Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-31

be, and Is am sure, I great grattfca-
ton to all of you. All Of us rejoice
to-day that the South and the North
are one and inseparable, and that
Old Glory waves triumphantly to-
day over many islands in the seas,
which were wrested from Spain by sol
der patriots from every portion of our
great republic. The United States is
widening the scope of its influence
and power 1t stands for universal
| freedom. 1t stands for equal rights
| before the law. 1t stands against OPP
preston and for the oppressed where
ever it's navy splits the waves of the
oceans and seas. 1t stands for educa-
ton and civilization It stands for an
open Bible. 1t stands for free thought
and free speech; and it will thus con-
tlnue to stand in the future as in the
past; and ten million fighting men are
at its command to make good its
,, promises to mankind. We have own
ed islands ever since the British sur
rendered at Yorktown. We own more
of them now, and we are going to hold
on to them, sink or swim, live or die,
the guns know what they are doing.
The great nations are satisfied that we
are somebody. Sentimentatlists can
not shake our faith in ourselves or
dampen the loyalty of our American
people. We are at the front to stay.
Our flag will never be lowered ex-
cept by American hands at home or
abroad. We are going to construct the
Nicaraguan Canal. and then build
snfhciency of American ships to carry
our own products over all the seas. We
are following Thomas Jefferson's teach
ings to reach forward and out. We
are going to expand wide enough and
big enough to hold our own with the
biggest nations beneath the stars. The
American people are neither hide-bound
nor timid. They never yet trampled
upon any other nations rights, and
never will; but they respect them
selves, and they mean to see to it that
Others shall respect them also. We
are singing the song of liberty where
ever our ships sail and our flag floats,
and other progressive people will take
it up, and will ultimately carry it to
the earth's remotest bounds. 1t is
catching. 1t is in the very air we
breathe. 1t is spreading. Slavery is
going-gone! God intended all people
to be free, and all of the monarchies
are now loosening their grip upon
their subjects The United States is
the flagship in the procession that is
leading on to victory. The United
States is setting the world higher ex-
ample of national duty than has hith-
erto been known. We, as nation,
have never sought war, and we are not
seeking it now. Because the fathers
of the republic had no foreign policy
is no reason why we should not have
one in our day and generation. Civil
ization certainly should have right of
way over barbarism in all lands. We
are Anglo-Saxons, and the Anglo-Sax>
on race will never lay down its weap-
ons until it establishes the blessings
of universal freedom in all countries
that seek to come under the shadow
of the American flag. | thank you, my
fellow citizens, for hearing me so
long"
other Addresses.
Frank w Nesbitt was next introduce
ed and made few remarks, calling at
tention to the fact that with each pass
ing memorial day the ranks of the G.
A. R. grow gradually thinner as the
valiant soldiers pass into eternity. He
urged that each memorial day be made
a pilgrimage to the grave OF the boys
in blue to pay a fitting tribute to the
dead heroes. Mr.. Nesbitt also recited
poem, which he had given at Mt.
lions in the morning.
Comrade T. T. Smith, of Columbus,
Ohio, who was the third speaker of the
occasion, brought appropriate greetings
from the Ohio soldiers and spoke with
pride of the part that the soldiers of
West Virginia and Ohio had taken in
putting down the rebellion. He also
pointed out the hardships experienced
by the soldiers during the war and the
tender care that had been ministered
to them by the ladies who have since
organized the Women's Relief Corps.
Each address was followed by a
beautiful and appropriate musical num-
her rendered by a quartette composed
of a. l.. Dunn, first tenor; c. T. Reed,
second tenor; j. H. Bergquist, first bass,
and R. H. 1arker, second bass. Their
selections were "Strew the Graves
WIN rlOWSES, Oue lear Nearer
Home" and I'VE Deck These Mounds
With Roses" After these exercises the
ritual was performed and the usual
salute was given by Company A of the
National Guards, which had been de-
tailed as the firing squad. The ser
vices were held over the grave of Pri-
vate John R. Winters. who was killed
in the battle at Perrysyille, KY. in
1862.
AT MT. LIONS.
AS usual, the ritualistic exercises at