The record-union., 1898-05-31


sacrifice. This day is not set apart
wholly that the dead may be eulogized.
but also that we, who live, may be in
spired to renewed devotion to our coun-
try and our flag. Not that we would
fight our battles over again, but that
We might hear once more the volun-
teer's answer to our country's call,
that We might once again look back
on the scene Of glory, when brightly
flashed the fires of patriotism from
every mountain top, lighted up the val
leys and streaked the prairie-each
home a recruiting station and every
patriot soldier; that we might see
how quickly honest citizens were con-
verted into soldiers and formed into
a mighty army, the grandest army that
ever kept step to the music of battle.
"Oh, for words TO tell their story,
Tell it, as it should be told
Write it on the page Of glory,
All in words of shining old;
Tell 1t so that generations
Shall revere them as tn y ought,
Write il so, that all the ttions
Learn the lessons they he ye taught"
1t was not an army Of srvants. nor
slaves, nor captives, but cf brave, loyal
hearts, volunteers, ready sor any sac
rifice. We remember how the fair fab
ric Of free government trembled at ev-
cry point, while the great heat OF the
people grew weary and sad; how the
star of hope stood, pale and glimmer-
ing, over the valleys Of old Virginia,
while the eyes of the world We're CEN
tered on the tragic scene; how the great
army rose in its majesty and conquered,
and the dawn grew bright with the
morning light of victory's sun. and how
the full day of triumph burst on a wait
ing world, and loyalty was victorious,
free government was assured. and the
ability of a free sovereign people TO
rule was established Than came the
rejoicing 1t was not the rejoicing over
a fallen foe which had always marked
the rejoicing of other victorious armies.
1t was a rejoicing, born OF magnanim
ity, unparalleled in the history of the
world Turn back the leaves of his
tory, even to the preface of recorded he
roes, and not a page will be found
brighter than that page on which is
written the magnanimity of the United
States army at AppomattoX.
Out of the furnace of fierce conflict
this country came forth brighter and
better. because of the struggle,
This great country, the latest and
greatest accomplishment beneath the
sun, stands as the earnest of mans
liberty, the bulwark of the nations, the
defense of freedom. Under its protec-
ton man shall be free, and in its
shadow there shall be liberty
Mans greatest wish is to be free.
From conscious childhood to the portals
of the grave, from the time individual
ity becomes known to him, until the
autumn of years comes and the fading
light tells him his day is ending, mans
nature asserts his right TO liberty, to
freedom
The desire for liberty has forced man
from the east, the home of light and
life, ever toward the west. continually
seeking a place of greater freedom.
Whether it be the faithful followers of
Moses, stepping out of the waters of
the Red Sea, chanting Sound the loud
timbrel Ger Egypts dark sea; Jehovah
has triumphed; his people are free"
or whether it be the Pilgrim Fathers,
leaving the tyranny of kings and step
ping from the frail Mayflower upon Ply
mouth Rock to thank the God Cf na-
tiOns that a new, free country had been
found. the course has been westward
ever westward, to a land of new posi-
bilities and greater liberties In this
ever-continued search this country was
found, and for over a centurya a cen
tury which has made more prolific his
tory than any other century in the life
of the world-America has been leading
the nations of the earth. The world
has been strapped with iron, the light
ming has been snatched from the skies
the message of intelligent intercourse
has been flashed under and across the
sea, and man speaks into the car of
man a thousand miles away.
And what country. How wOLder-
fully madel Before man trod its vir-.
gin soil the Great Omnipoteut had beer
here. With His own right arm He
pushed up these mighty mountains;
with His finger He traced put these
winding rivers, and with His cwn hand
He spread a carpet of green over all
this country. He painted the lily and
perfumed the rose. His rains fell, He
sent up the vapor, it capped the mount
aims with snow, and it descended in
water to bless the people below. All
climates are found within its borders.
Every tree and shrub and vine and
flower that turns bud or blossom up to
the sun is here. Stored beneath our
feet is every metal and every ore known
to man With its two mighty arms
Of great sea fronts, 1t can welcome the
commerce of the world TO its embrace.
To save such a country from dismem-
hership, to save it to the people, that
it should not perish from the earth"
were the battles fought and the vic
tories won. Such, my comrades, the
reward for trials, sufferings and sacri-
lfices; such the return for priceless hu-
manity thrown into the consuming
jaws of war.
On the eastern shore of this country
at its main port of entry stands the
largest statue in the world. It was a
complimentary gift by the people of
France as a token of their apprecia-
ton of our free Government. 1t is the
statue of woman-man always uses
woman as the type. the representation
of a great principle-"Our great coun-
try She not "our great country he"
our nation and her liberties" not "our
nation and his liberties" The statue
holds aloft a lighted torch. 1t is faced
to the west-a statue of liberty light
ing the world westward
And, fellow-citizens and comrades,
we stand here to-day in the most
western part of the most western
country of the world We can go no
farther. Cross yonder sea. and again