The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1905-06-22
Dr.. HlIlis' Grafton at Manassas.

Or. Hills Grafton at Manassas.
The Rev. DR.. Newell Dwight Hills
Of Brooklyn delivered the GRAFTON At
the reunion Of the Society Of the Army
Of the Potomac AZ Manassas May 10,
and he vas wildly received. He said:
More than forty years have passed
since your regiments assembled on
this battlefield. II is said that time
destroys ali things. but neither time
nor events have been able to destroy
your recollection OF the two battles Of
Bull Run, and that ceremony, which
occurred just twosoore years ago 10
day. when you dedicated this monu-
ment 10 the heroes OF these fields. The
memory OF that far-on cOnhict. with
the stroke Of battle. that was like the
stroke of an earthquake, now hangs
on the walls Of your memory like the
shield Of a vanquished enemy. LO1g
ago Gods grass healed over the scars
cut by cannon balls. yet the hills are
Etill billowy with your country's dead
And TOW, In this month Of MAY.
dedicated % the memorials OF heroes.
you are assembled On this battlefield.
veterans all. and members OF the
Grand Army Of the Republic We do
well 10 recall that battle. 10 celebrate
the victory and the triumph Of the
principles for which yoa fought. and
TO keep green the memory OF our
heroic dead The measure % a great
mans worth is the number Of achieve
ments and memorable days that MS
history holds. And the measure Of a
nations civilization is the number OF
great events il can recan-the battles
the fathers have fought. the number
Of great men IL has whose birthdays
IL can celebrate.
The Eternal city had its Pantheon.
in which IL buried It's heroes snd
London has her Westminster Abbey.
History is an abbey in which none
but the great &c eieep. When the
traveller crosses The threshold Of some
Vatican or Louvre he beholds the
treasures Of twenty centuries, assem-
BLEED for the inspiration and delight OF
the pilgrim. Standing in this store
AAn1A - ENhAWo EAA &4AAAaAn 48A
marbles, What masterpieces OF paint
ing! WhA. architecture, what
bronzcs, How did the sons OF genius
walk in ~regiments,
Ard not otherwise was Il with the
generation that toiled during the Civil
War. The hlstory OF that epoch Is
the Pantheon n which are assembled
heroes. patriots. orators, soldiers and
tbs saysois q shelT country. What
leaders wers sours-two OF whom
have \ place among the eight greatest
soldier OF history, Among the states
rl-n there are a few mountain peak
miaif. and Lincoln was one Of these
sun'it peaks. bathed in light snd
glory that Is immortal What orators
were these who lent luster 70 the era
at eloauence and reform, Verify. a.
was an age when great men marched
Ia regiments. Great crises for the
nation put men on their mettle. emery.
encies develop latent reSonrces. and
lead genius forth to is best estate
Great are our merchants-they feed
tAe state. great are our ieachers-they
Instruct The state Great are the gur
cts Who keep the state Ia justice. the
shy slcsans who geep The state ia
Wealth. aud the moral teachers. who
keep the state IN ethics But Who
shall estimate the naiion's debt 10 the
soldiers and patriots who have kept
the state ia liberty and protected the
Institutions that have made the repuh
nc the educator OF the world ia free
Institutions.
Forty years ago today orators "
hcarsed the story OF your valor Rnd
your heroism on thar occasion .
great soldier and statesman dedicated
this monument 10 these herues Who
here fen. erimsonlng wiih blood me
banner Of the republic, History also
has searched out the slEninesnes az
that memorable ooahieL while phi
losophers have given 10 as the Sc
Qaence OF events and traced the in
huenc0 OF that battle upon tie for
tunes Of var Tor you and me u re-
mains 20 survey the results OF thelr
battle and their victory. 20 consider
the institutions they loved and faF
which they lived and died TO examine
the grounds 81 patriotism 10 noursA
within ourselves a more gcneEons
faith In the republic and IN rs pooqlo
aud 20 DO an that ln as lies - see
10 Il that government of ne people
~ the people and Cor tho people shah
hs victorious here and nov and Al
lengsh spread Hereafter throughout ali
the world ualil the reigu % TIE com.
mon people Is universal ameRx TIE ma.
tons u the earkh.