National Republican., 1880-08-07
OUR CITIZEN SOLDIERS.
The Rifles Listen TO an Address and In
dulge In Drill,
The Washington Light Infantry TO 20 to At
lanta-The National veteran Corps
and Its Honorary Members.

The National Rifles held their regular
monthly meeting &C Marini's hall last evon-
ing. The attendance on the part Of the mem
bers was large and considerable current busi-
ness was acted upon by the company. The
recruiting committee reported favorably on
oight applications for active membership, and
tho applicants were duly elected Several
others were, at the suggestion Of the commit
tee, laid over for the present. The following
wcll-known citizens were on application duly
elected honorary members: Captain H. w.
llowgate, William s. Thompson James w.
Ormo, William II. Hoover. Francis IIufty,
J. Bradley Adams, +. G. Darlington, .ir, John
+. Waggaman, Walter d. Wyvill g. w. Fors-
berg, DR.. Charles Warren Campbell Caring.
ton, F. Hagcrty and Andrew Saks. The COM
pany perfected arrangements with Mr.. Narini
Tor the permanent occupancy OF the hall as
an arnloTy. Colonel n. w. Fitzgerald the
uewly-elected first lieutenant, twas presented
to the company, aud after receiving hearty
round Of applause from the Rifles addressed
them as follows:
COMRADES OF THE NATIONAL RIFLES, CITt.
ZEN SOLDIERS OF THE REPURLIc: Were not
to say thank you for the distinguished honor
you have conferred upon me | should do in
justice TO my own feelings. Yet to simply say
| thank you is TO not fully express tho emo.
tions that stir within my heart. | deemed it
rare privilege to become member Of this
company; TO wear the uniform Of the National
Rifles" aud with you, my comrades, hold N.Y.
self in readiness, If need be, to light the battles
of our common country as private
soldier. l deem 1t distinguished
honor to bo chosen one Of its officers. 1t is a
mark of esteem and appreciation upon your
part which far trSnsconds any merit OF mine.
| can only pledge you, here and now, to strive
as best may to do my duty faithfully--that
the flag that waves Ia proud folds above me
shall not be disgraeed by act of mine, nor the
sword l wear be tarnished by dishonor.
The citizcnsoldiery of ancient Rome
was the bulwsrk and safeguard Of
that proud republic in those palmy days
when her ensign was the emblem of power
| throughout all Europe, when 10 be a citizen
Of Rome was a distinction envied by the
proudest monarchs Of other nations The
citizen soldiers of America tour patriotic sires
vanqmished the royal armies of England and
BUNDLED the pride of the British lion in the
heroic days of the revolution, aud upon the
strong arms and loyal hearts of her citizen
soldiery has the. republic they founded
safely leaned from that hour till this
| No soldiers Of fortune arc we, nor base hire.
| lings lighting for puuder or pclf Our mis-
tressis the Goddess Of Liberty-our country
the home Of the brave-oGr banner the flag Of
the free, Tho Inspiration that alone car
nerve our arms to deeds of val0r aud acts o.
HIIolSu must udNG lNs DlTLh III the temple o
liberty and for freedom, justice aud the right
Of man alone will We fight. But let domesti,
traitor or foreign foe assail these, and ou
swords would leap from their scabbard
aud our bayoncts from their cases, eager fo
the fray. Let us hope, my comrades, that M
such emergency may arise-that peace, nov
happily established throughout the borders o
our beloved country, may not again be broker
by the mad cry OF war that the duties which
shall dovolvo upon us may be those, aud those
only, that pertain to civic life. Yet should
this bright hope be realized, We shall have the
proud consciousness OF having obeyed the wis,
injunction, "In time Of peace be prepared fol
war;" Nor is this all. We have not banded
ourselves together as soldiers only, but Al
friends. This is a social as well as q military
organization. We meet as comrades not only
but as gentlemen. The ties of fraternity n,
less than those of patriotism biud us together
Permit me, by way Of closing to say
that it is my earnest hope that th
pleasant relations which now exist be
tween us as gentlemen, as comrades ant
friends, may remain unbrokcn while lif
shall last; and when the shadows that neye
lift gather around our earthly bivuuac NAV w
stack arms by that bright stream, whore tn
truce flag Of eternal peace waves over tn
white tents of the veterans, who are rouse
no more by the wild war bugle's blast-wher
friend aud foe, beside the river in grand on
campment, dwell forever.
! At the conclusion of Colonel Fitzgorald's II
0 marks the meeting adjourned. The compan,
then fell into line and treated themselves to
o good old-fashiOned drill, under the comman
Of Lieutenant Bassett. The veterans Shove
by their proficiency Of movement that the
had not lsrgotten anything by their enforce
vacation, and will at the proper time give
good account of themselves under their ne
name.