The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-05-31
MEMORIAL DAY ADDRESS,

I Thomas Fitch. the orator Of the day
| was then introduced, and delivered a
fervid address Immediately prior TO the
reading of the rollcall of the dead. Mr.
Fitch spoke as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen and Members OF
the Grand Army OF the Republic: l wish
that might address you old soldiers who
honor me by listening to my words, upon
the broader plane OF fellowship, as an old
comrade. The right to wear the badge
of the Grand Army OF the Republic Is a
franchise of nobility greater than the ac-
colade OF kings, right not gained by
wealth or learning, by the brush of the
artist, the pen OF the author or the
tongue of the orator, right not sup
piled to sovereigns or granted by tho
breath of popular acclaim.
The right is reserved to those who fac
ed the iron hail of battle in behalf OF
the United States and the freedom of
man. the right to wear the badge upon
their living breasts or the flowers strewn
upon the sod of their graves. This badge,
worn under the Generals star, the Col
onel's eagles or by the poorest and most
unettered soldier in the ranks, black or
white, entities the wearer 10 our eternal
gratitude and honor.
Custom has deCreed that this day shall
be set apart from the rest OF all the
bright days of springtime as one on
which TO forget all petty cares and quar-
rels and to join In loving remembrance
of the men who, forty years ago, an
swered the call of the bugle and the beat
of the drum. Who among those of us
who We're living in those days can forget
the enthusiasm and the almost unani-
nous uprising of the North when the
news came Of the first assault on sum
ter?
Precpitate as was the attack OF the
South, their leaders yet had some time
for preparation: their arsenals had been
filled; their arms gathered. The nation
was unprepared our little Navy was
scattered in distant waters our Army
distributed at the frontier posts; our ar
senals empty; our forts dismantled. Up
TO the final day the North had always
hoped that peace negotiations OF some
description would be concluded in time
to stop the war.
The assault on sumter was the signal
of the firing of spirit that ragged from
the Atlantic to the Pacific and, ere the
echoes OF the first rebel gun had died
away, the continent resounded with the
tread of an army
Party ties We're severed as fax by fire.
Democrats and Republicans rallied shout
der to shoulder From the fields, the
desks the shops came laborer and cap
ital!st, clerk and mechanic, Farmland
and mill employe. Shoulder TO shoulder
they marched, their eyes afame with
new light, their faces turned towards the
Inland
''"arts pulsatlng with patriotism, never
tug for hunger, cold, wounds or eveA
a.'.7 untll their mission should he ac-
r'u he'd and the banner Of the UHioz
hoa more In security from the Po-
ioma the Gulf never hating. never
way"r until duty done, they ressmssl
ihrlr llnary ayocations among the
ranks he people, The history Of the
q. 4, is written IN patriotism, saer-
nee, dev tlon-=a history never equslisd /.
the annals % the human race
War without ideaa Is brutal In few
" the histories o. the vars Of the great
continents of the world can Il be boosted
that very soldier Nas animated by -
tfiotie motives alons Or knew vhy he
followed the naR Ask Of ancient nstss
In be- sgnauszts Of Africa or uag Ths
1snlur - and the soldier eaiy knss lAss
lie 70 . lseaaas u sss tbs val 81 ca