The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-31
COMMANDER HAMS ADDRESS.
Commander Ham spoke as follows:

NOnHdHuer nam spoke as fOllows
Comrades and Friends-In the grand
march uf human existence we are com
PEELED by disease or death either in our
own or In the families df<our comrades or
friends 10 halt In our various pursuits OF
industry, In order that we might reflect.
mediate. resurrect and brush away from
our own book OF remembrance for n time
incidents that have accumulated and
forced as IL were to the background the
scenes end impressions OF our earlier
days.
When you have taken up an album Of
your own or friends and look at the feat
ures expressed by the art OF the photog-
rapher' or those who were your compan-
ions while they were upon earth's plain
OF life, have you not had thoughts ana
Incidents come before you that had not
been reviewed for long space OF time?
Have you not felt while you were pIac-
ing your thoughts and eyes upon such.
that IL seemed as II you could almost
hear them speak to you and repeat some
OF their peculiar expressions used by
them while living7 Have you not felt
at such times the tear forcing itself 70
the surface, and involutarily you say
truly l loved him? He was my friend.
grand, good and noble. oh. how 7 miss
him! Oh! how ! wish I could talk with
him again! He's gone: there is nothing
left for us TO do but 20 keep his memory
dear in that tender spot OF the heart pre-
pared for such by the Creator Himself.
and that our remaining career OF life be
so spent that there can be no doubt that
at the gathering before the Supreme
Commander you shall see each other
again.
Comrades, this day Is one OF these
halting places. Not one to rest the weary
body or aching heart, but TO enter into.
as IL were. the Valley of Death itself and
gather renewed activity OF mind from
such who were your tried and trusted
comrades in arms on land and sea.
SCENES so SAD.
"Ali over our beloved country. wherever
the flag OF our nation waves DER the
mounds of the departed comrades, are
scenes like unto this. The survivors OF
the civil strife with widows, orphans and
friends of patriotism I'm greater or less
number will assemble 10 open UP the al
bum OF their memories and gaze again
upon the features and actions that were
impressed upon them In the struggle for
right. law and order, the benefits If
which are now being enjoyed by 30 mil
lions OF people. while at the same time
we are fully aware OF some In official
stations who have n tendency TO curtail
or rob us OF tho gigantic glories won. and
I'm that narrow. misery and begrudging
way seem to act and feel that living vet
erans are becoming n burden because life
has been spared 10 them and you had not
all died upon the field OF battle, hospi-
tai. camp or marches. They do not rec
ognze that there is any debt due you.
that YOU have any right TO share I'm the
prosperity OF the country; that a pension
from n generous government of 81 per
month ia n glowing tribute TO their
worth and ample payment for the vet
Grams service In the struggle. But let us
be somewhat consoled with the thought
that while that class have been elevated
to trust, they would never have been Sc
lected by any veteran or his children OF
the Civil War IL their real opinion had
been known before.
THE great preacher ages ago has said,
''man goeth 20 his long home and tho
mourner goeth about the streets" How
true is it today. For more than 40 years
have the widow, orphans an dbrother
gone mourning about the streets for
have the widow. orphans and brother
whose lives were taken as the offered
sacrifice for country and home. Theil
lives were dear 90 their own families
Could they this day arise from their
graves and tell the people Of the land the
promises made 90 them when they en-
listed. you could not then nnd a city
government striking the line Of economys
10 reduct the appropriation for fttlng
memorial service TO their memory.
whatever may be the faults or fall
-ures others. whatever the obstacles
or expressions: however great the sacri.
fee or burden. let us not forget that all
that comes hereafter will not compare
with those struggles that YOU shared with
the fallen ones. when shot and she'll and
bullets from the opposing forces were
hurled all around you; where dead and