The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-06-05

Cd by weary marches, midnight vigils
on sentry duty. and cemented on
bloody fields of battle, have the same
end in view, that of supporting and
continuing the union and liberty Of
our country, and helping forward her
great institutions.
The Stars and Stripes, first unfurled
by Washington one hundred and fif-
teen years ago. have been, and are,
and always shall be, the sacred ensign
of our country; beautiful, glorious, typ
flying the freedom of every citizen
within, and equality before the
law their history teaching men to be
honest, upright, loyal and true; to falter
not when storms assail our country,
but manfully to defend her from trait
ors within, and from foes without;
floating over all, welcoming the honest
stranger within our gates, but protect
ing justice, swift to punish treason, dis
loyalty and anarchy.
Ingratitude is debasing sin; he
who would basely forsake his country
in her hour of need, and leave her to
the "oppressors wrong" after having
lived under her benehcent government,
breathed her pure air, enjoyed liberty,
and felt the crowning good Of all her
free institutions in being able to say 81
am an American citizen" is not only
guilty of the vilest ingratitude, but has
not vet learned the lesson of LOYALTY
and patriotism.
Construe then, and disseminate in
your Camp the lesson Of fidelity to
God and Country; the broad and gen.
erous principles of our government,
and the nobility and firm foundations
of our free institutions; where all men
who do right are equal before the law,
where the expression of proper
thoughts is freely permitted; where just
criticism Of public acts is a safeguard;
where anarchy, socialism and lawless-
ness meet prompt and sure punishment;
where none seek the Lupercal whereon
to crown a King, to "bestride the
narrow world like Colossus, for petty
men to creep under his huge legs and
peep about to find themselves dishon-
orable graves" but where every honest
citizen is his own uncrowned King;
teach that America is the greatest,
grandest country on heavens footstool,
that while she is strong, they must
feed that strength, and that her con-
tinued growth must come from within
and not from without; teach these
principles in your Camp and SOW the
seed broadcast as your influence is far
reaching. And ''if you are even temp
ted to say word or do thing which
will put bar between you and your
country, pray God in His mercy to
take you that instant to His own
Heaven. And for your country and
that flag, never dream a dream but
of serving her as she bids you, though
the service carries you through
thousand hells. Never let a night
pass, but you pray God to bless that
flag; remember you belong to her as
you belong to your mother, stand by
her as you would stand by your
mother
o beautiful and glorious ensign of
our country, float on, float on, forever,
adding new stars to thy field, covering
and protecting with thy majestic iufu-
ence, thy defenders and supporters; with
thy square of blue for truth and thy
level of equality for all ever float with
thy graceful folds over the land which
the ''golden compasses prepared in
Gods eternal store" have clrcumscrib-
ed for thee. Mayest thou never more
need defense at the cost of life, but, if
it SO be, there are millions of noble
ones to defend thee, Ellsworths to
plant thee high, unfurled, color bearers
to carry thee to their death, yea, and
Barbara Fritchies, frosted with honor
ed age to shake thy silken folds in
the face of thy enemies and keep thee
on thy proud eminence. Indexing by
its white the purity of our fore fathers
motives; its blue, their faith and honor;
its red, their life blood to gain it; es-
tablished by this sacrifice, honored
and defended by our people, saved
from despoiling hands by our own
fathers; Kept pure by the rivers of
human blood which incarnadined our
sands, and formed the waves which
rushed thousands upon thousands of
patriotic souls,to the realms of eternity;
on behalf of the givers present it to
your Camp; stand by it; defend it for
ever; follow the old flag to the end.
Myron Geddis responded on behalf
of the camp.