Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-04-07

there should be no invidious distinc-
tons, still it is our glorious boast that
we sprang from those without whose
efforts and sacrifices there would nave
been no such proud designation; and
there are none so humble but that they
may bear it in honor
And while we enjoy so much let US
not forget that the same spirit of our
forefarhers would have us bear our in
SEPARATION of liberty into lands benight-
ed, and will not permit us to look SUI
pinely on that to which every Son OF
the Revolution must be ever an impos-
ing spectacle-a people struggling TO be
free
But, gentlemen, mark the last, but
by no means the least, of the objects
of our Society, TO promote the feeling
Of friendship among the members.
The charms Of friendship are too we'll
known and felt by every one TO need
commentator or explanation at my
hands. The friendship here is not
hampered by the fear of any disclosure
of mysterious secrets. Nor is it that
which is begotten by obligations I'M
known in their nature until assumed.
Nor yet by reason of any pecuniary adj
vantages to be derived in the present
or in the future. Ours is a friendship
with a higher origin than the advance
ment or qualification of self Partak-
ing of the magnaminity of the brave
men of whose lineage we are, it is a
willing gift Of heart and head TO the
perpe5uatiOn of the truths in govern
mental science which elevate all men
to the sublimest heights of attainable
earthly happiness. To which end we
meet and joining hands whilst kindling
eye answers to the smiling beams Of
noble purpose, we recount the story Of
the dark and troublesome times and
each to the other say:
Thy and father and mine in friend
ship
First tried their sodiership: They did
look far
Into the service of the times, and we're
Discipled Of the bravest.'
General Caldwell, after recounting
The deeds of the foreign officer in the
revolution. closed as follows:
But no mention Of these foreign Off
GERS can omit the name of one who stood
among them like Saul among his
brethren, a clear head and shoulders
above them all The story of these
times cannot be told, the history of this
land is not written, unless the glorious
name Of La Fayette, the companion
and friend of Washington. appears sec
Ond only to that of the Father of his
Country. OF noble birth. at the thresh-
hold Of life, happily married, of high
rank, wealthy, beloved by all, he left
q wife, friends and country against his
kings command, and drew his sword
in the cause Of American independence.
Listen TO his grand words TO the Amer
lean commissioners when told of the
poverty Of their resources and the low
cd Of our fortunes. Hitherto I have
only cherished your cause; now | am
going to serve it. The lower it is in the
opinion of the people the greater effect
my departure will have; and since you
cannot get vessel, I shall purchase and
fit out one to carry your dispatches to
Congress and me to America
This was no idle boast. His depart
IRE seems the turning point in the
struggle. But il is waste of time for us
10 dwell upon the name and fame Of La
Fayette. His renOwn is our own and
does not belong to his native France
At BradyWine he poured a libatiOn to
our liberties with his blood. His
glories and ours are intermingled and
viii stay intermingled to the utter
most generations Of Americans and I'M
III time shall be no more. Without
him we would have no free America
He was raised by the Providence Of
God to make possible the attainment Of
government by our people.
AS was written by the Able Raynal
of the signers of the Declaration of In
dependence so we may say of these
other immOrtals, the subject Of our
toast: Brass and marble shall show
them to remotest ages. In beholding
them shall the friend of freedom feel
his heart palpitate with Joy; feel his
eyes feat in delicious tears
"Under the bust of one of them has
been written: He wrested thunder from
heaven and the scepter from tyrants'
OF the last words Of this eulogy shall
all of them partake'
iLHpIOmptu Ituldl AS we're hudue ny
Rev. DR.. r. r. Swope. Judge G. l..
Cranmer, c. NJ Hart, VIM. L. NicOl, and
Col. Robert White.
The West Virginia Society is now
upon a most substantial and prom's-
ing basis, and bids fair to rapidly in
! crease its membership. There is no
lack of eligible material in this State,
and Wheeling particularly has many
citizens descended from Revolutionary
heroes, who ought to send in their
names for a place upon the roll Of this
organization.