Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1894-05-11
TRIBUTE TO TIE MOTHERS
THE PRESIDENTS FREDx;R
ICKSBURG srEECE
Delivered Al The Dedication OF
The Martha Washington Mpnu-
ExpresSeC,

WASHINGTON, May 11.-The following
is the speech of President Cleveland at
the dedication of the Martha Washing
ton monument at Frederi; i;ksburg, Va,
Yesterday:
Governor o Farrell, Mr.. Mayor and
fellow citizens Il speak for those who
are today greeted as official guests Of
Virginia and Fredericksburg, when |
return sincere thanks for the hearty wei.
come that has been extended tC It's in
behalf of both the State aud county.
Our appreciation OF the warmth Of your
receptioni is not dimin shed BY the thought
that. in the light of the highess me lning
belonging to this OCCASION there are no
guests here. We have assembled on
equal terms to worship at sacred ma
tional shrine. Nothing can be more i'm
portant to those who have assumed the
responsibility of self government than
the cultivation and stimulation among
themselves of sentiments which ennobl..
and elevate, and strengthen humanity.
AS clear and wholesome stream must
have its flow from pure fountain head.
so must clean and benlticient popular
government have It's source in pure and
morally healthy men. This purity and
TINS moral Eealth are in nothing better
exempliilcd than in love and reverence
tor motherhood The man who said he
cared not who made the peoples laws if
nc could write their songs, might have
SAID, with more truth, that he could
gauge the strength aud honor OF a pc0Dlc
and their fitness for self government if he
knew the depths and steadtastuess of
their love for their mothers. | believe
that he who thinks it brave and manly
to ontgrow his care and devotion for his
mother is. more than he who has no
music in himself, fit for treason, STRAIT
egcms and spoIls. and should not be
trusted.
Let us recall today, as conclusive
proof OF the close relation between
American greatness and lasting love
and reverence tor our mothers, he proud
declaration OF George Washington, AM
| am owe my mother; and let us not
forget that when his glory was greatest
and when the plaudits of his country
men were loudest, be valued more .han
these blessings any approval OF his aged |
mother.
While these exercises cannot fail to |
INSPIRE us anew with reverence tor Amer |
lean motherhood, we viii remember
that we are here to do honor to Il woman |
who gave to our nation its greatest aud
best citizen, and that we have tBc priyi |
lege OF participating in the dedication OF |
monument erected by the women of |
our land in loving and enduring tcst- |
mony to the virtues OF the mother Of |
Washington. Let us be proud today |
that the nobility OF this woman cxactcd |
from distinguished foreigner the ad- |
MISSION If such are the matrons ot|
America, she may well boast of illus
'r''us sons; aud that OF L.atdyctlc,
who had fought with her son Tor Amer.
lean independence, who declared, after he
had received her blessing i have seen
he only Roman matron living at this
dav'
Remembering these things let us lcayu
this place with our love of country
strengthened, with a higher estimate OF
the Yalue of American citizenship and
with the prayer to God that our people
may hold fast to the sentiment that
grows out of love and reverence iarl
American motherhood"