Evening journal., 1915-05-11

favor of independence.
II was Rodney's daring ride and
dauntless courage which placed Della
ware on the side of Independence and
upheld her good name and fame and
made sure of the union of all the
colonies against Great Britain.
During the long years of war, pri-
walton and suffering, he was ever
foremost among his fellow-patriots in
raising and equipping troops, in
campaigning with Washington and in
legislative, executive or judicial
duties in Congress and his native
State. His courage never faltered
and his self-sacrificing efforts never
ceased until victory was won and in
dependence achieved, although it
cost him both his fortune and his
life.
Throughout all those wearing
months and years of exhausting eff
fort he was tortured by hopeless
and fatal malady which caused his
death in 1884, the year after the war
had closed and he had seen self-gov-
eminent established and the bless
ings of peace assured to his native
State and country.
III 0N1ig dSt anu ntIOtc' nave
been immortalized in stone or bronze,
as well as in story or verse.
Though long delayed, the propi-
tious opportunity of according him
due recognition and honor is now at
hand. The opening of the proposed
new square will furnish the fitting
and favorable occasion.
A stately equestrian statue of inn
posing proportions and artistic de-
sign erected there will not only
prove an attractive feature but a
/ patriotic inspiration for all time to all
visitors, young and old.
4 With prompt and proper Organiza-
ton and cooperation of patriotic as
sociations and citizens in this work,
il can and will be readily accom-
plished by such philosophical citi-
zens as we have in our progressive
city and historic State.
In 1887 the remains of Caesar Rod
ney were removed from his neglected
grave on the estate in Kent county
Delaware, called Poplar Grove, where
he had lived and died, and were in
TERED in the Episcopal burying
ground at Dover, over which a suit
able monument was subsequently
erected.
At the unwilling ceremonies, Octo-
Der 80, 1889, Hon. Thomas f. Bayard
subsequently Ambassador to Great
| Britain, was the chosen orator.
For our inspiration and encourage.
ment now it may be serviceable here
to quote the following just and elo-
quent utterance in the course of his
remarkable address:
More than a century has rolled by
since that eventful ride: rider anC
steed have long since turned to dust
but the echoes of those flying hoof'
will reverberate in American ears
like the footballs of fate,
Far on in summers that we shall
not see,'
and the great heart of the nation viii
throb with emotion when the story is
told, and told again, of the ride o.
Rodney bringing the message of his
little State to her sisters in a glorious
confederacy.
THE genius of LOngfellow and thu
skill of the sculptor have aided t
perpetuate in verse and marble thu
memory Of Paul Revere. of Boston
the Messenger of the Revolution in
his midnight ride before the battles
of Concord and Lexington.
Il rejoice that such tribute shoul,
be rendered. nor would / take on
/, leaf from that patriots chaplet; nay
indeed, would point TO the example o
the people of Massachusetts in thu
commemorative, as is their wont
one of their own citizens. as worth.
of being followed in this State and /
may well be asked if the ride of Pau
Revere has been so kept in men
memories. why should not the in
, fnitely greater and more importan
, service of Rodney to the unite,
! Colonies be even more impressivel
| marked by us?"