The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-19

Acton. from that day TO the present. Tue poets
and orators OF Concord, however, nave Lad The
advantage or Acton. and IL has gone form 50
that 10 The common apprehension 1t would seem
that all the glory belonged to the men OF Concord
a claim when rheY have never failed 10 make
In 1896 the inhabitants OF Concord prepared
granite monument 10 oe erected in commemora-
ton OF the fgnt. Bnt herein lay the dlficulty
Where snoulu that monument be placedf II upon
the spot
WHERE DAVIS FELL
at the head or the men OF Acton, on tho north
sido q the river. them with historic truth, the
inscription upon the monument must mention
the brave men VINO died there. If placed az the
other end OF The brioge-wherc in fact 1t was
placed-.iU must be placed upon The spot wnere the
British soldiers fell; and the ncongruity OF placing
a monument at The place where the minions OF the
King Welded up their breath 10 the bullets or the
men or Acton was TOO manifest n placed there,
what inscription could be placed upon it, For
tunatey FOR Concord, she had citizen VINO was
equal to the emergency in her leading lawyer,
the
HON. SAMUEL HoAR,
who was afterward so famous as the Commits
soner or the Common wealth or Massachusetts
sem to South Carolina 10 BRING writ o. haoeas
Juliy imprisoned there. with singular felicity OF
inspiration TO avoid the difficulty. lie framed an
inscription upon the Tablet OF the monument
which contains the phrase with winch alone we
have here 10 do, and-we quote from memory
nearly as ioOws:-"On thls spot was the first
iorcioie resistance TO British aggression on this
Continent, which led TO rne war or independ-
concord man stating ths fact that ON this spot the
soluiers OF the King were struck by the bullets
river or course this inscription Was atrIclly true
Tor the bullet me! no
until IL struck The British soldier. The men OF
Acton always complained OF this Inscription and
this situation OF the monument as an injustice
and wrong done TO Aeon. THIS WAS partially
remeaied by the Legislature about the seventy
nltn anniversary OF the Concord lgnt by erecting
IN the square IN me town OF Acton granite mona
ment in honor OF Davis and MS brave soldiers.
Concord has more than once celebrated the an
niversary oil this occasion. and II has been not a
little troublesome on laose occasions TO compose
thu ieud between the men OF Acton. VINO Oh course
q she men oil Concord arising out OF their con-
cnng GAINS Tor the honor oil the day. Inc ora
tors, in lenalt Of the men Of Acton, on such &C
casions never failed 10 dllate upol tneir valor
aud bravery, aud taat they made me first fOrciole
resistance IN fgnt, no matter wnere their bullets
struck. On one OCCASION, we beneve
THR SEVENTY FIFTH ANNIVERSARY,
at the dinuer, 10 prevent any unpleasant reminis
Mr. Hoar, presiding, with an adrotness equal to
that displayed by ms iatner, in tue inscription
walcn We nave quoted, selected very worthy
made q speech Ia his lie, even so
mucn as an eNhortatlon IN ing Of
deacon, ami lest some Sucker for the glories OF
Acton should prepare MIN Tor speech that
occasion, the worthy deacon was not informed of
the honor which awaited MIN at The dinner table
az the celebratloa until too late an hour for
speech to be prepared ior him. Wnen toe proper
TOAST was called,
THE MEN OF ACroN,u
10 the great surprise OF the audience Deacon Hoy
ward-9s we believe hts name 10 be--was called
up by the Lresldlng olicer TO respond TO tnas
toast. haywHrd arose, with hesltancy oil man-
ner and Irlghteneo LOOK which are always shown
By q man unaccusLomed 10 speak IN puolic, and
CHANGING along the taoe IN manner OF apology
aud depreciation or Criticism, made the following
address, US nearly as 1t can be remembered alter
the lapse or q quarter oil century,
DEACON HAYwARD'S SPEECH.
Mr. CHAIRMAN-Wnen you told me, little while
ago, snat was ~ respond 10 the toast oil Acton"
telled you that never mace speecn In my lie.
/ can't make speech now; out Will give You
sentiment. | give you ''Ins DAY We Celebrate
TIE l0in OF Aprll. 1875; that day made SO glorious
In our countty's nIstory oy the bravery oT our
people; that day when Concord found tue ground
ana Acton the nleHrr
the applause wnIcn followed this erusIon prob
ablg astoLlshed he worthy deacon more than any
event OF his NE; but It sho Sed the appreciation
OF tue Iacts oil the case BY the
COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX.