West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-07-13
ADDRESS OF WELCOME
Delivered by Editor /. Y. Reed 10
The Old Soldiers Of Preston
County al Their Annu-
al Reunion July Sd.
Commandc,, Oh Soldiers ef Preston

As stand here today with uncov.
cred head in the presence of the
Great Ruler of the Universe, who
shapes and molds the destinies OF
nations and of men, as | stand here
and look down into your faces, upon
your silvered heads and bent forms.
as l behold you reverencing and
honoring the flag that today floats
above rs, think of that bloody
war for the amelioration OF a race
waged forty years ago, when you
who composed the strong young
manhood of this great country of
ours severed the ties that bound you
TO home and sweethearts and friends
and formed yourselves into one
mighty army TO save the honor of the
flag we love and the Union forever.
You fought for four things.
First to save and perpetuate the
Union. Your blood has sealed its
adhesive power forever. Onward
and still onward will il sail on the
wings of Freedom until all the
world will be permeated with its
principles. Second, you fought for
your enemies-that your enemies
might become your people. This
has been achieved. We are one
nation, one people, one country
Loyalty cemented by history, shed
blood, wounds and scars of the
past. Third, you fought that every
mother on every foot of soil in the
United States might look into the
eyes OF her babe and call it her own
and realize that it belongs TO her
and not another that when il first
sees the light and breathes the air
the angel OF freedom secures to the
mother the ownership Of her child.
Fourth, that our nation might be
come the beacon light to all the
world; that our flag, the glorious
Stars and Stripes, refined 10y your
privations and sufferings, might
wave over the land and the sea and
declare to the world, liberty. For
all this you fought and all this has
been achieved. For this we honor
you and declare our allegiance to
our countrY's flag and to our coun-
try which you helped save and
which you gave us-the greatest
nation on earth. There has been
no time in all the history Of this
country when her principles and
patriotism, for which you have con
tended, have been so crowded and
impressed upon the thought and
conscience of the world as during
the past eight years. The exper-
FENCES and acts of our nation for
that period have been the marvel Of
the ages The thought and spirit
of Americ9nism arose over interna-
tional law, penetrated the cold and
unfeeling heart of Spain, sent light
into the sluggish and superstihous
mind Of China and revolutionized
the thought Of Europe as to Gods
and Americas idea as to man and
liberty.
Tine victories of our country
were made possible by you and
your comrades. Reunions like this
one is TO be, hallowed by sacred
memories, illustrated by the stories
Of battle and camp, cannot fail to
do US all good and bring to your
cheeks the ruddy glow and to your
hearts the satisfaction which comes
only to those who have a conscious
ness Of duties well performed. And
the young should gather from these
reunions such as will make for the
better upbuilding and ennobling Of
the American character, and should
increase their devotion to the old
soldier.
The tie that binds you together is
a comradship the warp and woof Of
which were lovingly intertwined in
the loom Of loyalty amid the priya-
tions Of the frozen camp, the dang
ers Of battle, the sunerings Of the
field hospital and the untold horrors
Of the prison pen Yours is the
most patriotic of all organizations.
Il commentaries events Of most
heroic and indispensable conflict,
conflict which made it possible for
subsequent victories and marvellous
achievements. But for the mighty
multitude Of loyal men who went
out in the service Of their country
during the time that tried mems
souls, there would now be no Union,
no United States, and the name
would have been blotted from the
map Of the world. II u had not
been for you and your comrades we
would today have a government
based on slavery, rebellion and dis
loyalty as the fruits Of an unholy
traffic 10 human souls. In place Of
a union We would have number Of
petty dyDasties--a wreck, a ruin and
a desolaIion to which tyrants could
point with derision. / have no
doubt that those who opposed you
in the civil war, both al home and
in the field, we're sincere and thought
they we're right. Many Of them
we're the most promising, attractive,
intelligent cultured and fearless
men Of the South and among the
bravest men America has produced.
But they we're mistaken and wrong.
Their mistake cost our far South
millions Of dollars and 500. 900 Of
her sons, besides untold and inde.
scribable suffering. No historian
will ever be able 20 write the full
history Of the struggles through
which the South has passed since
the close of the civil war to replen-
Ish her depleted treasures In land.