The Arizona champion., 1889-06-01
Hon. ". c. Stewards Speech.

Hon. W. c. Stewards Speech.
 This 30th day of May we hay, met, in our beautiful mountain towr
 in common with millions of people all over this broad land, to expres! cur grateful remembrance of depart
 ed union soldiers. It is wisely
 ordered that upon this day of eacl passing year, we shall withdraw ourselves from employment, and stoF the whirl of business to listen to the voices which come from those momentious years that were stained with the blood of our patriots.
 And we can hear the echoes of those voices now, repeating in tones of undiminished distinctness things which come from the hearts and minds of loyal men and women, while the mighty struggle for national life, liberty, and for free institutions was going on. We do not honor the departed as the people of ancient nations honored their heroic dead, merely for deeds of daring which covered thelr names with martial glory, but we honor them for the patriotism which let them to offer their muscle, bone and blood, to save our country in the hour of its greatest peril Many of them had no desire for military glory, but preferred the peaceful pursuits of life, and the comforts of quiet home. Nothing but the danger to which their country was exposed, could have let them to exchange these for the hustle of camp, the toilsoms march, the privation of war and the carnage of battle. The fearful alternative presented itself to them, to see the country they loved die, or to give themselves to save it, and in the fullness of their patriotism they chose the latter. Ours then, is not an act of hero worship, but 8 great full expression of regard for the patriotic dead. The occasion that calls us together, the act we have to perform, and the attending circum- stances are patriot. The theme they |
 suggest is true patriotism, its nature and its manifestation among us as a people.
 Patriotism is not n wild and glittering passion, but glorious realty. The virtue that gave to Paganism its dazzling lustre, to Barbarism its redeeming trait, to Christianity its heroic form. It is the love of Country. Such love as aims to serve ones country either by defending it from invasion, or protecting its rights and maintain ing its laws and institutions. A good citizen is patriot, and it is the noblest passion that animates a man in the character of a citizen, the true patriot loves the very soil, rocks, mountains, hills, valleys, rivers, lakes and creeks of his native land; the people, associations, in stituiious, and everything that constitute a part or feature of his country. The love for his country is instilled into him along with the love for the home of his childhood.
 Bereft of patriotism, the heart of a nation would be cold, cramped and sordid; the arts would have no enduring impulse, and commerce no invigorating soul, society would degenerate, and the mean and vicious triumph.
 Patriotism is not dead. I still lives to console, to sanctify humanity It has his altar in every cline; its worship and festivities on every soil. One may travel in foreign climes, he may travel far from his native land, far from the old homestead, yet, he loves them stiil, and tenderly thinks of them as parts and features of the land he once called home if asked why he loves his country, he may be able to give no other reason than that he loves his country, because it is his own. The poet says of patriots '@They love their land because it is their own, and scorn to give aught other reason why" This principal i is universal, pervading all nations | and existing among even savage tribes. Montgomery says; "7'here is la d. of every land inc pride Beloved by heaven OCT all the world
 teSide, Where brighter suns diSpend serener light 1 And milder moons imparIdise the night: 1 A land of beauty, virtue, valnr, truth, ] inc tutored age, and love exalted youth; ! There Is a spot of earth supremely blest, ! A dearer, sweeter spot th an all the rest. Where man, creations tyran.. cast aside 1 His sword and scep;er, pagantry and i
 pride
 While in his softened looks benin<ly blend ! The sire, the son, the husband. brother, 1
 friend
 Whe shall that land, that spot Of earth
 b< found.
 Ar tl.ou man?--a patrio'? look around; 0, thou shAll find, howr'er thy fo ,'slrrs
 roam |