The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1901-10-26

A monument TO the soldiers of the Revou-
tiouary War was erected by the Sons of the
American Revolution on Mount Royal plaza,
Baltimore. Il was unveiled last Saturday
afternoon, and presented to the city OF Baitl-
more. The presentation speech was made by
Hon. Edwin Warfeld, President Of the Mary
land Society, Sons of the American Revolu-
ion Mr.. Warfeld said
MR. wARFIELD's SPEECH
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Monu
ment Committee
1t is with pride that receive, for the Mary
land Society of the Sons of the American
Revolution, this beautiful monument, so snc-
cessful completed under you supervision. You
have done your work well and have earned
the thanks and gratitude of every member OF
our society.
To YOU, Colonel Griffith, is due more than
our gratitude and thanks. But for your pa
triotic zeal this monument would never have
been built For ten years, with answering
constancy and unsparing selt-devotion, you
have labored to perpetuate in an enduring
memorial and symbol the deeds ofthe patriots
of Maryland who aided so signally in founding
this great republic. Your reward, sir, is this
glorious contamination, hailed with so much
delight by us all today, and the applause and
commentator of your compatriots and the
people of your native State.
Personally, and on behalf of our society," |
congratulate you upon what you have achieved
and thank you for what you have done for the
cause of patriotism.
TRIBUTE TO DEEDS.
Ladies, Fellow Corntryman and Soldiers OF
Maryland:
One of the cardinal objects of our society
as set forth in its constitution is The perpet-
nation of the memory Of the men who by their
,fooc dt1..r he 0f
American Revolution achieved the indepen-
dence of the American people"
This unique and artistic shaft has been
reared in obedience to that injunction. IL
records the deeds but not the names of our
patriot fathers. Their names are legion and
should be engrayen upon the minds and hearts
of every true Marylander. They are to be
found recorded as signers to the Association
of Freemen, as members of the Committee OF
Safety, of Observation, of Correspondence,
of the Continental Congress and upon the
Muster Rolls of the Maryland Line,
Study the events enumerated upon yonder
tablets. First among them is the burning of
the peggy Stewart" October 49, 1774, just
1877 years ago today. That was the first overt
act against the authority of the King OF Eng
land in MARYLAND Remember that 1T was
done by a band of Wings from the back hills
of Anne Arundel lnow Howard county, that
they were led by that fearless patriot DIR,
Charles Alexander Warfeld; that they were
nndisguised, and sought not the cover OF
darkness for their deed, and that their motto
was sLiberty or death in the pursuit OF it.
MARYLAND NAMES.
Who can read of the Declaration of lnde-
pendence without repeating the names OF
Chase, of Paca, of Stone and of Charles Car
roll. of Carrollton, who pledged the faith OF
Maryland to that immortal charter of human
rights
Who can recall the selection of George
Washington by the Continental Congress as
commander chief of the American Army
without learning that Thomas johnson, an
illustrious son of Maryland, nominated him for
that position?
Who can speak of Cambridge in l775 with
ont thrill of pride because Cresap was there
with his Maryland Riaemen?
Who can recount the hard fought battles of
the Revolutionary War, from Long Island IN
I776 to Yorktown in 1881, without rehearsing
the valor of the men fthe Maryland Lin eand
feeling proud that we had Smallwood
Howard, Gist, Williams, a Hall, a Griffith
Watkins, and host of other gallant officers
to lead them? This memorial commentaries
the deeds of those men who fought the great
est battle for freedom recorded in the annals
of the world. My friends, | would that
could linger longer upon this interesting theme,
but my time is limited, and eloquent speakers
are to follow me.
But before closing allow me to call your
attention to another leading object OF our So
ciety-that which require us ito inspire the
community at large with more profound
reverence for the principles of the government
founded by our forefathers."
THE MEN WE HONOR.
For that purpose we welcome you here TO- |
0iv
special pleasure to welcome you, soldiers and |
veterans of Maryland. Upon you we must
rely to preserve our free institutions. You |
are the palladium of our liberties. Your
presence, hope, signalizes your gratitude to
our great and illustrious patriots for what they
did to promote the cause of American indie
pendence. In these days ofpeace and safety,
of abundance and enjoyment of public and
private blessings, it is well for us to meet
upon occasions like this to revive the memo
ries of the past and to drink in the lessons
taught by the herosm and patriotic daring of
our revolutionary sires. We are citizens OF a
free, prosperous and powerful republic. Our
government is upon a solid and enduring
foundation and our people are united and
eontented. To whom are we indebted for all
of these maniford blessings? Our Revou
tionary fathers, the men we honor today.
Men and women of Baltimore, soldiers of
Maryland, is there anything which warns your
hearts more than the recollection of these
men? Can you contemplate the fruits oftheir
valor and patriotism without feeling the deep
debt you owe them? Ingratitude is the basest
of sins; forgetfulness of our fathers is the
blacklist kind of ingratitude. God grant that
we may never be guilty of the latter
Mr.. Williams, Acting Mayor of Baltimore
City, said:
| am pleased that you are here as the Off
cial representive of this great city. The do
nations from the State of Maryland and the
City of Baltimore made this monument posi-
BILE, and your Council gave this appropriate
and suitable site upon which TO erect it. Our
memorial is a simple and modest one, like in
character to the lives of those heroes whose
deeds it records. You have more imposing
in this City, but none that points
to greater heroism. The liberty won by the
blood of the Revolutionary heroes of Mary
land is the most glorious heritage we possess.
We must transmit it as sacred birthright to
our children. May this shaft, standing upon
this beautiful plaza, ever be reminder to
them of that great heritage. Long after the
granite and bronze of which it is composed
shall have crumbled into dust, the patriotic
daring of the men and soldiers it seeks to COM
shall be transmitted to coming gen.
erations through the pages of undying history.
While sod of what is now the soil of Mary
land shall be trod by the foot of freeman.
The memory of their deeds shall be cherished,
Now, sir for and on behalf of the Maryland
Society of the sons of the American Revolu
ion, deliver to you for the people of Mary
and, this monument.