The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-09-17
Special Correspondence.

reunion OF tne society VI hdAlSp@ .
Battery, which was held at Falrmont
park Tuesday, was great success,
There was a large attendance of vet
Grams of the old and famous command,
the principal guest OF honor, of course,
being Captain Maulsby, the old COM
mander of the battery, whose home Is
in this place.
The principal address was delivered
by Hon. John w, Mason, who was a
member of the command. His speech,
which was well received and was lis
tened to with much attention was no.
table for It's departure from the usual
lines OF reunion speeches and its dis
cussion from patriotic and conservn-
tive standpoint of the vital economic
and social questions which have been
brought prominently forward In connec-
lion with recent events, He pointed
out the dangers that confront the coun-
try, not only as d result of agitatiohs by
demagogues and the too free immlgra-
ton laws, hut by the formation of
trusts and combinations and the cor
ruption In politics. The rights OF indi-
Vlduals and the supremacy OF the law
were dwet upon. The speech was one
OF the most interesting OF Its character
ever heard here and at Its close the au-
dience gave the speaker three cheers.
Following Is the fulltext OF the address:
MIR. Mason'E speech.
MY CoMRADFS:-We meet not to re-
vlye unpleasant memories, 1t is no
part of our mission to chlde the men
who made the mistake of trying TO dis
member the Union. The youngest of
the men who participated In that great
struggle have grown gray, but the
memory of their heroic deeds is still
fresh In our minds; the magnitude OF
the works they wrought are to-day fully
appreciated by a grateful people. A
noble act never dies. The world always
admlres the man who has the courage
OF his convictions Greater love hath
no man than this, that man lay down
his life for his friend The highest and
truest test of patriotism Is that a man
is willing to lay down his life for his
country.
1t is gratifying TO know that no man
now doubts the wisdom or the duty of
preserving the country from disunion.
The brave men who fought on the other
side realize that II was merciful prov
idence which withheld from them the
victory. They are now devotedly loyal
to the old flag and have an abiding
faith and generous pride in the glorl-
Gus future which all believe awaits this
country.
While / am not here to revive I'M
pleasant memories, neither am l here
TO pay utldeserVing tributes to the men
of need We can safely leave this to
posterity. More than a million of the
old Union soldiers are stlll living. They
are part and parcel of the nation, and
take a lively interest In everything
which pertains TO its future and they
mean to take part IN shaping the pol
icy OF government in West Virginia as
well as In the nation at large.
No matter how beautifully and pa
thetically the historian shall describe
the bravery of our soldiers at Gettys-
burg or Appomattox; their devotion to
the flag; their deeds of noble daring"
the hardshiPs OF the camp. and the tolls
of the march: yet what the true soldier
most wants to know Is, whether or not
he has aided In building up great and
enduring nation; has he added to the
material interests and the happiness OF
mankind?
Whether the statesmen OF the present
and patriotism 20 build up great COM
monwe0lth upon the foundations
"snatched from the burning" and saved
by war and cemented with blood, re-
mains TO be seen. Craftsmanship cam
not be safely Judged by theories. 1t
must be determined by results
That was noble, and sympathetic
heart which first suggested that once a
year the graves OF the nations Defend
ers should be decorated with flowers,
II Is generous and thoughtful to build
homes for old and INDECENT soldiers, and
provide for their wants at public eN-
pense-to make them the country's most
distinguished guests. 1t was the patri-
otto act OF Il grateful people to adopt
as part OF the established policy of
the government. that the men who fight
the battles of the country shall at least
have phough Of what they have pre-
served TO prevent them or their wives
dying In the aims house. These things
touch the heart Of the soldier and make
him love his countrymen the more. But
above md beyond all these. the old sol
der asks what Of my country? More to
him than oil else Is TO know whether or
not the declarations Of (he immortal
Lincoln shall be realized "That the ma
ton under God have new birth OF
freedom, and that government OF the
people, by the people and for the people
shall not perish from the earth"
"what OF tho Night"
with these sentiments porvadlng our
hearts, my comrades, let us stand close
together to-day. as we stood around
the camp.nre0 thirty-slx years ago, and
take counsel of each other now as wa
did then. Let us consider whether this
nation 10 making that progress It should
make Are It's people as happy ana
prosperous "a they might be? Won't
you call to the men whom You have
placed on guard IN charge of the ma
Hons interests md say 10 them,
"Watchmen what OF the night2" Have
we no Aihcnd among our Captaiha2
Have we no golden wedges or Baby.
lonlan garments hidden In our tents?
The sun to-day shines down on no land
more favored than the United States
In climate, fertility Of soil, diversity Of
resources, minerals. timber. water
powers, means OF communication; intel.
llgcnt, hardy and loyal citizenship, and
MI NIlul 10 10 lnNhu NIohl una strong
nation, 40 people In the world equal ua
The possibilities Of this country arc i'm
ited only by the limitations which God
has placed ON the finite mind. Ana
yet, surrounded by al those adYnn-
tages, at time when we arc free from
wars pcHllcnces and disasters Of MI
kinds the wheels Of progress move
slowly and laglly There nro doubts
and forcbodlngs Unrest aud discdnteHt
We HOOm TO have rcnchcd the p0lni IN
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