The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-07-12
star, and thrones were slili 10 elemental


dust.
Today over a million Poles cherish
the lame of Pulaski in this country.
Mr.. Chairmaa, the American charac-
ter is strong chiefly because it is The
amalgamation Of a various progeny.
We must have these mixtures 10 long
endure. Destiny delights TO m'ngle 10
the veins Of American perpetulty the
r%ejuvenating blood Of many peoples.
Let us erect a statue 10 Pulaski that
snail %reincarnate in his immortal fame
the love and patriotism of ten hundred
thousand compatriots. Over a million
souls will respond to The national
anthem IN the rapture Of exultant cih-
zenship when they hear that Pulaski's
statue has taken its place among bis
comrades here on earth-Washingtou,
Lafayette, Rochambeau and Won
Steuben.
The republic lives and must survive
in the atmosphere OF patriotism. Fhe
statue Of a great and noble man is at
once an example for his children and
their hostage to the world.
The republics gratitude has had no
frontiers; it has always smiled on every
exalted act. And in the sunshine Of
that smile the cradle Of a million
heroes has been rocked.
A monument is a crystallized inspira-
ton.
A people are great and good in the
memory, face and figure Of their great
est men. The proudest literature
repeats their name. The highest art
reveals their form and feature. Our
most sacred conscience dwells in their
commemorated character. Our sub
FINEST ideal lives up there on top Of a
pedestal.
1t IS not only an honor to the soldier
dead-an artistic sentiment, a hero
worship-but it is more; it IS a
national virtue, a leaven to fealty, a
conseCrated duty that we W to our
selves.
Every citizen OF $ republic should
become familiar with its great men;
they should every day look up into
their faces and think. They may never
read their biography, but they will
stumble up against the statue. They
may learn but little of ancient history,
but in the public park they will know
the man and absorb the inscription. 1t
will give them a keynote, incite hope,
raise their pride, quicken their instincts,
arouse their ambition, and nudge
loyalty to mar and country.
Pulaski was a soldier in the best
sense of the word He fought to
uphold and not to destroy. With a
brain quick TO receive and agile to
execute, he brooked no opposition that
he did not meet. He was unwearied
in perseverance, and possessed a cour-
age that was always ready but never
rash. He had unbounded enthusiasm
in the cause Of national independence
marvellous intuition, unequaled magma
nimity, and sleepless vigilance.
On August 10, 1873, he made this
declaration:
| could not submit to stoop before
the sovereigns of Europe, so | came to
hazard all for the freedom of America;
and DESTROYS Of passing the rest of my
life in a country truly free, and before
settling as a citizen TO fight for liberty,
He sacrificed himself, all the years of
his young life, his fortune, his ancestral
dignity, his Astounding spirit, his splen.
did genius and experience, and all his
earthly hopes for liberty, justice, and
humanity. For these he gave all be
had-his martyred life.
The Continental congress pledged its
monumental duty to Count Pulaski by
a resolution in 1879, while yet his
deeds we're young, but IN the cumuIa.
ting press Of an enormous struggle 1t
has never been redeemed. I hope we
will wait no longer to wipe away the
stain Of a nations forgetfulness.
Let us see that bis memory survives
bis martyrdom.
1t was while gallantly leading the
combined forces Of American and
French cavalry at Savannah, Ca, that
Pulaski met bis death. "Pulaski's
LEGION they we're called.
They carried him from that field Of
awful carnage-carried him away
beneath the flowing folds OF a crimson
, banner c~onsecrated by the tender