting than this
holiday week, interleaved between the old
year and the new. The double Christmas
has just passed the double New Year is
at hand, and in this week of Joy and fes-
tivity, when happiness fills the hearts of
millions, fromjhe gray haired sire to the
infant son, it is well that you remember
the orphans, and seek to gladden. their
hearts, too; but more than all other or
phans have these children of the nation
the right to grateful and affectionate re-
membrance The war which darkened
our land for so many years will long be
remembered. Our pension roll of $30,000,.
600 per year year, for disabled heroes and
soldiers and sailors widows, keeps itNv-
idly in our mind. Our national asylums
|
to welcome thousands to permanent
refuge from the adversities of life
are among its mementoes. Our national
cemeteries, our crowded grave-yards, and
the weary crutch, and the empty sleeve all
remind us of that saddening struggle, but
nearest to all of our hearts tonight, be-
cause more helpless and dependent, are
the orphans of the war We are proud o.
our country, and prouder of our title oi
American citizens. We deem it an inesti
mable privilege to live in this heaven
favored land, but the fathers of tht
orphans, who sleep the sleep that knows
no waking till the resurrection morn, mo-
only lived for this country, but they dice
for it. They were our brothers, our friends
our neighbors. In the days when peace
reigned we met them In our streets, II
stores, in workshops, on their farms anC
in the forests; but the hour of nationa
peril came, and these quiet, peace loving
citizens were transformed into heroes
They rose from the sphere of the citizer
to the plane of the patriot, and armed will
the courage of the warrior. But they wer'
not only patriotic and brave and daring
they were martyrs also. The martyrs o
religion gave their lives for principle
these martyrs of patriotism gave theil
lives for an idea. 1t was the grand idei
of American nationality that inspired Il
the sacrifice and transformed them from
peaceful citizens into patriotic heroes, l
was to save the dear old flag from dishono
and the nation they loved from destruction
that they gave their lives. Many live to Sc,
the victory won for which they had perllet
so much but many of them passed ava,
before the hour of triumph, in the dark
ness of the night, before the bright rays o
the morning of national salvation som
sleep tonight near the friends they love-
while living but many returned not, livin
nor dead, lying tonight in distant GENE
teries, or, sadder than all, have over then
the tombstones marked unknown" w
cannot add to the glory, or history, or II
nown of those whose deaths saved ou
country but we can most fitly honor thos
who give up home and happiness, and Ill
for us, by caring tenderly and affectionatel
for those they left behind. Many of yo
have comfortable and even palatial man
ions. Th;Ne children, orphaned by II
war, have no where TO lay their heads e.
oept the home which benevolence h
given chem. Many Of you are blessed
"bas, RET and in store" They have no po
se'nlons they can call their own. Many
you enjoy the delightful coppapionship
!. home, whore that happy taihiiy OF tath'