Litchfield enquirer., 1879-09-11
The Tcrrington Monument Celebration.

3, The TcrTMSC0n monument CeleDrag1on.
 Today Wednesday, the Torrington Soldiers
 Monument is to be unveiled with appropriate
 ceremonies. The oration is to be delivered by
 Gen Hawley, and adresses made by Gov
 Andrews and others. Arrangements have companies, bands, etc., etc., and large crowd
 will no doubt be in attendance We go 10 press too early to give any detailed report of the proceedings, but Gov. Andrews has favor ed us with an advance copy of his address, which we give below
 | MR. PREsIDENT:-It is natural that any people should do honor to their defenders in the field. To the living, badges, medals and civil distinctions are given. To the memory of those who have fallen eulogies are said, drges are sung, and their names are inscribed 1 in rolls of honor and sculptured upon monu- mental stone. In this way the nation proves that it deserves to have brave blows struck for it's defence in time of danger.
 The sentiment which we call Patriotism is in truth complex one. It consists not only of the love which each citizen has, and ought to have, for his country, but also of the love and gratitude which the Country has for, and the pride Tn, each of it's citizens. This senti- ment finds it's root among the elementary af- fections, in the social smypathies of our na- ture. It is something in the heart which does not rest on any calculations of private advan- tage, but which springs up of itself in every pure and generous soul It is that bond which makes each man feel that hls single life is bound up with his country's.life. it's whole life past, present and future, and which is formed of all the myriad associations that twined to- gether make the cord of each mans existence from infancy to age. It is precisely analogous to the parental and filial affections between parents and children-a bond of union-and, like all the noble affections it is wholly un- selfish, and exists without any consideration of self interest of even of public utility.
 On the part of the citizen this sentiment prompts to those acts of manly and noble he roisms that make the glory of history and at- test the nobleness of which human nature is capable.
 Take the case of the Chevalier D Assas, Colonel of the Regiment of Auvergne, com manding an outpost of the French army near Gueldres, during the Seven Years war, who going the rounds in the grey of a morning fell in with division of the enemy that had been advancing under cover of the night and was just ready to fall on the slumberng garrison. He wasimmediately seized and threatened with instant death if he uttered cry of alarm. To be silent was the the destruction of the French army. Without moments hesitation, sum- moning all his strength he shouted out 'Hear men of Auvergne the enemy are upon you! y and the next moment he fell dead pierced through the heart by score of weapons point ed at his breast Bnt he had gained his ob- ject. The warning was timely, and the attack was repulsesi.
 Take any of the nunberlcss instances in our own history: Nathan Hale; Isaac Davis of Acton, who fell at the Old North Bridge in Concord where the ''embattled farmers on that April morning. in 1775, fired the shot heard round the world" It was one of the soldiers from our own state who in one of the battles of the late war fell mortally wounded. His comrades pausing to lift him up, he called out, "Ncver mind me boys. You'll find the cartridges in my pocket" These were his last words
 But to-day we represent the other side of the scni:!cnt. We are met to show our gratitude for tInca ,,,np ,yho hi 6ou, thoir liyoc hat the nation might live. We set to-'!ay our 'votive stone" to their memory. To each one of lIose whose names is inscribed here we bend in gratitude and admiration. Gratitude that through their valor no stripe or star in our glorious National flag is erased or obscurcu; that instead of an assemblage of hostile and warning States we have Nation; that instead of semi -barbarism, we have a glowing and generous civilization; and that instead of slavery with its countless woes, we have free dom with it's priceless blessings. But there is something more To every one of these who stakeJ his life in the cause of the nation we are the debtor. Not only to these, but to the whole 54, 900 sons of our State who went into the war and from no hope of promotion or desire for glory, but from simple duty and love of coun- try, braved the dangers of the picket, suffered in the prison pens of the enemy, stood on the fiery crests of battle and took the chances of war, we are every oia of us the debtor. And it is a debt to the amount of which each suc- ceeding year of peace makes lensthcnii's ad- ditions; and i; is d dcbt thu; kao"s statute of limitations It is sacred and perpetual
 indebtedness These humble heroes of ours may make little figure in the worlds history, but today we write their names on enduring granite and we number them in the books of our remembrance forever.