The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-05-04
PRESIDENT HARRIsON's ADDRESS.
He Speaks for ..Our Country''-The flag
and What 1t Stands For,

He Speaks for .'Our Countrywide flag
and What 1t Stands For.
President Harrison made the conclud
ing speech at the great centennial ban
quet in New York Tuesday night. Mayor
Grant proposed "The United States of
America" and introduced as the respon
sor President Harrison. The President
after a graceful acknowledgement of the
many courJesies shown him in New York
said:
81 prefer to substitute for the official
title which is upon the programme that
familiar and fireside expression, "Our
Country" | congratulate you to day, as
one of the instructive and interesting
features OF this OCCASION, that these grea.
thorough fares, dedicated to trade, have
closed their doors ard covered the insig
MIA of commerce witt the stars aud
Stripes; that your great exchanges have
closed, and that into the very beart of
Wall street the flag has been carried.
Upon the old historic spot the men who
give their time and energies TO the trade,
have given these days to their country,
to the cause of her glory. and TO the AS
piration for her honor and developement.
81 have great pleasure in believing that
the love of country has been intensified
in many hearts here, not only of you who
might be called, and some who have been
called to witness your love for the flag i'll
battletields by sea and land, but in these
homes, among these fair women who
look down upon us tonight, and in the
thoughts of those little children who
mingled the piping cries with the hoarser
acclaims as we moved along your streets
today.
Il believe that patriotism has been
blown into higher and boiler flame in
many hearts. CCries of Good. good! ]
These banners with which you have Gov
cred your walls; these patriotic inscrip.
lions must come down, and the ways OF
commerce and trade be resumed here
again.
81 will ask you to carry those banners
that now hang on the wall into your
homes-into the public schools of your
city, into all your great i situations where
children are gathered and to drape them
there, that the eyes of the young and OF
the old may look upon that flag as one OF
the familiar adornments of the American
home. Have we not learned that not
stocks or bonds or stately houses or lands
or the product of the mill is our country
1t is spiritual thought that is in our
minds. 1t is the flag and what 1t stands
for.
at is its glorious history. 1t is the
fireside and the home. 1t is the high
thoughts that are in the heart, born of
the inspiration which comes by the story
of their fathers, the martyrs to liberty;
1t is the graveyards with which our care
full country has gathered the unconscious
dust of those who have died. Here, in
these things, is that thing we love and
call our country rather than anything that
can be touched or handled.
Let me add the thought that we owe
a duty to our country in peace as well as
in war Perhaps never in the history OF
our nation have we been so we'll equipped
for war upon land as now, and yet We
have never sec the time in our history
when our people were more smitter with
the love of peace. To ele the morals
of our people; to hold up the law as that
sacred thing which. like the ark of God
of old, might not be touched by irrever-
ent hands, it frowns upon every attempt
to displace its supremacy, to unite our
people in all that makes home pure and
honorable, as we'll as to give our energies
in the direction of our material advance
ment-these services we may render, and
out of this great demonstration do we
not all feel like reconsecrating ourselves
to love and service of our country"
As Gen. Harrison flushed the whole
company rose and cheered him again and
again.