Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-07-17

Since the last issue of the TRIBUNE we
have received the corrected copy of the
speech delivered by Rev. NJ. J. Fallihee,
in accepting the flag on behalf of the
teachers and children of st. AIMS school,
on July 4th. 1t is as follows
Ladies and gentlemen Il appear before you
to-day as a substitute and scarcely ever knew
a substitute that was as good as the original
package.
During the late rebellion or little unpleasant
ness between the North and South some men
were patriotic enough to go and fight for the
union while others remained at home because
they found it healthier and pleasanter to be at
a good distance from the Rebel bullets. Now
drafted and they paid men to go as substitutes
in their places. So am to-day substitute or
representative for the teachers and children
of this school, consequently you will not expect
of me a howery, learned or eloquent grafton
such rs the teachers or scholars would give
but some kind of "a substitute speech to fill the
bill for the parties whom represent. Before
go off on tangent or get too far from the base
of operation l wish to say in behalf of the
teachers and children that they accept this
beautiful flag and Flagstaff with the same kind
and patriotic spirit with which they are pre-
sented, and we all unite in returning our most
sincere and grateful thanks to all those who
donated the flag and flagstaff; and also to those
who assisted in any way in erecting here ON
the children's playground this grand emblem
of our national greatness. L cannot imagine
or conceive anything more appropriate than
the stripes and stars floating in the breeze
over the heads of our children MS they enjoy
their recreation. History will tell them that
Congress resolved on June IA, 1T7, that the
flag of the ID United States be 13 stripes, alter
nate, red and white that the union be l3 stars,
white in blue field, representing new con-
stellation; that the stripes represent the ID
original colonies and the stars the present num-
ber of States. 1t will show them that this
State is the Keystone State, and you all know
that the principal stone of an arch or building
is the keystone, which if taken away the arch
or building will tumble to the ground If some
know what a backbone is and every nerson
here present is supposed to have n bacishona
Now if your backbone is diapidated. disar.
ranged, or disappears in any way Won will
collapse and fall To the ground like the buiId-
ing Without the keystone Thence Won will
understand that the Keystone State was the
tional Independence 1t will inform them that
that very important document~the Declara
and adopted in our native State. in Pbil5del.
Dhia on the 4th of July l776 which imnortant
event brought joy. pleasure. liberty and han
piness to millions Of people. / hope our school
will sometimes think of George WASHINGTON
and endeavor to initiate him in his great and
noble deeds; they need not get out their pocket
knives and little hatchets and hack and cIlt
down our cherry trees as it is said George
Washington was inclined to do | never heard
that Ge6roe was so excited over his game Of
marbles or base ball that he threw them around
wildly and DrOmiscuOlsly injurinr any of his
playmates or destroying States, window-glass
fences. but L cannot that such lgstfup-
tion of property does not sometimes take place
now-a-days, not very far from here.
| suppose our boys while under the shadow
of the strines and stars will never he pniity of
swearing, although it is said that George swore
n little once in his life but that he was sorry
for IL and begged the recording angel NOT TO
register II against him i'm the book of life I
will tell YOU how il happened. The 18th of
June, 1776, was a very warm and sultry day
and Washington and his soldiers were i'm Mon
on hand They fought courageously nh dav
but gained very little advantage over their
enemies, so George thinking to infuse courage
into his men, waved his death-dealing sword
on high and said sCome on bows. pitch into
them; I'll be darned if they can lick us" His
men pitched in drove the enemy from the
field and gained a complete victory. Washing
ton was always a temperate man. but | do not
know if he was always u temperance man.
However, it is said he was a temperance man
MT the battle of Brand ywine. for our men had
neither brandy or wine on that day; they had to
use cistern wafer and hadn't even time to open