The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-05-31

picture it. The wonderful uprising of
the people of Europe when Peter the
Hermit set millions of human hearts
on fire, and led the Crusaders in the
contest of the Cross against the Cres-
cent, for the possession of the Holy
Land, was less remarkable in its
enthusiasm. 1t SO happened that he
who now addresses you, was then in
Washington, the national capital. [
was there when the treasOnOus order
of Beauregard was given to fire on
Fort Sumter, as the only way to
battle the peaceful policy of Lincoln
and his Cabinet. L witnessed the
efforts of the Union officers to swear
into service the District of Columbia
militia. I stood near while those who
refused to take the oath of fidelity TO
the Union walked away undisturbed,
and the faithful, possibly one half,
took their places in the nations little
army, then but handful. When the
terrible hours of bombardment had
passed, and the word went quickly
through the Government depart
ments, and flashed over the wires of
the land, that Sumter had surrender
ed into rebel hands, as by summons
from Heaven, the patriotic masses of
the great North and West, saw their
work before them and heard the call
to duty. 1t was Saturday afternoon,
April 18th, 1861. The next Sabbath
morning took the cars for my home,
four hundred and fifty miles away
passing through the great cities of
Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia,
New York and BostOn-through seven
populous and powerful States, whose
millions of people We're in the streets,
in the highways, at the railway sta
lions and on the public squares,
touched, upborne by the grand in
spiration of patriotism. 1t was like
the deep, solemn, mighty roll and
swell of the ocean in storm. 1t was
the grandest scene ever witnessed on
this earth, relating to the interests of
civilized men. The loyal voice of the
nation spoke through the lips of Presi-
dent Lincoln, and million of men
sprang to arms. They met the foes
of the Union many times on the fiery
ridge of battle-army against army.
Hundreds of thousands of brave men
persisted on the field, in camp, in
hospital and prison. The Union came
out of the gigantic struggle stronger
than before q traftorous hand had
been raised against it. The
mighty armies were dissolved
as by magic, forgiveness and
peace became the rule of
the Government. The monarchies of
Europe, who had hoped Republican
government would prove a failure,
were disappointed. They saw it to be
the strongest government in the
world when it is in dead earnest, sur
rounded by the living ramparts of free
hn T.F1n to-, Nf
fury has passed since that mighty
achievement of freemen was finished.
To-day siXty-tive millions of people
are secure and prosperous under the
flag so gloriously upheld. Their land
is bounded by the two great oceans.
No other nation on the earth has such
a splendid field of commercial and
political power. The security of the
American Union was purchased by
the bravery, the devotion, and the
blood of many hundreds of thousands
of heroes. Those now remaining alive
are growing gray with years. 1t be-
comes us to honor the graves of our
heroic dead. If we did not, we would
be unworthy to be called Americans,
or to claim Washington, Lincoln,
Grant, Bunker Hill, and Gettysburg
as ours. The surviving Union veter-
ans will soon pass away. The sharp
sickle of Death is rapidly making its
harvest in their ranks. Let those still
living have the nations gratitude and
care. L scorn to reason with those
who begrudge the liberal pensions
which the nation is awarding them.
Heroes you are-not like those who
followed the Caesars and returned
under the Roman eagles, with the
spoils of war. Heroes on the Immortal
roll of American patriotism, you are
not to be compared with the returned
soldiers of q Napoleon, Bourbon, or
Hapsburg, who had gone forth on
campaigns of blood and rapine to aid
their sovereigns to crafty their dy-
nastic ambitions by recasting the
political map of Europe, regardless of
the lives and happiness of the people.
Now, and forever, let Americans, and
all friends of Constitutional liberty,
scatter flowers on the graves of the
Union defenders, and there come often
to draw inspiration from their illus
trious example. My head, whose
locks have been whitened by more
than seventy years, bows in reveren-
tial gratitude before these surviving
defenders of my country, while / drop
the tear of sympathy and fresh lau
rel on the hallowed ground of your
dead comrades in arms.