The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-07-28

OLD FORGE, N. -, July 27.-Th6 f1eg
pole raising at this place TO day was
rendered noteworthy by the presence OF
ex President Harrison. The pole, which
Is 100 feet high, stands on: knoll in
front OF the old Forge House and was
cut in the heart of the mountains. 1t
was erected by N. A. Briggs, the pro-
prietor Of the hotel. Bis gueets
donated the flag, which Is a handsome
one, is by "a feet. A steam launch
| conveyed General Harrison from his
cottage to the scene of the festivities.
The hotel was reached at $3.50 and the
ceremonies began at once. Owing TO
the rain the orators delivered their
patriotic utterAnces from within the
hotel.
In introducing General Harrison,
chairman Mowrey said: I'VE have
with US to day an individual Of more
than ordinary personality, an inhabi-
tsnt OF another State. This illustrious
man, In response to Lipcoln's call went
forth to do service for his country, for
liberty and for the fsg. In after years
in consideration of his chival-ic vigor
and representative worth, grateful
people called him to fill the Office of
President and now his record ranks
him among the most illustrious men CT
| the world"
General Harrison was greeted with
loud cheers. He spoke as follows: "Mr
| President and neighbors and friends,
| congratulate you upon the success
which has attended the patriotic effort.
You have triumphed over ell conditions.
L thought, for time this Ii morning, that
| you would postpone to moro suspicious
day the raising OF this handsome flag st
| Old Forge. But, after ell, in spite Of
| the discomforts and inconvenience
which this depressing day imposes upon
us am glad to know that your pa
triotism has triumphed; that your love
for the flag is not OF the fair weather
kind (applause), and, after all, this
beautiful emblem Of liberty never
shines 30 we'll as when it's background
| Is dark.
ut has been loved best when the
clouds were low. In those dark days OF
its early history when 1t seemed that
the God in whom our fathers trusted
had forsaken them; when their re-
SOURCES seemed almost spent and their
indomitable valor TO have reached its
last attainment, the flag, which was the
>~~Ds o1A 0AoAAA ~ OoA VI x ohAZ 71lOa luz lT6c
government, shone 30 brightly and 80
luminous, 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 g
glorious contamination, and to 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 '69 when every circum.
stance Of almost every campaign seemed
to be adverse; when clouds hung very
low there was revealed another triumph
OF the national spirit, and another illus.
tration of the indomitable patriotic
spirit of our Union.
Just at this time Mr.. Lincolns call
for 500, 600 volunteers, was responded to
with magnificent impulse and quick
ness that again surprised the world snd
| again these clouds were lifted with the
pledge thatin no time OF darkness would
we forsake the flag"
Assemblyman Sanger, Hon. A. Nj.
Mills, of Little Falls, and James ].
Mcguire, Of Syracuse, followed General
Harrison. All referred eloquently to
ex.President Hsrrison's services as
President and in the field. After the
| exercises the ex-Preside nt shook hands
wi tn all present