New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-05
VIII SON AT GETTYSBURG
JULY 4, 1913.

Friends and Fellow Citizens: ! need
not tell you what the battle of Gettys-
! burg meant. These gallant men in blue
and gray sit all about us here. Many
Of them met here upon this ground in
grim and deadly struggle. Upon these
famous fields and hillsides their com
rades died about them. In their pres
| ence il we're an impertinence to dis
| course upon how the battle went, how
Il ended. what it signified! But fifty
wears have gene by since then, and ]
crave the privilege of speaking to you
| for few minutes Of what those nifty
years have meant
What hare they meant? They have
| meant peace and union and vigor' ana
the maturity and might OF a great
! nation How wholesome and meaning
the peace has been! We have touha
one another again as brothers and conf
rades in arms, enemies no longer, gen.
erous friends rather our battles long
past. the quarrel forgotten-except mat
we shall not forget the splendid Na'or'
the manly devotion Of the men then
arraved against one another nov
erasning hands and smiling into each
others eyes.
How complete the union has become
and how dear to all Of us, how I'M
questioned. how benign and majestic
ae etate after state has been added 10
this our great family Of free men no"
handsome the vigor. the maturity the
! might Of the great nation we love Win
undivided hearts: how full of large ana
confident promise that a life VIII De
wrought out that will crown us
strength with gracious justice and with
= banpv welfare that will touch all
ot,r,o With deep ccntentmenti We are
debtors to those fifty crowded years.
thew have made US heirs to mighty
| heritage.
Rut do we deem the nation COM
.,o,o ard finished These venerable
men crowding here 10 tins famous
fold have set us a great example VI
! do,otiop and utter sacrifice. 1h'y
were willing 10. die that the people
might live. But their task IS done
Their day is turned into evening. lhey
look 10 us to perfect what they estao-
uebed Their work is handed on TO u.s.
"a Inc done in another way but not III
another spirit. our day is not o>e'
it is upon ms in full tide.
Harder Things Vet to Do
Have affairs paused? Does the ma
tion stand still? Is what the n''s
! Years have wrought since those days
81 hattie finished. rounded out ano
comnleted? Here is great people
great with every force that mas ever
beaten in the lifeblood OF MANKIND
And II il secure. There is no one WlIh'
in it's borders. there is no power amohe
tho nations of the earth TO make II
afraid. But has it yet squared ltse'i
with its own great standards set ui
at IFS birth, when il made that MS
noble. naive appeal to the moral juog
mont Of mankind to take notice ina
a government had now at last been es
tablished which was TO serve men, H''
,,asters2 II is secure in everything
evcent the satisfaction that its life Is
right adjusted to the uttermost TO 'h'
standards of righteousness ana hu'
manitv. The days of sacrifce aho
cleansing are not closed. We nave
harder things TO do than were done II
tho heroic days of war, because nara
or "a see clearly, requiring more vision
more calm balance Of judgment
more candid searching Of the very
springs Of right.
Look around you upon the field Of
gettysburg. Picture the array the
fierce heats and agony of battle col
umn hurled against column, battery
following 10 battery! Valor? Yes
Greater no man shall see in war; ant
se,f.sacrifice, and loss to the utter
most: the high recklessness of exalted
devotion which does not count the cost
We are made by these tragic epi'
things to know what II costs TO MAKE
q nation-the blood and sacrifice %
multitudes Of unknown men lifted u
a great stature in the view of all gen