The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1877-07-14


Washington received tho message with
joy, and ordered the Declaration. to lie
read at the head Of every brigaEe and
former suffetings aud futu2s. perils
wcrc alike forgotten in tho great aud
general rejoicing"
This was the kind Of aunr.ni.ion the
soldiers needed; and to the lasting
honor of Virginia be i. saiAl, that her
sons were not only tbfi 6rst to declare for
liberty, but they were the trainers ol
tho instrument which made their names
inmsrtal.
Compare the condition Of our coun-
try then aud now, if you would com.
prehenl the progress Of free iussitu-
tions. Thea .hcto were but thirteen
colonies, fornir.g loose Union of
varied interests, having population
Of but few millions, many Of whom
were slaves. Now wo are great ma
ton Composed Of thirty.eig ght States,
Win q population Of fifty millions of
freenlen. Then On American ship
was unknown outside Of American
waters. Now our marine is an houorcd
and welcome guest in every ocean on
the glc'Oe. Then tho great Wcst-ths
home Of the free foreseen by Washing
ton. was the home Of the wild man and
bea st. Now it Is the empire section Of
our continent. Our country, now
Recognized as tho homs Of tho op.
pressed Of all the nations Of tho world,
stands foremost on the roll. In one
hundred years We have accomplished
more than any country on tho globci
a century has placed US far in advance
of our ancestors; and instead Of look.
ing 10 them for lessons Of wisdom, tho
wise men Of tho east bow down at the
shrine Of American liberty.
But because we have advanced thus
far and thus rapidly. my friends, is no
reason why We should relax our
efforts; because we have hitherto been
fortunate, affords no reason for avoid.
ing a stern performance Of tho duties
Of citizenship; "fOr while the Past has
taught its lesson, tho Present has its
duty, and tho Future its hope"
But a few years ago our country was
torn and distracted by a fearful civil
war-a strife conceived in hell and
born in hatc-a bloody fght which
laid low hundreds Of thousands Of
brave, ,boys-bOys of.hc blue and boys of
tho groy-bravC boys all And where,
save but in country such as ours,
could people have not only recovered
already from tho dcyastations Of the
struggle, but have mutually agreed to
strike hands once more in goOdly fellow
ship-knowing no North, no South. no
East, no West, but all for our common
country! And speaking Of these brave
American soldiers, cannot refrain
from quoting a little from the speech
ofone Of West Virginia's silver-tongued
orators When speaking at the Ar.
liugtOn Cemetery, that grand but silent
city Of tho dead. whcro Northern and
Southern sleep their last sleep side by
side, hc said "Thcsc men died not for
a party, for men Of all parties lie burr.
ed here. Nor died they for a section or
creed, for men Of all sections and
soldiers Of all crCcd,, arc hero y
"rhe fame Of the American soldier
is jewel Of iucstiuabIo value to the
American citizen :; mud there fell not
in our civil war, on tho field Of honor
able strife, a soldier, Federal or Con.
federato. Of whose bravery am not
proud, and at whose grave I will not
pause to make ny floral offering. and
say Peace DO unto bis ashes Sons Of
the samc mothers. children Of the same
households, men Of tho same blood,
brave alike in battle, pray tell mo why
they arc not sublime together in death,
even though part wcrc mistaken in
life. Tho victorious soldier who has
no regard for bis vanquishcd foe, and
10 respect for their dead, fails to honor
tho memory OF his departed brother
and sullius tho reputation Of bis living
cOmradc. The day is in tho very near
future (lct us hastCu its cOmiug) when
our people Of oil sections, and our SOL
dicrs Of all flags, standing together
by tho graves of all our dead, will heal
tho last sting Of tho thorn Of strife, ns
they decorate all alike, pausiug not to