West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1892-09-15
An ELOQUENT GRAFTON.
Address OF John j. Comiff 60 the Bro.
thcrh0od Of Locomotive Engineers,
Delivered af the Wheeling Opera
House, August -, 1892.

ltiswith no little en- barrassmcnt
my friends. that appear before yor
Tins afternoon. You have listened
TO gentlemen representing man,
avocatlonS OF life and who. from cx.
perlence covering the world Of labor
and the world of though, have PIE.
sentcd to you in its strongest and
most conclusive light every phase OF
the question that is very near and
very dear to your hearts. Add.
tlonal embarrassment is occasioned
me when | see before me gentlemen
many years Of whose lives have been
spent rs the living mbodimcnt of
every principle which undcrlies the
solution of the conflict between co.
Iossal fortune and enforced poverty.
Yet, when | reflect upon the char.
acter of your employment, the
origin, purposes and achievements of
your organization, ana see slammed
so mdelibly upon You both in your
organized and individual capacity.
the impress of your motto of So
briefly and truth, justice and moral
ity, l forget my embarrassment,
and catch the impulse which You
have awakened IN the great heart
OF the universal brotherhood of
man.
Let me forget you for moment
as a Brother hood and speak to YOU
ms individuals. If there is any cord
OF the human heart whose beatings
excite in the soul feelings of deep.
est sympathy and strong emotion,
1t is that which chords in harmony
with whatever is noble ard grand
in man. There is not day Of orr
lives that the tcndcrest feelings are
not appealed to in one way or an
other. There is not phase Of our
existence that silent cord Is not
made to re-echo in tones weicEtv
and impressive the esteem which n
heroic deed Of fcll1w-man NAV
wiring from the most reluctant heart
Embiazoned upon the pages of his
tory IS the everlasting fame of those
who died to save their country.
Historians write of them poets
sing of them monuments are
reared to immortalize their fame .
grateful and patriotic people have
cnshrined them in their hearts and
cherish them among the greatest
6enefactOrs of mankind. No man
can exceed my appreciation of the
soldler-pltriots. No one can more
cheerfulIy render honor to whom
honor is due. And this same spirit
OF justice and appreciation reminds
me, my friends, Of the honor that
IS due to countless other heroes
whose names are not found upon
the pages Of history, nor engrayen
upon memorial shafts: heroes who
silently, single handed and alone
fight the great battle on the plane
OF hnm1n existence, and whose only
glory is the consciousness Of duty
performed, and the monument of
affection reared within the sacred
precinct Of "home, sweet home. f.
Talk Of the brave on the battle.
field ! Talk Of undaunted hearts
that know no fear. Let me tell
you my friends Of heroism Of which
the world knows little hcroism
where neither martial pride nor
patriotism; nor the swelling notes
OF music or comrades THRILLING
cheer nor o nations praise or n
nations love nor the example Of
devotion; nor eulogy or monu-
ments' are present or anticipated TO
nerve the heroes Of whom I gpoak
Give % moments thought 70 tho
men who hold within their 0r4sr
the dcsiinies Of thousands Of our
uDOuln aud MILF. 20 -