The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1901-05-24

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lean. This admixtu re has evolved out
of Americans the best soldiers of the
10th century;a and if wars are not tt
cease and if there is to be an overturn
ing until he hath the right shall reign
the Goth century will find us and our
children and our children's children ir
the vanguard of military progress anC
proves.
1t was the common soldier-the vol
unteer, poorly clad, poorly fed, and
half-armed, who by his courage anC
endurance at Lexington, Concord
Bunker Hill, Saratoga, and Yorktown
presented our forefathers with Ii Unit
ed Col )nies- transforming them by
his wisdom and valor into the free ant
independent United States of North
America.
1t was the common soldier, marching
through ice and snow in the winter
season, sometimes wading up to his
armpits in water and breaking the ice
before him, who under the wise leader
ship of George Rogers Clark, wrestec
from England for US which is now the
central portion of this great republic ;
part and parcel of that great North
Western territory which Virginia gen
erously coded to the republic, while at
the same time remembering and re
warding with gifts Of land, (all that she
then had to give)the officers and soldiers
whose matchless bravery added such !;
magnificent and goodly heritage Of
free soil and free men to the old ID
That was an achievement which the
citizens of the west can appreciate fol
we live and move and have our being
on this Canaan OF Canaans, lying on the
northwest side of the beautiful Ohio
our American river Jordan.
Count the glittering stars which
these common soldiers added to the
constellation! Ohio, with population
Of over 1000, 600; Indiana with pop
ulation of nearly 3,0OO,OOO; Illinois
with POPULATION of over 1900, 600
and Wisconsin with a population OF
1000, 600. The common soldiers who
fought where George Rogers Clark lee
gave us five states with a present ag
gregate population of more than Is,
600, 600 of American citizens. What {
mighty influence these five great com
mOnwealths exert in aid of the pros
perity and legitimate expansion of ou'
glorious republic.
1t was the common soldier who fear
lessly stormed the heights Of Chapul
tepec, and Drawing the shot and shell
of Buena Vista, Molinadelrey, Contre
ras, and Monterey, carried the star OF
empire westward to the Pacific and
obtained for us that magnificent terri.
tory which opened for Americans ex-
clusively the great natural treasure
house Of the world, richer than Ophir's
mines and ull-to the uttcrmsSt of gold
and silver-the two shining pillars OF
the Constitution.
1t was the common soldier, who from
Balls Bluff and Manassas to Aplo-
mattox fought, suffered and died for
the Union of the states; who made the
Armies of the Potomac, the Tennessee
and the Cumberland more renowned
in the worlds history than CAESARS
legions or the old guard of Napolean
The Romans and the French fought
for conquest and for glory; but the
Grand Army of the Republic, the
volunteer soldiers OF America fought
for liberty and union-for the integ-
rity, indivisibility and naturalization
of the American Republic.
The revolution of 1776 made the
Union. The subsequent wars expand
ed it, but the gallant soldiers of 1861 to
1865 cemented that union indissolubly
with their blood.
1t was the common soldier who
and stubbornly remained be-
fore the heights Of Santiago, tired,
thirsty, oppressed with heat
and worn out from excessive fight ing:
and yet who heSitatcd not to stolm
and capture the hill of San Juan, in
surfing the successful and speedy end
ing of the Spanish War-and that, too.
at time when the expediency Of a re-
treat for much needed rest was in
by those in authority.
1t was the common soldier from Neb-