The Newtown bee., 1906-06-08
HOME NEWS.
ADDRESS OF REV E. J. E0AN.
AT THE MEMORIAL lDAY EXERCISES,
LAST WEEK WEDNESDAY.

Comrades of Custer Post, Ladies and
Gentlemen: 1 wish first of all, to ex-
press the pleasure feel on this occa-
meeting my fellow tOwnSpeOple. The
tie that unites me to this old town is
one Of the strongest Of the human
heart, the tie of birth. If it be possi-
BILE that tie will be stronger from this
day forth. We have scriptural au-
thority for it, that prophet is with.
out honor in his own country, but l
feel that I was invited to. meet and
address you to-day for no other rea-
son, save that was born and reared
on one of your rock-ribbed hills. The
motive is honorable to you and COM
plimentary to me, and l will never
forget it.
But 1 feel a peculiar delight in
Of the Grand Army of the Republic.
1 am always glad to meet and do hon
or to those who in the dark days of the
Rebellion, sacrificed themselves that
this glorious and free republic might
not perish from the earth. But I
have special feeling of kindliness for
the comrades of Custer Post, for as a
boy, l had humble part in the cere-
monies at the institution Of the Post.
The poet says, "The thoughts of youth
are long, long thoughts. The
thoughts of that day are with me yet,
as vivid and lively as the thoughts of
yesterday, though it must be thirty
ago.
In those days [ was member Of the
old St Roses drum corps. On the day
of installation, the veterans headed by
a brass band and the drum corps,
marched through NeWtOWn street and
thence to Sandy Hook. where the cere-
monies were completed. [ also re-
member how my boyish pride was tic
kled when a veteran afterwards told
me that for marching he preferred the
drum corps to the brass band. 1t was
more martial, more inspiring, more
warlike. 1 hardly think he was in
dulging in "blarney," for he was not
Ing the march, GGarry own" which
our great President Roosevelt has de-
clared to be the greatest fighting tune
ever composed. I shall never forget
the pride and Importance l felt on
that day. l was associated with vet
Grams; l was marching with men who
had actually been in war, who had
gone through fields and up heights in
the face of shot and shell, the leaden
rain and iron hail of the poet. To me,
it was romantic. No soldier Of Grant,
Sherman and Sheridan's army. march
ing triumphantly through Washing
ton at the close Of the war, was bigger
than 1. | thought l deserved well of
my country. 1 had done something to
save the republic. You were heroes
to me, and was associated with he
rOeS.
Comrades of Custer Post: You were
heroes to me then, and you are heroes
to me now I have grown to middle
age; am better able now, mentally,
to grasp the awful significance Of the
Civil war,-its causes, it's terrible cost
in blood and treasure, its magnificent
results. understand now what did
not understand as a boy-that If this
union was disrupted in 81, it would
trophe in the history Of the human
race. You, members of Custer Post,
and your comrades in arms, animated
by lofty spirit of self-sacrifice and a
heroic love of country, averted that
calamity, saved the Union, preserved
liberty, and passed along to sue
ceeding generations the priceless
heritage purchased by the blood of
Revolutionary sires. So l am proud
to greet you to-day. 1t is
PRIVILEGE TO VOICE THE HONOR
AND VENERATION
in which a grateful people hold you
| and your comrades.
The soldiers of the great Civil war
may indulge in pardonable pride. The
American people are justly proud Of
them. They were the greatest SOL
diers of all history. We are compell-
ed to 20 back to the ancient, legen-
Diary history of the Roman republic, to
find anything approaching them in
simplicity and heroism. You have all
heard Of that old Roman soldier and
general, who, when he was called up
on to save his country, was found till.
| ing bis field. Patriotic, he answered
his country's call, and when he had &C
complished hero's work, and had
crushed his cOuntry'S enemies, he re-
turned to the calm and quiet Of farm
ing life. The American soldiers in
like manner came from the farm and
workshop: They were citizen sol
dierS. They were neither hirel1ngs
nor mercenaries. They were not pro-
fessional fighters seeking reward IN
loot and booty. They were animated
solely by love of country, and to help
their country in the hour Of distress,
they left their ordinary avocations
ard went to the front. And these
peaceful citizens, who as Americans
hated war and bloodshed we're nodded
into the bravest and most efficient
army of ancient or modern times; and
when they had finished their work-a