The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-08-25
GROWING BETTER.
Vice President Fairbanks Thinks
American Standards OF living
Are Becoming Higher.


united with Ransom Post, G. A. R.,
here In unveiiing beautiful monu..
ment in Library Park, commemorat:
Ing the patriotism OF soldiers OF the
town OF oswegatchie who fell in the
civil war The largest crowd in the
towns history witnessed the eeremo-
MES. In his address the Vice Presi.
dent said:
| bring YOU the cordial greetings OF
President Roosevelt, who greatly re.
grets his inability to join with you in.
the dedication of this monument. to
Its exalted purpose.
This monument had its inception
in noble, patriotic impulse. 1t will
stand as the symbol of the gratitude
of great people for the services aud
the sacrifices of brave men who more
than generation ago went down to
the battlefield to preserve the integ.
rity of the great republic.
II has meaning for those who be-
hold It which no formal words can
adequately express. 1t stands as n
pledge of national unity. It stands
for the everlasting supremacy of one
flag. It inspires deeper love of lib.
erty. 1t keeps ablaze the fires OF
freedom upon the affairs of our hearts.
1t signifies the triumph OF right.
eous cause. Such is not the deliber-
ate verdict of history. This is at.
tested by the common Judgment of
mankind.
Victor and vanquished rejoice In
the complete establishment Of our
national solidarity. They each see a
new glory in the republic purified, in
the fiery furnace OF the great civil
conflict. Each yields willing tribute
to the yaior OF the other. Better or
drawer men never faced each other
upon the fields OF battle than those
who met under the leadership OF
Grant and Lee. This memorial teach.
es double lesson: valor, fortitude
and patriotism in the merciless
shock Of war; amnesty, mercy and
pardon in the tranquil ways Of peace.
While We pay homage to those who
stood in defense OF the nation we do
not withhold from those who fought
to overthrow the republic an expires.
sion OF our admiration and esteem.
We are not wanting In regard for
those, who through mistaken 5udg.
ment, raised their hand against their
own friend and protector-the flag of
the United States. They were our
kindred. We we're then divided, but
we are now reunited, and God grant
that no power on earth may drive us
asunder; that no national exigency
may arise which will not be met
equally by all sections OF the repub.
lie, and that no peril may confront
us which will not be faced by united
because Of the re-
suits Of the civil war.
We hear much of defalcations.
breaches of trust, malfeasance in Of
fee, and there are pessimists who de-
clare that we have fallen upon cor.
rupt times; that we are decadent;
that the public conscience is dulled.
On the contrary there never was an
hour in all OF our splendid history
when there was more acute moral
sense among the great masses of the
people and more uprightness In their
relations OF life than there lis to-day.
The standard Of civic duty was never
higher than 1t is now There was
never more respect for high grade
OF commercial and professional eth
les than at present. There is a wide
spread determination among the peo-
pie that those who pollute the law
shall be compelled to answer for II;
that the laws shall not be set at
naught by eyil-doers-by the enemies
Of established order.
Those who abuse public confidence
or who disregard the law or who de.
bauch the elective franchise are in.
sidfous enemies. Those who, with no
expectation of reward except the ap.
proYal of their own conscience for
duty well performed, stand for the
moral health OF the community and
Of the State. for good laws and their
Just enforcement. for equality of all
before the law and against law in
spired by unjust favoritism, are to be
regarded with that high respect we
entertain for the real heroes Of the ma.
ton.
The Cultured West