Litchfield enquirer., 1880-06-03
Danbury Soldiers Monument.

ant, ana very large numDef or vlsltors wal
 present Gov Andrews and his staff, Ex
 Gov. Miner, Gen. Smith, and, the Fourth Reg
 iment of the National Guard, several Posts
 of the Grand Army, Fire Companies, Bands.
 and various other organizations made a fine
 procession. A large crowd was assembled at
 the monument which was unveiled by q
 daughter of Capt. Moore, killed in the WAT.
 An address was then made by Gov. Andrews
 who was followed by Hon. Samuel Fessenden, of Stamford, Orator of the Day. Afterwards came the collation. to which some 2O00 per- sons sat down. Mir. Bailey, of the Danbury
 News, then made an address and a poem was read by MT. William A. Croffut. The cele- bration was a success and greatly enjoyed in spite of the raging thermometer.
 We append the fine address made by Gov. Andrews on the occasion:
 FELLOW CITIZENS :-
 This great multitude before and around me proves that the occasion has excited more l than an ordinary feeling. This sea of human 1 faces each radiant with sympathy and joy l and as with one common impulse turned with l eager interest towards this comedy shaft pro- claims that the day and the purpose of our as- sembling have made strong impression on all hearts. Your eyes are fixed on this beauti- full monument. The sunlight gilds it with glory Every heart greets it with patriotic emotion. Its completion marks duty per- formed-a duty of gratitude and patriotism al ready too long delayed. We are assembled to celebrate the accomplishment of this duty-to render homage to the memory of those who | laid down their lives that the Republic might live, and to indulge afresh in the recollection of those great events which made necessary the shedding of their blood
 The spirit of disunion had long sought su- | supremacy Tn the nation. Rolled in it's every attempt by bloodless methods, it drew it's sword to overthrow the government whose na- ture in could not change.
 It was twenty years ago-more than half the | life of generation-but even yet the air thrills with the tremendous story. The revo lutionary sires in Connecticut had left the | blow in the unfinished furrow to march away l to Bunker Hill. Their children did not de- lay All these sunny hillsides and all these green valleys echoed to the loud drum. beat and to the ring of the bugle. Hundreds and 1 thousands of your fathers and husbands and sons marched away. All over these sunny | hills and along all>these green valleys are the silent and darkened homes to which hundreds
 
 returned.
 At so costly price it was that we purchas- cd the redemption of our country from dis memberment and ruin These lives, and still more, all these deaths attest the nobleness of which human nature is capable. And when inspired by love of one's country, they indi- cate the sentiment of patriotism. It is not, however, the whole of patriotism. This en- tire sentiment requires not only self-devotion on the part of the citizens but gratitude for their devotion on the part of the State.
 If devotion is necessary to uphold and pre- serve the nation, then gratitude is equally nec essary to show that the nation is worth being upheld and preserved. This day and this au- dience gives the assurance that in one nation, at least, there is something worth preserving. Your historian will tell you how many men went into the war of the rebellion from this town. He will tell you how. many of them died from sickness and from wounds. In loy al reverent thankfuness to them all we are gathered together. To them we dedicate this monument that when our children and our children's children are laid in the dust, it may speak to the generations ''of patriotism and courage; of civil and religious liberty of free governments; of the moral improvement and elevation of mankind and of the immortal memory of those who with heroic devotion have sacrificed their lives for their country"
 But should be forgetful of my duty if on au occasion like this 1 remind.you only of those whom we to-day more especially com memorate. To each of the 54 900 sons of Connecticut who, taking their lives in their hands, and without desire of promotion or re- ward, but content with simple devotion to duty suffered the hardships of the march and the camp, endured fever and the prison-pen and walked through the sbrill hail of battle, we are the debtors To them all we set this "votive stone,"
 'sThat memory may their deeds redeem, When like our slres our sons are gone."
 There is an Eastern saying to the effect that in every good deed done to another lies deeply hidden good deed done to ourselves. So while we dedicate this monument to the dead, may we not hope that it will teach all the liv- Ing to dedicate their lives with renewed cour- age to the immortal principle for which they died?
 The breach between church and republic in France grows wider daily The hierarchy has so long controlled the government wherever l it's own interests were concerned that it no longer knows how to yield to the supremacy of the state. During most of the present cen- | tury the church has been in close alliance with | the state, and, throughits control of education, has been growing in influence over the people. l In fact under the second Napoleon, Catholic | ism and Imperialism were close partners in l iniquity. The church pardonsd the coup de etGt, and the church in turn was always sure of the support of the State. Since Gambetta 1 has come into power, there has been an entire change of relation, and the church, remember | ing how little there was left it after a ten years struggle with the old republic, prays heartily for the speedy overthrow of the new one.
 Both parties realize how important is the control of education. Napoleon I. restored the church not because he had any faith in re- ligion himself, but because he considered it usefull prop of imperialism He
 treated the Pope as a mere vassal, and subjected him to extreme indignlty whenever he ventured to act in opposition to his views. From his time onward, however, the church was busily, and to a considerable extent suc- l csssfully, engaged in rsconverting France to l Catholicism: it's chief means has been the con- trol of education; and it's chief agents, the Jesuits. The recent expulsion of the Jssuits was followed up, last week, by the passage of bill by the Chamber of Deputies which for bids monks to teach without the usual state | certificates. Other measures are proposed looking to the complete equality of clergy | with other citizens, and we expect soon to see all state aid withdrawn from the church. Then Catholicism will stand or fall on it's own merits; it can no longer use the meney paid it by the republic to accomplish the overthrow of the republic. | The Chicago Convention holds it's first ses- sion today Wednesday,. There has been great excitement over the action of Senator Came. ron, Chairman of the National Committee,
 who refuses to be controlled by the wishes of