The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1893-06-24
a MEMOIR BIZ E DA Y
The Anniversary Of the Battle Of
. Bunker Hill Celebrated st
A the World Is Fair.
THE BUNKER Hi In UMENT


The Great Grafton Delivered by
Daniel Websterat it's Dedica
ton on June II, 1843.
Last Saturday. June IL, was Massa-
chusetts day at the Worlds Fair, and as
such they celebrated it with eclat in the
presence OF q vast multitude. But those
who do not live in Massachusetts call
June IL Americas day, for all claim an
Inheritance in Bunker Hill. When that
great orator, Daniel Webster, dedicated
the Bunker. Hill monument, June ~,
1843, he said to those from other States,
Wherever else you may be strangers,
here you are all at home" That is the
sentiment Of the American people. They
are all az home on Bunker Hill and they
all have an interest in this anniversary
Of the battle which not only began the
Revolution but also determined the con-
test, for when Washington heard of that
short struggle and was told that the mill
tia of Massachusetts, had not only stood
the fire of the British regulars, but had
reserved their own until the enemy was
within eight rods and then poured it in
with tremendous effect, he exclaimed,
"Then the liberties of the country are
safe!"
Fifty years from the date Of the IA
NOUS battle, or IS years ago, the corner
stone for the Bunker Hill monument
was laid with Daniel Webster as the
orator and Lafayette an honored guest,
while 200 revolutionary veterans were
present. Webster said then: I'VE are
here not to fix IN uncertain date ia our
annals, nor to draw into notice an OBJ
scure and unknown spot. If our hum
BILE purpose had never been conceived, if
ourselves had never been born, the 18th
of June, IT'S, would have been day on
which all subsequent history would have
poured it's light, and the eminence where
We stand a point Of attraction to the eyes
Of successive generations"
Fifty years ago the monument was de-
dicated with the same great orator.
Webster, the speaker. and President
Tyler and his cabinet present to show
that while the shaft on Bunker Hill had
been reared by the people Of Boston and
Massachusetts,, it commemorated an
event which made it's dedication an oc-
casion of National Importance.
In his Grafton Webster said Of the
monument: 1.-THE Bunker Hill monu-
m9flt is finished. Here it stands. For.
t,lnate in the high natural eminence on
which it is placed, higher, infinitely
higher, in it's object and purpose, it rises
over the land and over the sea; and, Wis
IDLE at their, homes to 100000 Of the PEG.
pie Of Massachusetts, it stands q mem
oriRl Of the past aud monitor to the
present and to all succeeding genera
lions. / have spoken of the holiness of
it's purpose. lit had been without any.
other design than the location Of work
of art, the granite OF which it is COM
posed would have slept in it's native bed.
Itihas a purpose, and that purpose gives
itscharacter. That purpose ennobles it
with dignity and moral grandeur. That
well-known purpose it is which causes
as to look up to it with a feeling of awe
It is itself the orator of this occasion.
Its not from my lips, it could not be
from any human lips, that that strain Of
sloqnene is this day to flow most COM
petent to move and excite Che vast null
;itudes around me. The powerful speaker
stands motionless before us.
'sIt is plain shaft. IL bears 20 in
scriptions, fronting the rising sun, from
which the future antiquary shall wipe
che dust. Nor does the rising sun cause
music to issue from its summit. But at
she rising of the sun and at the setting
Of the sun, in the blaze OF MONDAY and
beneath the milder effulgence Of lunar
light, it looks,it speaks, it acts, to the full
comprehension OF every American mind
and the awakening Of glowing enthusi-
ISM in every American heart. It's silent
nut awful utterance, it's deep pathos as
t brings to our contemplation the 18th
VI june, l775, and the consequences
which have resulted to us, to our coun-
ny, and. to the world, from the events Of
hat day, and which we know must con-
sinue to rain influence upon the des6nies
It mankind to the end Of time; the ele-
alton with which it raises up high
above the ordinary feelings Of life, sur
Ass all that the study Of the closet, or
wen the inspiration Of genius can pro-
duoe. To-day it speaks 70 us. Ito future
nuditories will be the successive genera
lions Of men, il they rise up before i
and gather around it,. tie speech will
10 Of patriotism and courage; q OWL
md religious liberty, IS free govern