The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-28

tic virtue. In the ferocity of conflict
he has surpassed Pyrrhus, in magnan-
Unity he has distanced Theodoslus,
In the complex relations of civil
life he has equalled Aristides. There
is nothing mercenary about him.
With him we may challenge
the world. His Ike upon the face of the
earth there is not and there never has
been. No, in the armies OF the earth to-
day you have nothing to endure the
thought OF a comparison with the Ameri-
can colder. Aye, and summon here the
generations of the silent past and ! say
TO you the disentombed heroes OF Mara
thon and Thermopylae would be unable
to comprehend the meaning of Memorial
Day or the sublime character of the Amer
lean soldier. He Is Il freeman, and as such
re Is the equal of any man. God and
Gods image reflected in his fellow Is the
warrant unto him of human equality.
Gods holy kingdom reflected In the good
land the Lord His God hath given him
as an Inheritance Is the preponderating
passion of his soul. There he may live in
blessful peace like Adam In the shades of
Eden. For his country viii he put the
sword upon his thigh and with the zeal
of the oiden Leyite go through the
camp from gate to gate and return, put
ting to death his brother and his neigh
bor This IL the essence of American
patriotism and this Is the absorbing in
stinct of the American soldier. In arms at
his country's call, subservlent to her least
behests, he appears today as he has ever
appeared, enlisted for the war ready to
shed his best blood for the honor and
safety Of his country.
Even with all our individual views or
personal prejudices, let the mighty issue
Of war once be raised and you can write
the prophecy of the future in the history
of the past:
'To hearts that the spirit of liberty hushes,
Resistance Is idle and numbers a dream;
They rush from control as the mountain
stream rushes
From its fetters of ice to the warmth Of
the beam"
stood in.the days Of Lexington and Bunker
Hlil, ready to give aid when the emergen-
cies of his country require it.
Notwithstanding the diversified char
acter of our population, we cannot be too
proud of the high degree of civilization
and prosperity we have attained The
best Of civilization is its virtue of assimila-
ton A civilization that does not assiml-
late Is defective, there is something wroE-
in II. An old philosopher 1900 years ago
SAID: only the foolish ask is this one of
us or Stranger This Is not the spirit
of American liberty or charity. We do not
ask those who come among US where they
We're born, or what Is the color of their
skin, but we do ask If they are or will be-
come true, loyal citizens of our country.
cui 'INIii%dtip!l, DdSeu on lnc equality
man, L. the brthright of all men We
have seen families of every creed deci-
mated by civil war and l myself have
heard good Irish mother, with white lips
and swollen eyes, tell her son that this was
the best government God ever made and
1t must be sustained if every one of her
children must die to do II. l saw soon
after the speechless agony that acknowl-
edged the death of her first born in this
war, and heard her thank God that her
dear boy had died for his country The
Irish citizens of this land sometimes turn
with feelings of affection to the land of
their birth, but much as they love it they
love the land of their adoption more and
they have proved their love on many an
American battlefield.
1T Is a glorious thing to see Americans
united in one common bond of citizenship
and standing on a common platform Of
national independence, all having the same
aspirations, the maintenance, of peace, or
der and good citizenship, with the flag of
freedom proudly floating over us. We
should ever remain faithful to the great
principles that underlie our government
and guard 1t against its worst enemies,
idleness, unbridled luxury and political
corruption. The professional idler is al
ways vagabond. Intemperance is a
monster in American life. Men may de-
ride its advocates and try to flood the
progress of reform. but if drunkenness go
unchecked it will be more dangerous
than ever foreign invader was.
"Of nothing have We as a people been
prouder than the ballot by which each
freeman has the privilege of his independent
will, but our national life is infested by
spoilsmen having no interests but self
and no object but gain. These are more
dangerous than any armed foreign power
and are making harm to our free institu-
tions; We should be honest, peaceful, lib
erty-loving obligations to Cod and our re-
Then w sl,,,
that Will care more for country than for
party. citizenship above prejudice, for
harmony, political honesty and honor and
for the rights and equalities of free men,"
The services closed with benediction.
The address was the subject of general
comment, and the sentiments met with
the approval of all who heard them.