The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1896-02-04
Thurston,s Patriotism.

Thurston said:
"Sir, believing that the honor of my
country is involved, that the hour
calls for the highest expression of 10y.
atty and patriotism, calmly confident
of the verdict of posterity, reverently
calling God 10 witness the sincerity OF
my purpose, / shall vote for the reso-
luton reported by the Committee on
Foreign affairs. / shall vote for ii,
not az an sffront TO any other nation,
but to uphold the dignity of my own
1 shall vote tor it in this time of pro-
found tranquility, convinced that
peace with honor can be preserved ;
but, sir, would vote for it just as
surely were we already standing in
the awful shadow of declared war;
would vote for it were the navies of
all Europe laundering at our harbors
L would vote for it were the shells of
British battleships bursting above the
dome of the Nations Capitol, would
vote for it, and maintain it at all haz-
ards and at any cost, with the last dol
lar, with the last man; yea, though il
might presage the coming of a mighty
conflict, whose conclusion should
leave me without son, as the last
great contest left me without a SIRE"
Artemus Ward made himself ia
nous by his avowed willingness to
sacrifice all his wiie's relations on the
altar of his country. Senator Thurs
ion has similar ideas of self.sacrifce.
He desires war every other genera
ton. He remembers a war which de-
prived him of sire, and he is ready to
declare another which may leave him
without son all he cares to avoid is
a war which may deprive his sire of
son, or his son of sire.
This is beautiful arrangement, truly
What a fortunate generation this is,
truly too young to fight in the next.
Together we all stand with Thurston,
ready to shed the blood of our sons as
we have shed the blood of our Dires,
provided we be left free to thunder at
the enemy beyond the reach of the
shells from her battleships.
America should have poet laureate |
TO put into immortal verse this apos-
trophe from Thurston; this I'M
thoughted eloquence; this uncounted
ed sacrifice, this unfaltering patriot
ism. How would this do:
Yea though it might presaga
The coming of mighty conflict,
Whose conclusions dire
Should leave me without son
AS the other left me without a sire,
Me; Thurston; Thurston of Nebraska,
Who like Melchisadeck
Has neither ancestor bIest, :
Nor descendant immortal,
rhurston standing like live pelican
In the midst of a bloody wilderness
Looking backward to Appoma,tox
And forward to Westminster Abbey,
behold the browning glory of the
age
ihurston who sacrificed
With impartial stoicism
Son and father
On the altar of his country,
Abraham and Isaac
We're not a patch were not
A circumstance, to this;
For Abraham withheld his sire,
Thurston unhesitating brings
Sire and son 10 the sacrificed knife.
The theme is great one-as great
Is any that ever inspired poet, En-
ylish or American. On the mOnu-
Rent Senator Thurston is to erect to
uo lHtInOTy VI his sun anu inc InSlhN 4
Try of his sire let the inscription
tand: ,...... .
These to the great twin brethreA,
Whom savage hatred slew,
The one wa sire of Thurston, |
The other Thurston, too. |
The sire fell in the wilderness,
The son fell in the sea;
But Thurston second of the line,
The missing link was he.
No battle strife destroyed his life
No shells disturbed his sleep,
He spoke at ease 'gainst every peace
Aud stood four front
To every wind that blows,
Surrendering sire and sons
To terrify his foes,
Churston, of Nebrasksi"
Louisville Post
Capt. Joseph f. johnson, the free
e.. A. |