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

he reunion OF the oTphans ol ehu'
sylvania, held last week in the hall of
the House of Representatives, was a
memorable event. 1t was made espe-
cially so by the grand ovation given
to the War Governor of Pennsylvania,
and the eloquent and patriotic re-
marks which fell from Gov. Curtin's
lips. He was escorted to the place of
meeting by Posts 50 and ll6 of the
Grand Army of the Republic accom-
panied by bands of music, and as his
tall form appeared in the hall the two
hundred and fifty soldiers orphans
and hundreds of others in attendance
sent up a fervent shout of welcome.
Immediately in the rear of the Govern
or was Prof. Wickersham, who for ten
years filled the position of Superinten-
dent of Orphan Schools in connection
with the Superintendency of Common
Schools. The president of the meet
ing was A. 5. Grow, publisher Of the
Lock Haven Journal and graduate
of the McCallisterville School, who
made n few remarks aud introduced
Gov Hoyt as the firm friend of the
soldiers orphans, which sentiment was
vigorously applauded. The Governor,
referring to Ex-Governor Curtin and
Professor Wickersham, said they sat
here proud and exultant at the fruition
of their labors. He paid a glowing
tribute to Pennsylvania for maintain
ing these schools.
J. y. Vannaker, soldiers orphan
and a graduate of Havard, followed
Governor Hoyt. He said Governor
Curtin could look over the hall and
proudly say: "These are my children. )"
Then the president introduced "the
great War Governor, the founder of
soldiers orphan schools and our bene-
factor"
Loud and enthusiastic cheers greet
ed the Ex-Governor as he stepped for
ward to begin his address. The fol-
lowing is synopsis of the eloquent
and touching words spoken on the oc-
casion:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: Many of you
were children, and many of you may
have been in this hall on a memorable
hundred and forty-fve soldiers or.
phan's influenced the counsels of the
legislature and saved the schools at the
most critical period of their history
and no doubt many of you we're in
Philadelphia, on the fourth of July,
1866, when two hundred and seventeen
bullet riddled flags were returned TO
the State, and when the presence OF
more than twelve hundred soldiers or.
phan's was the chief interest of that
grand pageant.
The organization of the soldiers
orphans schools was not charity. but
fulfillment OF the covenant made be.
tween the soldiers and the people nj
home. Through the public journals
and in speeches solemn promises we're
made, he said. that their wives and
children should be cared for and that
the latter should be maintained by the
State. Their children could not be left
TO spasmodic and irregular charity, and
IL pleased Divine Providence to induce
the people OF the State to maintain and
educate these orphans, who were not
paupers but wards of the State. The
purity of the work fully justified the
State in standing by it's agreement. No
State had done as much n Pennsylva.
MIA for its soldiers orphans, and no
nation, ancient or modern, had eQualed
her in this respect. The State, IN her
treatment of the soldiers orphan. stands
beyond and above all precedent. She
Is noble and grand old State and her
people are highly patriotic, and he had
no doubt the soldiers orphans here
illustrate By their lives that the State
did but its duty in creating their schools
to the memory of their fathers. lie
thought this was proper time and an
appropriate place TO say that this ought
TO be our Last war. Referring 10 The
rebellion he said Pennsylvania never