Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1904-06-02
Ell OQUEN3 MEMORIAL
ADDRESS

ADDRESS
The Memorial Day celebration of
1904 will live long in the memory of
the patriotic orders and Berwick at
large as it was marked by the most
beautiful and impressive ceremonies
ever held in this place.
The services were exceptionally fine
the parade with features that never
before marked in Berwick's observ-
ance, a speaker equalled by few in the
state, and an impressive service to the
unknown sailor dead upon the river.
what better combination could be had
to pay tribute to the honored. heroes
on this day set apart for such nbserv-
anCe. Rain set i'll and the service was
opened in the Opera House with a fine
selection by the Glee Club and an i'm
pressive prayer by Rev. NJ. A Ship
ley. The address of Abraham Lincoln
on the battlefield of Gettysburg, was
read by Rev. r. H. Gilbert. Am
erica was then rendered by the Glee
Club.
Hon. James Scarlet, of Danville, was
introduced by the master of ceremo-
MES and the applause which the an
nouncement brought forth estified
that the fame of the speaker had pre-
ceded him. His address was one of
the finest which it has been the pleas
ure of a Berwick audience to hear
Delivered in forceful and eloquent
manner which thrilled the assemblage
and stirred the fire of patriotism in
every heart. As he paid a tribute to
the honOred dead and surviving hsIoes
and called for higher patriotism the
feelings of the people were with him
and frequently punctuated his remarks
with applause. Memorial Day." he
said, is not mere empty observance
but rededicatiOn of the nation to the
cause of freedom We recall the deeds
of the heroes to inspire US to pledges
OF duty and patriotism and to high en-
deavor. On this day the nation pledges
itself by deeds of devotion that they
have not been in vain. 1t is said,
Greater love hath no man than that
he giveth his life for his friends, but
how much more exalted is it when
that sacrifice is made for patriotism.
| The flag that floats from hundreds Of
stats signifies purity, courage and love
for the principles declared in the con-
stitution of freedom, life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness. No heroic
sacrifice is even lost. If you ask whose
fame was the greatest l would point
J watchword was the conception Of
| highest grandeur.
Ito a flag left stainless. To a land
that no longer echoes the crack of the
slave drivers whip or the moan Of a
slave To the blaCkman in the fields
of the south who works in the shadow
or no shackles upon him.
1.-THE men who entered the army
were ,, 800, 900. Over 300, 600 died in
battle, l75, 600 in rebel prisons and
| 500, 600 came home to end the remand.
er of their lives in suffering. The los 5
| of killed, wounded and missing at
| Antietam was 3S, 360, at Gettysburg
81, ,S07 men, at Charlottesville 28,Sll.
| What youth, beauty and manhood
would have gone forth but for this war
but instead was swept away forever.
1.-The men who carried the flag were
common soldiers. those who scaled Miss
ionary Ridge and waved the BANNER
| of freedom from that mountain top,
who turned the tide at Gettysburg,
| VINO filled tho trenches at AutleJam.
diers But for them the fame of Grant
would never have illumined the pages
of history and the story of Appomatox
would never have been told
after the storm of war had passed
it was the army came home. They
met the welcome of nation saved,
| and laid down their arms to take up
| the pursuit of peace and became part
of the army of civilization The high
est idea of American Citizenship will
never surpass that record though the
pen of fame record its deeds until the
end of time.
"The confederate turned south from
Appotomax, half starved, enfeebled.
| having fought to exhaustion. He sur
rendered his gun and turned his tear
stained pallid face to find his home i'll
ruins, his farm devastated, his slaves
free, his money worthless without law
crushed.
"He stepped from the trenches into
the furrow and the fields that ran
with food in April were green with
crops in June. He planted seeds. de-
veloped crops and answered the pros
perlty of the month, wiped away the
Mason aud Dixon line and developed
new south.
Let the bronze or marble be erect
ed to the memory of kings, but let Me-
mortal Day imbue the people with a
spirit of patriotism that will be a
monument of our undying love and de-
votlon to the army that gave so much
"The rear guard of this army is still
with you but the heads now whitened
are now fast falling asleep. Now is
the opportunity to show some consid-
GRAFTON to the rear guard of that great
army that saved the nation, for then
will have answered the roll call then
all the wreaths and tributes that can
\