Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1886-08-16
GRAFTON
Mr.. PRESIDENT:
FELLoW-CITZENs.
or THE HON. ]. THOMAS scHARF

long deferred obligation. On
this one hundred and sixth an
niversary since he received his
death wound, we have come to-
gether to dedicate a National
Monument to the memory of
Major General the Baron De
Kalb, whose gallantry and sac
rifice at the battle of Camden, s.
c., on the 10th of August. 1880,
together with the soldierly con
duct of the troops he led, retriev-
ed in no small degree the dis
grace Of that DISASTROUS field.
Prompted by a generous inn
pulse and becoming gratitude,
the Continental Congress on Oc-
tober 18th, 1850, voted that this
monument should be erected in
this historic city, with the same
inscriptions upon it, but the
lack OF means and the pressure
Of absorbing public matters de-
layed The exection of the pledge
until | introduced joint resolu-
tons in the Legislature of Mary
land at the session of 1878, call
ing upen our Senators and Rep
sesentatives in Congress to urge
upon that body to do tardy but
merited honor to the memory of
patriot who died in defense of
American liberty and indepen-
dence. Subsequently Congress
appropriated $4,000 for the
erection of the monument, the
money to be expended under
"the management and control
of the Secretary of State, and
rs the result we are here assem-
bled to. day to dedicate the mas
terly production ofEphraimKey-
ser, a native sculptor.
This life like statue-one of
the triumphs of art-will recall
to generations yet unborn the
great services which De Kelb
rendered to the cause of con-
stitntional liberty. 1t will be a
visible testimony that the Gov
eminent of the country has not
been unmindful of what it owes
to him who came here from a for
eign land, found a welcome, and
repaid that welcome with his
blood, freely shed, in defense
of the rights of those amongst
whom he had found a home.
This dedication, therefore, is no
vain pomp or idle ceremony; it
is the tribute of the grateful
living to the honored dead.
The place is appropriate. De
Kalb has strolled upon this
very ground, and within the
walls Of that old State House
he heard, before he assumed the
command of the Maryland Line,
the inspired words of independ-
ence and union. At that time
this charming old city had be-
come vocal with the music of
give me liberty, or give me
death. :" The republic that was
Graded in tempests, never want
ed, in this city or State, a heart
to love and an arm to defend it.
Upon this soil genuinein depend-
ence was first asserted, establish
ed and defined, on this con-
tinent. On this soil true re-
ligious liberation was first con-
ceived, and Maryland's princi-
pies one hundred years later
were engrafted among the ruling
principles of the new confeder
acy Of States Just starting into
life. Maryland ut the coming
on of the revolution did not
need teacher to instruct her
in her rights or to prompt her to
preserve them.
Her citizens always breathed
the air Of independence, and
when they set at defiance the
obnoxious acts of the British
Parliament, they sought no dis
guises, but like true Mary
landers showed a willingness to-
assume the responsibility for all
that they did, and abide by the
consequences.
The sons of Annapolis have
been foremost in the. council,