Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-06-01

rev IL. u. Bdrfctt, ifesldlng Elder Ol Wll-
mingtOn District Wilmington NJ. II. Con-
ferehcc, made the closing address. lie
said
THE REV. l.. y. BARRETT's ADDRESS.
| am glad TO be here to-day. with my
face toward the future AS represented b.
these boys, from our public schools. With
the precious memories of the past that
cluster about me AS ! look at these boys
IN blue" with their gray boards and
bronhod faces, indicating the cxf o3ure and
hardship OF the battlefield, with the IN
spring music Of these bands, and with the
eloquent and warm hearted words Of the
Chief Justice OF our State, ringing through
the chambers OF my soul
or the noted days in orr national calen-
dar, this, to ME, is full OF significance and
precious memories. The 4th Of July com
mcmuratcs the birth of this republlc-it is
the anniversary Of that glad day when the
bell oi Independence Hall rang out the
glad tldings that the colonies were deter
mined TO be free from the CALLING yoke of
oppression, and when that body Of brave
men, taking their lives in their hands,
alliNed their signatures TO a document that
rendered their names and fame immortal.
The I'd of February is the anniversary of
the birth of him who, leaning upon the
arm OF the God of battles, and trusting in
the justice OF the cause, led the colonial
troops through Il long warfare to ultimate
victory, aud who, as the first President OF
the young republic, laid down principles
and presidents that have become the I'M
written law of the land. But this jOth day
OF May calls up events as important and as
far-reachins as any that mark the annals
Of our country.
III this beautiful restrictive season,
when nature has clothed herself ia spot
less garments of bloom and beauty, when
tile rich verdure OF living green carpets
the earth, when gardens, hedge.rows and
yards are atlame with many colgred
flowers when the birds, with their throats
lull OF song, sing their way upon joyful
wing to the very gates OF the skies, we
meet To lay our tributes of praise at the
feet OF valOr and herosm and flowers on
the graves of our departed comrades, who
barred their bosoms to the storm of war,
that they might make eternal the prin-
| Gples that underlie this fair fabric of
| American freedom.
Gratitude Is one of the most beautiful
traits OF the human character which sur.
| NlHed the fall of our humanity. Where
there is the absence of this trait there IS
no solid foundation upon which to build
true manhood, Some one has said some
| where, and ut some time, that "lepubics
are ungrateful.n | am not ready to Ell
| dorsG tins sentiment. What means this
| demonstration? What means the hush OF
| business, the silent wheels, the smOkeless
| chimneys, the closed banks, the playing
| OF bands, the unfurlIng of banners. the
| boom OF guns, the civic and military
| parades, the uratious and school displays
| throughout our broad land to-day? These
! things are but the expression of deep,
earnest, heartfelt gratitude upon the part
| OF Americans towards the men who, in
| the hour Of their cOuntry'S need and peril
rallied around the flag and prevented
hostile hands from snatching Single star
/ from the azure field of their country's
banner. We should he grateful to them for
these men defended the citadel built by
orr patriotic fathers If one could take
/ his stand Oh Washugton's monument on
/ the banks OF the Potomac, and had keen .
ness of vision sufficient To take i'll the
| whole country, his soul would rise in eX-
ultatlon US he contemplated the grandeur,
glory and extent of this great Republic.
| With its magnificent domain, its head
resting on the icy hills of the north, its
| feet bathed in the waters OF the southern
| gulf, and each hand grasping Il mighty sea;
| with its soil rich and productive, its climate
| bringing forth almost every known fruit;
its institutions uneXcelled If cquallcd any
where on the globe its flag huuored and
respected by grateful millions Us its folds
| greet the breeze; its homes the abode of
| refinement, culture and Gontentment;
| school houses dutting the face of the land
| as stars dot the armament. We can truly
say, when we contemplate these posses
| slons. the lines have fallen unto us in
| pleasant places yea, we have u goodly
| heritage"
How was such noble structure formed,
| who planned and built il? The answer
takes us back to our early history and
| shows US the sturdy settler, having in his
| veins the blood of the Hugunot and the
Puritan. conquerng the difficulties that
surrounded hlm-nature interposed her
barriers. and the wild savage rushed upon
his home with war-whoup and tomahayk.
but he toiled on, he grew, he thrived rs
time rolled on, and he increased in worldly
goods, the taxes were piled on him BY the
mother country. He toiled on, determined
that the new continent should he the home
of himself and his children The seeds of
liberty We're sown in his heart they ger.
minated. threw up their shoots and began
to bear frtiit-thc harvest came LeXinr-
ton witnessed the plucking of the first
trut--it cost sweat and blood; but the
harvest must be reaped. For seven years
the gathering went on. At times il seemed
as if every tree would be rooted M by the
hands of power; retreat. dismay, dis
enlargement and treason all conspired to
stop the harvest, but the gathering went
on The pillar of cloud and fire was lust
i above and in front of the Continental
: forces. Frequently the great commander
OF the American forces saw no other hope.
but he moved AS it moved, and it led him
to Yorktown, where, at last, the sword of
British power was laid at the feet of
American valur and American faith: the
harvest home had come ut last. Then
came civil organization and for loo
years il has stood the test, notwth-
standing all SORTS of disasters were pre-
dlcted for the young Republic. This is
the citadel Of American liberty that the
q. A. T. fought 70 maintain and perpot-
nate Here in this Republic in this western
world is being wrought out the greatest
problem that was ever given TO Il people,
the problem of self-government | believe
the God of nations has sci this star OF the
American republic i'll the galaxy OF ma.
tons to he the guiding star in the path of
elf'Sovernment for all people, for has lie
not the same destiny for the other people
of this world as for us? | believe He has.
What means unrest, the dissatisfaction
and disquietnde prevailing among the
middle and lower classes in Europe to-
day? Why are thrones trembling and
monarchies quaking. 1t is the work
ing of the lcNven of human liberty, the
terminating OF the seed of freedom.
As light upon the shore, other peoples
and nations are watching us and trying to
make the same harbur. should not those
who have defended such country as this
from foreign and domestic assault receive
our lasting gratitude and honor?
Our gratitude will be the deeper and
more lasting when we consider that certain
great facts and principles were emphasized
and forever settled by the issue OF the con
tfict through which these veterans passed.
/. The Character and Stability of the
llnion-Our fathers beQuGathed to us a
form of government and constitution
which. i was believed, would insure us
.ta.aK i a.