People's voice., 1900-06-07

You have lived to see the battle-s@rred
veterans Of the north and those Of the
south march side by side in the late
Spanish-American war in command Of
those heroic sons and grandsons Of the
blue and the gray who, at their country's
call volunteered their services to the
cause Of liberty that the weak and strug-
Cling people Of Cuba might have the
same privileges and the same blessings
Of an independent republic Of their own
that We ourselves enjoy"
Then addressing the audience at large,
the speaker in concluding his remarks
proceeded as follows:
"My fellow citizens, with ali these his
torical facts before US we ought to be
convinced how important II IS that We
keep alive in the hearts OF the people
those great factors and great principles
that have made our country the most
enlightened and most progressive nation
on the face Of the globe.
mo country, no matter what its plan
Of government may be, can possibly be
better or greater than its citizenship.
Our advancement, our progress and our
growth has in the past and IS today, the
wonder Of older but less progressive
civilized nations. Our churches and
church membership, our public school
system and institutions Of learning, eur
Sunday schools, our extensive foreign
and home missionary enterprises, our
agricultural, commercial and manufact-
uring importance, our advancement in
science, literature and art is simply the
products OF the tastes, habits and char
acter OF our people and indicates to the
world that greatness and magnihcence
OF American institutions expresses the
moral, social and intellectual greatness
OF the American people.
Study military history if you please,
and you will find by comparison that our
American army and navy, On land and
on sea, especially our American volun-
teers are the most daring and effective
fighters in the world today, and whyl
Because each and every American citi-
zen feels and knows that he is part Of
our sovereign power; that the humbleSt
citizen has the same constitutional right
TO exercise his sovereignty for what he
believes to be best for his home aud his
country as the most prominent and ex-
alted Of our land; therefore, when con-
ditions arise demanding that our army
Of industry and peace be transformed
into al army for war, they stand now as
they have always stood, ready to sacri-
fee their lives, positions and fortune to
maintain our country's honor and to de-
fend the glory Of our flag.
ireland, Germany and Russia have
high and a merited reputation for the
courage and bravery Of their soldiers on
the field OF battle but those same men,
from those same countries, when they
ernigrate TO America and become citizens
Of this great republic to enjoy its bles-
sings OF liberty and freedom, they be-
come more earnast and more effective
fighters under the flag Of their adopted
home than on their native heath be-
cause they realize that they are no longer
fighting in half-hearted mechanical, way
under the commands and orders OF en-
peior, car, or king, but for a great re-
public where they, in common with their
countrymen, have equal rights and an
equal voice in prOmulgating and direct
ing the policy Of our government. These
rights were established by our fore
fathers in the Declaration OF Independ-
ence and by the constitution at the for-
nation OF our government. They wert
defended BY the loyalty and courage Of
these old soldiers from 81 to IS, and my
fellow citizens, il is our plain duty to
perpetuate these rights 10 the end Of our
earthly existence, to be handed dowz
and bequeathed to our posterity as a
glorious inheritance so that ou- union
this great American republic, under one
flag and one constitution, may live on
and forever.
MY friends, We will today with love
and reverence approach the tombs OF our
soldier dead; lei Us there pledge our
selves as a solemn duty 10 teach our
children what this day means to us and
to them so that they from childhood to
old age, NAV love their country and
guard It's free institutions in peace and
in war, in the way and with the same
zeal as that manifested by their fore
fathers.
"OlG soldiers, in conclusion, can pay
you no higher tribute than to say what
honestly believe: that in the coming
years future history will show that your
patriotic love for country, your courage,
your self reliance and your determine
ton Of purpose in the civil war will be
transmitted in story and song to the
coming generations and when they gath
er each succeeding springtime on Deco
ration day around the tombs Of you and
your comrades, to honor the nations
dead by decorating the graves OF our
eountry's defenders with beautiful flow
ers, they will then and there in memory
Of your deeds draw inspiration from
your patriotism to forever uphold and
defend the constitution and Declaration OF
Independence OF our common country" "
Undle Billy COrZine was up from
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