Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-30
YOUTH .AN9Mf
bly, to order.

1
| Continued from First Page)
partment of the Potomac called the assem-
| bly, to order.
| Called to Order.
| In the course of his brief but impressive
| address he dwelt upon the peerless achieve
| ments of the Grand Army Of the Republic
| soldiers, and declared that the unrivaled
| progress and development of the United
| States since Appomattox were the fruits
of their heroism. The unparalleled achieve
| ments on land and sea at Manila and San
| tiago. events as it were of yesterday, made
| by the younger comrades, who We're now
J loved and honored are the older vet
| Grams, were possible only because of vic
| tory in the greater struggle of five and
| thirty years ago.
| An invocation was feelingly offered up by
| the department chaplain. Rev. w G. Dav-
| export, and Winch's Memorial Hymn was
| sung by the octet After b. F. Chase, as
| sistant adjutant general. had read the or
| ders. President J. E. Rankin of Howard
| University delivered an original elegiaic ode
| entitled Fair Mother of Our Heroes Dead"
| y composition, entitled Slowly and Sad
| ly, and written especially for thu occa-
| sion by Madam a. Root de l. Armitage, was
| played by the Marine Band, ard the oration
| of the day was delivered.
The Grafton of Representative Bro
| sius.
| Representative Marriott Brosius of Penn
| sylvania, the orator of the day. took for
| his subject the lofty theme of Patriotism,
and his eloquent sentences will long echo
| in the memories of those who listened to
| him. From the first word to the exquisite
| peroration with which he closed he held
| the immense gathering riveted with eyes
and ears.
| If there was any place within the bounds
\ of the republic, he said, where the citizen
could come to learn the lessons and feel
| the inspiration of patriotism it is where the
earth is hallowed by the dust of heroes who
| on land and sea sealed their devotion with
their blood. On this day, dedicated to the
commemoration of their services and sac
ritces, it was suitable to contemplate the
beauty. the duty and the glory of patriot
ISM and from the angel of the hour strive
to wrest the blessing of q higher conSecra-
ton of mind, heart and service for our
country. AS no other decoration, he con-
tinued, ever rivaled in splendor and no
other title ever carried many rights,
privileges and honors that noble one
Il am an American citizen, so no other
relation laid upon such commanding
duties imposed such responsible obliga-
tons to our country.
The Meaning of Patriotism.
Patriotism" he exclaimed, means due
sense of these obligations and duties with Il
commensurate disposition to their observ-
ance and performance. 1t is the highest
civic virtue. All nations do homage to the
sentiment of patriotism but in America 1t
is distinguishing perfection. 1t touches
every side of life, consecrates every
hearthstone, inspires the education of our
children; is the theme of the orator, the
inspiration of the poet and the study of
the painter. Our country's flag symbolizes
all that Is worthy of admiration and love In
the institutions of the nation
The effect of the orators words was no
ticeable in all directions.
Proceeding, he said our history abounded
in which afford instruction in THIS
exalted sentiment, and with mastery
strokes painted Washington, and of Lincoln
and Grant he said:
The Grand Army of the Republic.
These may stand for the uncounted
hosts of patriots. heroes and martyrs, sol
diers and sailors. bivouacked on the eternal
camping ground. who speak to us today as
only the dead can speak to the living. eX-
horting us to be true to country, to uphold
the land we love III her noble eXertionS to
move forward on her majestic march to
duty and destiny. Comrades of the Grand
Army of the Republic. surviving soldiers
and sailors of our civil war, you do not
need this counsel. The world has witnessed
the demonstration of your patriotism. me
bronze button you wear is the visible de-
nUtement of your service in your countrys
cause. No title of honor sheds greater lus-
| ter on its wearer and no decoration is
prouder than the bronze badge of the Grand
Army of the Republic. England has her
ROYAL red cross, + rance ItT uetoTdtioH VI
| the Legion of Honor Germany her Iron
Cross. but the bronze badge of the Grand
Army of the Republic. forged In freedom
fires. among these gaudy symbols shines
as the diamond beside the bloodstone. 1t is
the disqualification of libertys laboratory.
Another War and Other Patriots.
But. my comrades, We are sensible that
we now have rivals for the love, honor and
gratitude of the American people. We have
| had another war; and other patriots have
rallied round the flag and borne it to VIC
| tory and glory. But there will be no con-
| truversy among us, for there will be no
claim of precedence. 1t was Napoleon who
said that all soldiers who have been bap-
| tized in the fire of battle in their countrys
defense are of equal rank. The brave boys
who, with Dewey, lighted up the Bay of Ma
Mia with the blaze of their guns before
| breakfast: the men behind the guns with
| Sampson and Schley in the waters of San
| tiago; the heroes who glorified San Juan
| hill with their bravery and their blood: the
| martyrs of the Inflated Maine, who sleep
| the drcamess slumber meath the waters of
| Havana harbor. and the boys who are car
| rynS the flag TO triumph through the tan
| glcd wood and deadly swamps of the Phil
| ippines are all sharers in the glory of pa
| triotism and duty. and the deathess graft
| tude of a nation whose honor and flag they
have upheld.
Striking Imagery.
| THE Spanish-American war; in the order
| of Providence, did not come without bless
| ings on its WINGS he continued. 1T has
restored in all sections the old union of
hearts in common love and devotion to
| country and flag. 1t has made us brethren
| in the bonds of patriotism. The dark green
waters of the Ottawa river enter the St
Lawrence and the two streams flow side
| by side without mingling their waters I'M
| til they are dashed together over the rapids
below. remnant of sectional bitterness
which survived the civil had IA
north and south from mingling in perfect
sympathy and mutual affection; but hav-
| ing been dashed together over the rapids
! of the Spanish-American war, all our no
| bier feelings and aspirations for country
have mingled and a true unity of faith and
love has been re-established In all American
hearts.
The Voice of the Flag.
ITO every citizen in every state the flag
speaks common language and appeals to
common sensibilities of national pride, ven
GRAFTON and honor. 1t means, as our Presi-
dent has well said, the same thing in all
sections of the country, and we have more
love for our country and more people love
fny fhnr laf