Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1891-07-16
Colonel Donnn's Eloaucnce.

At the Grand Army Encampment at
Moorhead Colonel Donan was invited to
speak. He gave the veterans an clio.
quent address,. in the course of which he
said:
But for us-the Confederates-
and the world would never have known
what heroes you had and the imperish-
able records of American patriotism and
courage and devotion would never have
been written in the fire and blood of one
four.years war. But for us-the Con-
federates -Lincolns emancipation proc.
lamation would never have been written.
and all the millions of negroes would
still be in slavery. But for us-the
Confederates-there would have been
no battle of Manassas or Shiloh, Vicks-
burg, Gettysburg Chioamauga or The
Wilderness; you could have won no VIC
tories gathered no laurels, added no
splendors to new-world history.
Half the glory Of every glorious field
from Bull Run to Appomattox is ours,
for it could not have been without us !;
and, till the tall arohangel sounds Times
last great reveille, your mighty heroes
and ours will go, must go, hand in hand
to fame. Grant will never be mentioned
without a mention Of Lee; Sherman will
sweep through the ages side by side
with Johnston; and Sheridan and Gus
ter will ride neck and neck to immor.
tality with Stuart and Hampton and
Forrest,
No mere accident of success or failure
can alter the DEGREES of God, or change
the records OF eternity. Suppose the
Great immortal who lies buried OF
Mount Vernon beside the blue Potomac,
but whose mausoleum is in the heart of
every freeman, had failed in his struggle
for the separation Of the thirteen col
onies from the mother country. Think
you that one true American would on
that account have relinquished his
share of the deathless heritage of
English heroism and genius and glory
in the fame of Arthur and Conr de
Lion of Sidney, Marlborough and Well.
ington of Rodney and Drake and Mel
son of Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton.
Goldsmith, Oowper and Gray?
Nay, verify! Nor do we. as Southern
ers, as Confederates simply because we
failed and you succeeded, propose to
surrender one jot or one title OF our
share and interest in the resplendent
heritage OF American valor, American
patriotism, and American glory! Wheth-
er you won, or we, Americans were The
victors; and. in either event, throw up
my hat and hurrah for American PROV.
ess. The time has come when every
American, regardless of section or party.
whether he wore the blue or the gray
should feel his bosom swell with honest
patriotic pride at the recital Of
deeds that lend new lugtre tn
American fame, no matter where or hy
whom wrought. We should glory alike
in the memories of Bunker Hill and
Brandywine and Yorktown; of Palo
Alto, Resaca de la Palma and Buena
Vista; Of Bull Run, Antietam, Gettvs.
burg and Appomatox. We share alike
the fame of Washington, Jefferson. Han.
cock and Adams, of Taylor and Scott Of
Lincoln, Grant, Sherman and Sheridan
Lee, jackson. johnson. Longstreet and
Hill: Your flag is our flag, your ooun-
try is our country, and your God ie onr
God Your destiny and ours is one and
inseparable. Let us, then, Law aside. ali
bitterness and pickering and work to.
gether as brethren for the highest GOOD
of the majestic new-world Republic that
rightfully claims the allegiance and tie
love of us all. VIZ