The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-06-02

tary evolutions and the manual of
arms, and was satisfied with nothing
less than West Point discipline and
efficiency.
With the opening of the month OF
May, 1861. all thought of compromise
and peace had passed away, and the
grim spectre of war between the two
sections of our country appeared in
all its hideousness.
The North felt its unpreparedness
for this struggle. The regular army
was very small, and many of the
prominent officers in it, who were
southern born, had already gone into
the army of the rebellion. Such
leaders as Grant, Sherman, Sheridan,
Thomas, Farragut, and many others,
were occupying subordinate positions
at that time, and were unknown to
the country.
Our reliance, humanity speaking,
for leadership, was upon dear old
General Scott, the hero of two wars,
who remained true and loyal while
Sd many officers were faithless.
In the church of st. Thomas. in the
city of Strassburg, on the Rhine,
there is a magnificent monument in
marble to Marshal SAKE, one of the
great military leaders of France in
the / Sth century. The Marshal is in
the act of descending into the tomb
opened for his reception by Death,
while a beautiful female figure rep
resenting France strives to detain
him.
AS France felt in regard to her
leader, so we of the North would have
| hindered the inroads of time and en-
deavored to impart youthful vigor to
our veteran. The Chairman of the
Committee appointed by the Virginia
convention had waited upon General
Scott and rendered to him, being ma
tive of that state. the command of the
forces of Virginia in the coming
struggle.
Listen to his reply. and | wish that
it might be remembered by every
American. These are his words: Il
have served my country under the
! flag of the Union for more than fifty
years, and as long as God permits me
to live. | will defend that flag with
my sword. even if my own native
state assails it," These words were
put into practice not alone by Gener-
al Scott. hut by General Thomas,
Commodores Farragut and Winslow,
and thousands of others of southern
birth, many of whom in obscurity did
what they could TO fight for and aid
the Union cause. The love of country
and sturdy conviction of duty of these
men stand out in bold relief when
contrasted with the narrow section
alism of the Lees. Johnsons, JackSons,
and others.
How much our beloved President,
Abraham Lincoln, was sustained in
these trying days by the loyalty and
practical assistance of the War Gov
ernors of the Northern states, You
doubtless recall the names of some
of them as John A. Andrew, William
A. Buckingham. Edwin ID. Morgan,
Andrew G. Curtin, Oliver p. Morton
and many others. One of these men
has recently passed away, on April
2Sth. refer to Frederick Holbrook
the Governor of Vermont between
1861 and S63. He at one time stir
red Vermont by these words: Let nc
young man capable of bearing arms
in the defence of his country linger al
this important period. Let the
President feel the strengthening in.
fluence of our prompt and hearty re-
sponse to his call. Let Vermont be
one of the first states to respond with
her quota" OF this Governor, Presi'
dent Lincoln said: There's Governor
Holbrook buried up in Vermont's
SHOWS six months of the year, yet
would give more for his opinion thar
those of all the politicians in Wash
ington."
1t is unnecessary at this time to &c
over the many incidents comprised il
those four years of victory and de
feat, hope and fear, the alienation o.
confidence and their diStruSt in the
ability of some of our Generals
When the glad news of final victor!
reached us in April, 1865, and thu
knowledge that peace would once
more prevail in our land, it made
those days stand out in striking con
trast with the dark ones of April
1861.
Members of the Grand Army of tn,
Republic: These are the events tha
have led up to the setting apart o
this day as a memorial to your com
rades who have either fallen in battl
or have since passed away. How
greatly broken are your ranks il
comparison with the first year
when you met and decorated tn
graves of those who had alread,
gone on before into eternity! Yo,
represent those who are left of tn
"Old Guard" AS you look bacl
! to the years of conflict, do you re
gret the decision that you the
= made to give up all for your coun
try, and it's preservation?
|, ! count it a privilege to addres
y you personally on this Memoirs
u Day, for the time is not far distan
= when the speakers on this annivel