Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-08-21
"OLD GLORY"
Ex-PreSident HarriSOn'S Most
Patriotic Speech.
DELIVERED AT A FLAG RAISING.
Great Enthusiasm Aroused by His Re-
marks on the Stars and Stripes
Frequent Applause.

AT the flag raising which took place
at Old Forge, N. Y. ON July 29th, in
front Of the Old Forge Hotel, ex-Presi-
dent Harrison was the principal speak
er. and reused great enthusiasm by his
patriotic remarks ON the Stars and
Stripes. He avoided any reference to
politics, and, indeed, was introduced
by Mr.. Mowry. who is one of the
leading democrats of the country.
Gen. Harrison's speech was frequently
interrupted by applause. He said:
"Mr. President and Neigkbors and
Friends: l congratulate you upon the
success which has attended this patri-
otto effort. You have triumphed over
all. conditions. l thought for time
this morning that you would postpone
to more auspicious day the raising
of this handsome flag at Old Fore.
And, after all, this beautiful en-
blem of liberty never shines SO we'll as
when it's background is dark. 1t has
been loved best when the clouds were
low. In those dark days in its early
history when it seemed that the God in
whom our fathers trusted had forsaken
them; when their resources seemed
almost spent and their indomitable
yalor to have reached its last attain
ment, the flag which was the first en-
blem of our organization for free gov
ernment shone so brightly and 50 lumi-
nously, and SO drew the hearts Of men
and the love and prayers of women,
that in that dark day we were lifted
out of the valley of despair and defeat
to glorious consummation and to a
victory that surprised the world.
"And SO, in the serious days of our
later conflict for the integrity of the
Union, men seemed to love the flag
most when fortune was most against it.
In the dark days of '63. when every
circumstance of almost every campaign
seemed to be adverse, when Kirby
Smith had penetrated the Cumberland
Gap and was threatening the Ohio
River cities; when Buell. was returning
unsuccessful from his campaign through
Alabama; when Mcclellan seemed to
be rendered powerless in the Peninsula
in that time when the clouds hung
very low, there was revealed another
triumph of the national spirit and an
other illustration of the indomitable
patriotism of our population. For just
at that time, when Mr.. Lincoln's call
came for 100000 volunteers, though
there seemed to be for time rest and
pause, yet it was only the rest which
the water makes before It's leap over
Niagara. That call was responded to
with magnificent impulse and quick
ness that again surprised the world and
renewed the heart and courage Of that
noble man who presided over the des-
TIMES of our country; and again these
clouds were lifted with the pledge that
in no time of darkness would we for
sake the flag.
"That flag stands to us for a senti-
ment. for institutions. In itself, in the
com mbination of colors that made it, in
the bunting or silk of which it is
made, there is nothing. 1t is what it
stands for that makes it dear to us.
Ir is not this land of ours, wide and
rich as it is: it is not this wonderful
scenery that opens to us here, these
mountain peaks, these great lakes.
these entieing summer grounds, nor the
great plains of the West, where. while
we rest, the farmer is pushing the
plough to fill the granaries that can
feed the world; it is not this stretch
of land, these rivers and mountains and
plains; it is not the product of these;
it is not Wall street; it is not the Pro-
duce Exchanges; it is not bulk meats; it
is nothing that has bulk-it is some-
thing that lives in the heart; it is an
enshrined sentiment that makes this
flag, and it stands for a glorious his
tory.
I'VE look upon that flag and we
think Of Bunker Hill. and we see the
gallant band expending the last charge
of ammunition and battling with
dubbed muskets over the breastworks
and retiring at last defeated yet, as
some one said, Britain won the victory
that day and we kept the hill. 1t
speaks to us of Lexington and Concord.
of Valley Forge. of Saratoga, of York
town, and Of all those great achieve
ments. We look upon it and think of
Washington. We look again and see
the benign face of Abraham Lincoln.
We look again. and Grant and Sher-
man aud Sheridan are revealed to us.
We see upon its folds the story Of
Vioksburg and Chickamauga and
Chattanooga, of Gettysburg and of
Appomattox. 1t is the history that is
woven into it that makes it precious to
us; it is thus that it inspires 1t is
that for which it stands--a union of
States, government of the people, for
they made it, by the people. for they
conduct it; and for the people. for it
has missed it's object if it does not ac-
complish their good.
1T stands for government Of law;
for civil organization; for constitu.