Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1871-01-26
yice-President C0lfax's Address at a
Festival for the Benefit of the
soldiers Orphans Home.


Vicc-P President Colfax presided at d
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 beneiicent 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, interviewed 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, from the 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 attectionate re.
membrane. The war which darkened
our land for 50 many years will long be
RENE nbered. Our pension roll of $4,000,
600 pr year year, for disabled heroes and
soldiers and sailors widows, keeps it WV
idly in our mind Our national asylums,
the doors Of which stand open
to welcome thousands to permanent
refuge from the advcfsities 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 of
our country and prouder Of our title of
American citizens. We deem ii an inesti
mable privilege to live in this heaven
favored land, but the fathers of the
orphans, who sleep the sleep that knows
no waking till the resurrection morn, not
only lived for this country, but they died
for It, They were our brothers, our friends
our ncighbors. In the days when peace
reignsd we met them in our streets, in
stores, in workshops, on their farms and
in the forests but the hour of national
peril came, and these quiet, peace loving
citizens were transformed into heroes
They rose from the sphere Of the citizen
to the plane of the patriot, and armed with
the courage Of the warrior But they were
not only patriotic and brave and daring
they were martyrs also. The martyrs of
religion gave their lives for principle !;
these martyrs of patriotism gave their
lives for an idea 1t was the grand idea
of American nationality that inspired to
the sacrifice and transformed them from
peaceful citizens into patriotic heroes. 1t
was to save the dear old flag from dishonor
and the nation they loved from destruction
hat HON.
the victory won for which they had perled
so much but many OF them passed away
before the hour Of triumph, in the dark
ness of the night before the bright rays Of
the morning Of national salvation some
sleep to might near the friends they loved
while living but many returned not, living
nor dead, lying might in distant Gene
tcries, or, sadder than all, have over them
the tombstOnes marked "Unknown." We
cannot add to the glory, or history, or re.
noWn of those whose deaths saved our
country but we can most fifty honor those
who giNcup home and happiness, and life
for us, by caring tendcrly and aftectionately
for those they left behind Many of yon
have comfortable and even paIatial mans
ions These children, orphaned by the
war, have no where to lay their heads OK
cept the home which henevolencc has
given them. Many Of You are blessed in
basket and in store They have no pos
sessions they can call their own. Many of
you enjoy the delightful Companionship Of
home, where that happy trinity of father,
mother and children fill it with Joy from
the hearthslone to the rooflree. BIT this
Is denied to those whose fathers sacrificed
SO much for you and me. | rejoice, there
tore, that the Grand Army of the Republic
nave opened this door of opportunity for
your bcnctactiuns | rejoice that our
national band, whose melodies are so often
heard at the Executive Mansion, and the
sweet singers not of Israel, but of Wash
Ington, have lent their aid TO the demon
stratlon, | rejoice that you have come
here from your holiday joys to make a
happy day for those whose fathers were,
but are not. You will be repaid in that
inner JOY which God always gives to those
who make others happier. II you needed
more, remember that striking epitome of
the meek ST. James, when he gave as the
first definition of religion pure and un-
letiled. "To visit the widow and the
fatheriess in their affection" And remem-
her, also, that striking prediction of the
last words which fell from the lips OF
Christ, when he asked not in regard to
creed or sect, but whether they had fed the
hungry and clothed the naked and cared
for the triendleSs, and declared that those
who had thus miniSlered to the children
of misfortune had ministered unto him.
| welcome, you, therefore, in this labor OF
love in which you have shown your in
terest In this work you can gain a
treasure that moth and rust cannot cor
rupt an investment whose dividends are
beyond all peradvepture. A happy, Joy.
GUS welcome TO YOU one and all