South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-05-31
Esprit of Liberty '-MemondI
Day Address Delivered Tuesday
BIZ Albert E. Martin, This City


had suffered. endured and protested
against the divine rights OF kings.
the tyranny Of the Stuarts. the union
OF the church and state. taxation
without representation, the inquisi-
ton and wars Of personal aggran-
dizement. After centuries OF strug-
gies in ENGLAND and seeing no
chance Of success. they turned their
eyes toward the western hemisphere.
the land Of opportunity. They We're
willing 10 leave luxury, home and
the tombs Of their ancestors and
risk their all in a new and untried
world for the sake OF a principle.
eternal and everlasting freedom.
They counted the cost. the priva-
tions. hardships. dangers and fiirted
with death without murmur or
waver. without a sigh or regret. And
when we catch the spirit Of the
early settlers Of America we can
readily understand and appreciate
the lives the deeds and thoughts OF
those old revolutionary heroes.
We thrill with pride as we read
the words Of John Adams when he
said. "Sink or swim. live or die sur
vive or perish: Of Patrick Henry
when he said, Give me liberty or
death"
Slavery and Revenue.
But now the war is over and
America is free. The great prob
lem Of government now confronts
the colOnists. A convention was call
ed and the articles of confederation
were drafted, which proved ineffec-
tive and inadequate. Dissatisfaction
arose and another convention was
held and the constitution OF the
United States was struck off. In this
convention one great question con-
fronted the delegates and it seemed
70 be the rock upon which they were
sure TO split, and that rock was the
slavery question. Ever since the for
nation Of this government there has
been two great problems before the
American peOple-the slavery ques-
ton and revenue question. Upon
these two great questions the paO-
pie of America have been divided
into hostile camps. The former
question was settled by the Civil
war; the latter question is still the
bone Of contention of politicians
lawmakers. statesmen. leaders, re-
formers business men and experts
Members of the Grand Army Of
the Republic. l have not as yet said
much about the Civil war in which
you were engaged. I do not care
to wave the bloody shirt" or even
open afresh the old wounds caused
by the late unpleasantness, but /
would be remiss in my duty 10 you
as a speaker we're l not TO recount
a few Of the incidents and achieve
ments OF the greatest civil war in
the history of the world; a war in
which the number of enlisted SOL
diers were 2.32O,272; in which war
110.07O soldiers were killed i'm ac-
ton. 275.1S5 died from wounds in
fiicted upon the field Of battle. 212.-
SIS were taken prisoners. Il, 3O6 died
in southern prisons. 334. 453 are
buried in national cemeteries. PAS
500 widows and orphans were left
to mourn the loss of loved ones who
never returned. Ii cost in money
S2.754. 431,571. / am informed that
today there are about 37S.2S7 SOL
diers alive and that they are dying
at the rate OF $4,000 a year
The heroism displayed by you
boys in blue is not surpassed by the
heroism of any soldiery in the world.
Y our courage, your endurance, your
fighting qualities. are unsurpassed.
You are worthy sons of worthy sires.
Your ancestors made famous the
names OF Bunker Hill. Of Saratoga,
Trenton and Yorktown, and immOr-
talized the revolutionary leaders.
The blood Of the heroes of 1875 flows
through the veins of heroes of 81.
You shirked no duty Stunned no
task. left no part unprotected.
Not all these incidents and ex-
periences of war were dangerous or
sad. There were many amusing and
interesting experiences which still
lnger in your memory And as oft
as YOU gather together in conven-
uons. encampments. memorial oc-
caSiOns and elsewhere, you recount
with pleasure the incidents Of war
At one time you were on a fO-aging
expedition. either for fuel. drink,
food or tobacco. At another time
you were on picket duty and some
belated private or officer appears
who has forgotten the password or
cOuntersign. Now you are sitting
around your campfires cracking
jokes. spinning yarns, swapping
stories playing various games. en-
gaging in contests and tests of
strength and skill.
Boys Of 81. as you assemble to
participate in the exercises of this
day you are living over again the
days Of 81 to 50. The southern
states have seeded from the Union,