The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-10-08

found expression In popular manifesta-
tion never before witnessed in any age or
nation.
trust may be pardoned the personal
allusion n illustrate the point am en-
deavoring to make by citing the example
OF Benjamin Harrison In that crisis. The
date OF the firing upon Fort Sumter
found him a young lawyer struggling to
maintain a wife and two little ones by
close attention to his business. Having
been an outspoken fres-soiler, his party
at the last election had conferred upon
him an Office Of some responsibility.
When the thrill Of Indignant patriot
ism flashed through the north with the
nnnouncemenr that the flag had been
fired upon, young Harrison's first i'm
pulse was TO volunteer at once. But he
iound the war quota OF Indiana more
than bly, filled and there seemed no
necessity for his services in view OF the
responsibilities which rested upon him
at home. The herculean task before the
north was not then realized.
Even so astute a statesman as Mr.. Sew
ard predicted that the retaliation would
be over in ninety days. Young Harri-
son had inherited some OF the character
istics OF his Woburn ancestry.
He Was a Man Of Peace.
OF domestic habits and studious tastes.
He was willing to let the meA OF martial
spirits who delighted in at he pomp and
circumstance of glorious war;" fill up
the first regiments from Indiana, as there
was contest for precedence. But as the
great struggle progressed and IL becams
evident that the nations resources wer,
10 be taxed to their utmost to maintain
the Union, the young lawyer felt that the
call OF duty was to him also.
In that crisis OF his life, did II occur to
him that some one else could do his light
ing for him? No. With n sense OF per-
sonal responsibility which has always
marked his conduct In private and pub.
lie life, he proposed to go in person and
share with his fellow citizens in the dam
gers and the honor OF saving his country
from dismemberment and ruin. He was
no longer the man of peace. 1t was the
spirit OF the hero of Tippecanoe and OF
the Thames which now animated him.
Under commission as second lieuten-
ant from the governor, he set to work to
raise company, with fifer, a drummer
and a flag he paraded the streets OF Indi-
annapolis and called his neig bors to arms
and, under the inspiration of such exam
pie, not only the company, but regi-
ment, was soon made up;
Aud as its Commander
he marched to the front and there re-
NAMED till the last enemy OF his country
had laid down his arms, and peace again
smiled on a united nation.
The history of Benjamin Harrison In
this respect was that of thousands, aye,
tens OF thousands OF the young men OF
the Northwest, whose characters had been
so greatly moulded by the influences
which went out from Woburn and Its
neg boring towns and cities. And it is
because these influences have SO greatly
the states which were framed
out of that vast domain of freedom, that |
we in Indiana call our President typical |
man of his home and generation; and we |
are pleased to be assured by the people OF |
this ancient corporation that he Is |
worthy to fill the exalted post first occu- |
pied by Washington.
In his name, and on my own behalf, I |
heartily thaak you for this manifesto |
tion, and pray thnt the spirit of godli-
dess, of morality, OF intelligence, OF lib
dred and hfty years has dwelt with you,
may here abide and pervade the whole
republic for generations to come.
Governor Russell
was given a splendid ovation, the entire
assembly rising and cheering for several
His address was m excellent
one. Ii was announced thet nine resi-
dents had organized an association to be
known as the "Burbeen Free Lecture
Fund" for the establishment and main
tenance in woburn ofa course OF annual
lectures, free to the public, on her his
toric, scientific or other educational sub
jects.
Toward the endowment OF this cor
poration, Leonidas Thompson has made
4 gift of the sum of six thousand dollars
$6000), OF which the income is to be for
ever used In carrying on the purposes of
he corporation for the benefit Of the In
b habitants OF the city.
Philip j. Doherty rendered in an elo-
luert speech the sincere congrat ulations
of Charlestown TO Woburn, upon whose
history she looks with fond maternal
pride.
Fully $4,000 people have attended tho