Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-09-01

1
maintain her soldiers orphans. lie
deprecated war, as it brought with IL
decentralization OF the people, even if
successful. The late war left its blister.
ing marks on public morality in the
North, although rebellion was crushed.
lie predicted long era of peace, refer.
red to the prosperity prevailing in the
South and said that no sensible South.
ern man desired the restoration of
slavery lie referred pathetically to
the suiferings of President Garfield, and
said if they could be amelorated by the
stoppage of all business there would be
silence equal to that which pervades
the Presidents chambers. The black
cloud which had settled over the White
House had entered every household,
and fifty million people were now
mourning the calamity which has be-
fallen the head of the nation and pray.
ing for his restoration to health. But
the death of the President would not
affect the government, which being
democratic, is immortal. If it should
please Providence TO remove the Presl
dent n successor is provided, and no
dangerous agitation would follow. This
government was made to- live, and the
loss OF its head would 60 no further
than grieve the hearts of the people.
The first and foremost duty would be,
in case of the Presidents death, to give
his successor proper support.
Our matchless constitution provides
for succession, and if the President
should die, the citizen selected, and
who is TO become the actual head OF the
government, deserves, and will receive
the sympathy of all true and patriotic
men, in the discharge of his high Off
cial functions, in the delicate position
in which he will be placed. have said,
that | trust. the war in which your
fathers were slain and which made you
orphans and 80 developed the justice
and benevolence OF this great State. in
their adoption of you as the children
of the commonwealth, may be our last.
am quite sure, that you have, and will
in the future, demonstrate by useful
lives. your gratitude TO the people of
the State and never forget your gracious
and kind stepmother-thls grand com.
monwealth. Pure patriotism makes all
humanity friends. IL is that grand and
holy emotion of the human heart which
extends to all humanity within our Dor.
ders, and that marks the truly patriotic
man. The last decade has developed
in the patriotic feeling OF the nation
desire on the part Of all who love their
country, to have it restored to peace,
concord and fraternity. wise and
mysterious Providence has III the past
visited our country with great calami
ties, but they have hitherto passed.
and our nation has been making con.
tinual progress in power and conse'
quoncc. and the individual happiness
and prosperity OF our people has been
abundantly blessed, and It the threat
ened calamity should occur, our govern.
ment will move on as heretofore If we
abide in the wisdom and justice of the
Supreme Power. and by our lives de.
serve prosperity in the future.
canrot commend too highly. Ladies
and Gentlemen. your pious purpose IN
this assembagc. You do justice to
yourselves. to the people OF the state,
whose wards you have been, in uniting
together IN mutual support and assis.
tance to each other. The citizens who
have been called t. I'LL the chief execu.
tive Office Of the State have in most
commendable manner sustained by MI
their official influence the Soldiers Or.
uhan's Schools. aud it is but just to say.
! that the gentlemen who have been call
! ed to discharge the immediate duties
connected with your schools, have per.
/ formed their official services faithfully.
/ Thomas II. Burrowes, the first superin.
/ tcndent, was a man who devoted bis
/ life to the interests OF public education,
and who laid the foundation of the
/ system which has been pursued by his
| successors. Colonel McFarIane. his i'm,
mediate successor, MANNED in the war
as n soldier. gave TO you Jealous. sym
pathetic and active support, and 1t Is
quite unnecessary for me to refer to
| that learned and enlightened educator
aud patriotic man who is IN your pres
ence to-day to take an active part in
your proceedings Indeed 1t would be
quite, unnecessary to mention the name
OF Dr. Wickersham and IT IL q pleas.
| ing reflection that the gentleman re-
| Gently called TO the head Of the depart
ment, comes with a reputation to iusti
| ~ the expectation that he will faithful
ly discharge the delicate duties of his
place towards the remnant Of the Sol
diers' Orphans, who still remain in the
schools.
Accept my many thanks for the hon.
or of your invitation to be present on
this occasion, and for the hearty recep
ton it is your pleasure TO give me and
you will allow me to suggest, that If
not at this meeting, you will at some
subsequent gathering of the same char
acter, so arrange that Col. Paul's excel.
lent history of the Soldiers Orphans
Schools of Pennsylvania may be re.
written aud enlarged by that gentle.
man, or some other person equally
competent for such duty, so that not
only the people of other States of this
Union, but that all the nations OF the
earth, and all humanity may know
how much Pennsylvania did TO relieve
the sutferings and horrors of war, and
that her example may be initiated
/ However IL NAV be with you. Ladies'