The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-31

believe the veteran is becoming more
and more dear to the hearts OF the peo-
pie. Generations yet unborn will make
offerings at the soldiers shrine; and
the fondest boast of the soldiers pos
terity will be that an ancestor carried
a musket to preserve the integrity of
the Union, that Americans might still
exclaim proudly, Liberty and Union.
now and forever, one and inseparable."
In those dark and troublesome days,
when our country was threatened with
ruin and disruption, every man--yea,
and every woman-within it's borders,
who was possessed of a spark of pa
triotism, was moved to a sense of his or
her responsibility and duty to that same
country 1t made no difference who he
was or what he was, who his ancestors
had been, or what his station in life
was; what his creed or color was. Ali
that was demanded and expected Of
him was patriotism. And the creed of
those men might be summed up in the
sentence: I'VE believe our country
good enough to live for; to die for"
They met on the level of citizenship
and patriotism.
And as we assmble here today to take
part in this service of love, we do not
ask who or what they were all that
we want to know is: Were they pa
triots; were they our country's de-
tenders in times of danger? And It is
but fitting and proper that such a SER
vice as this should not be confined or
excluded to any one class of people
This day is only observed properly
when all our countrys citizens enter
into it's celebration, And we, as the
| citizens of the United States, should
be just as unanimous in our express
| slons of gratitude and praise for their
| services, and just as united in the per-
| formance of the rites of this day as the
| soldiers of our country were when it
| was threatened with war, and gave
their services in it's defense. And I
| think that the unanimity which the
| people of Archibald have entered upon
| this days services should be q matter
of pride to our whole people, and a
source of qualification and pleasure to
| the old soldier
But you who represent what was at
| one time, indeed, a Grand Army, and
| who today are but a remnant of that
noble band, what shall / say to you
upon this occasion. / feel that no
tongue can utter, no pen can write, no
Imagination can fathom the myriad
emotions that fill your breasts today;
emotions tender in their sternness, and
pure in their eXultation; emotions ten
| der in their remembrance of the noble
| boys who stood at your sides in trying
| times, who upon bloody fields of battle
| over a quarter of a century ago, gave
| up their lives, that liberty might tri-
| umph and the Union be preserved; eX.
| ultant because those lives were not ir
vain, and that from out those fields
| Of battle whose earth was enriched by
the blood of your comrades, there has
| grown up such a sentiment, such g
| love, such a regard, such a loyalty, as
never can be effaced as long as life shal
last.
You are one of the most favored OF
| all generations of mankind. While
others have passed their lives without
history or incident, 1t has been you
lot to witness some of the mighties
events of all time, and to participate
in the discussion of one of the grandes
questions which has ever agitated {
people, and to take part in the conflic
and decide the issue which settled the
destiny of humanity and liberty upor
this continent.
But when they are gone shall W,
prove ourselves worthy of the trus
which they committed to our saft
keeping; shall we prove ourselves tru
sons of worthy sires? Let us remem
ber that although our country at pres
ent is not in danger of being divided
that here are just as mighty foes t
meet; that here are dangers just a
menacing to the peace and prOsperit,
of our blessed land. Let us strive I
serve with honor our country's presen
demands. Let us each constitute our
selves a guardian Of the purity of ou
country. Time forbids my dwelling o
the evils of our time; but we hav
vice, immortality, corruption, bribery
intemperance and sin in all it's guise
about us on every hand. Let us the
realize the necessity of true soldiery i
times of peace. Let us endeavor [
merit the name of freedom, and whe
danger threatens or temptations see
: to overcome to assert our independents
and make a stand for the right.
: So live that when thy summons comes {
join
Y The innumerable caravan which moves
2 To that mysterious realm, where eac
| shall take
? His chamber in the silent halls Of death,
! Thou go not, like the quarry slave /
, night,
Scourged to his dungeon, but sustainc
= and soothed
e BY am unfaltering trust, approach II
I grave
( Like one who wraps the drapery OF h
= couch
, About him, and lies down to pleasai
dreams