The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-10-17

pertshable fame. Though the lips OF
those devoted men are now sealed In
death. the lofty spirit OF patriotism that
animated them has found expression In
their own written words which have
| come down 10 us. On February 18th, lIs4.
soon after the glorious peace with Great
| Britain had been declared, the officers or
the line OF this state. through Colonel
] jeremiah Olney. presented this pair or
! colors 10 tte general assembly OF the
state In his communication TO that
body. Colonel Olney In referring TO the
officers he represented, used these WORDS:
IF they have deserved the appreciation
OF their country. n they have gained the
confidence OF the state, II they have en-
dured hardships and encountered diffi-
culties. they feel themselves still indebt-
ed for your constant attention In every
period OF the war. IL their conduct In
the field, IL their wounds and the blood
OF their companions, who have nobly
fallen by their side have entitled them
10 any share In the Iaurels OF their
countrymen. they are fully rewarded In
surrendering 10 your honors on this oc-
casion. the standards OF their corps,
which have been distinguished by the
bravery OF your soldiers upon the most
critical and important occasions.
ALWAYS WITH HONOR.
Those three score or more flags and
glhdons there I'm tho centre, were carried
by the Rhode Island troops during the
late civil war Some OF them have waved
on many battle fields both I'm victory and
defeat but always with honor. The
names OF some 70 sieges and battles have
been officially authorized TO be inscribed
upon their folds. and the occasion on
which they have been under fire In
dozen different states are vastly more
numerous They remind you old veter-
ans OF the evil war. OF Bull Run. New
bern. and Roanoke Island. OF the Penin-
sula, Malvern Hill. and other battles be-
fore Richmond; OF Antietam. and Freder-
icksburg; OF Charlottesville and Salem
Heights: OF Gettysburg, and Vicksburg
OF Fort Pulaski Secessionville. Morris
Island. and Fort Wagner; OF Front
Royal Kelly's Ford. and Mddleburg: OF
the Wilderness. and Spottsylvania; OF
Cold Harbor. and Petersburg; OF Sailors
Creek, and Appomattox Dourt house, and
many other bloody fields too numerous
10 mention.
oh my comrades OF the Civil War. as
you look upon these dear old tattered
standards and recall the hardships and
suffefings. the dangers and perils through
which you followed them. as you remem-
ber the companions who laid down their
lives while fighting beside you in
defence OF some OF those very
colors, does not the. old enthusiasm blaze
up within your breasts. and though near
ly or quite forty years have elapsed
since you ungrudgtngly jeopardtzed your
lives under their folds, do tyou not feel
as you then felt, that
Pride and glory and honor-All
Live In the colors TO stand or fall"
WITH PATIENT FIDELITY.
The latest additions to our states coll
lection OF battle flags are the pair OF
standards there on the left belonging TO
our First Rhode Island Volunteers In the
late war with Spain. They were borne
with patient fidelity. and though the for
tunes OF war did not summon them TO the
field of battle, yet the steadfastness dis
played In the discharge OF the most irk-
some duties clearly indicated that the
bearers OF these flags. also. would have
fought. and died, II need he. with the
heroism and self devotion that has ever
characterized the soldiers OF Rhode ISL
and
And now we have reverently brought
these precious old relics 10 their final
resting place. They are but bits OF rent
and ragged silk on battered wooden
slaves. and their intrinsic worth. from a
mere mercenary standpoint Is slight In
deed but. from sentimental point of
view, their value Is priceless. and their
loss would sorely grieve the people OF our
state.
This imposing building forms. indeed. n
fitting receptacle for these venerated OBJ
jects that we hold go dear 1t belongs TO
no one alone. Within its portals all may
enter with an equal right. II stands In
grace and grandeur on this eminence
overlooking our chief city, and it's lofty
dome extending high In air to meet the
rays OF the rising and setting sun, may be
seen from afar. The spacious dimensions.
the harmonious proportions. and the ex-
cellence OF material and workmanship OF
a.
while the soldity of It's construction
gives us confidence that II will endure
Cor generations.
The spirit that prompted the people of
Rhode Island TO erect this beautiful state
house Is akin. I'm some measure at least.
TO that which makes us prize our old bat
tle-fiags for II represents, In a degree.
our state pride and sovereignty. This Is
the seat OF our state government Here
our legislature meets: here our state offi-
cials perform their public duties; and
here are the archives OF our common
wealth.
In civilized nations. with rare excep-
tions. Justifable pride demands that the
capital. or chief government building,
should be conscnant with the gravity and
Importance OF the duties there perform
ed. A peoples patriotic appreciation of
It's government is indicated in no small
degree. by the character OF It's ppbiic
buildings The smaller the state the more
desirable n IL to entrench pride In her
welfare. honor and glory. In the hearts
OF her people. Rhode Island, happily, IL
abounding I'm such laudable pride. with
ONT il the state never could have en-
dured the strain and struggles of her
early days.
SMALL IN TERRITORY ONLY.
She Is smaller In territory than any
OF her sister states, but In land area
only she stands at the foot OF the list
I'm comparison with them Eleven states.
two OF them In New England, have fewer
inhabitants within their respective bor-
ders than has the state of Rhode Island
In enterprise and thrift In mechanical
skill and productiveness this common
wealth surpasses much larger proper
ton OF her sister states. while in the
wealth of her people per capita. very
few, if any. rurpass her. In the patriotic
discharge OF duty she occupies IN es-
pecially proud position. In the Revolu-
uonary war her loyal service was emil
nently conspicuous. This state" wrote
William Bradford speaker OF the Rhode
Ialn n,R1