Newark post., 1919-03-12
THEIR NAME SHALL
LIVE FOR EVERMORE"
Daniel Webster First Used
Text to Honor Fallen
Heroes

ed, a few weeks since, that he had
found an appropriate inscription
for the monument to be erected to
the memory of the English soldiers
who had died in the great war, the
whole world applauded his selec-
tion. Their name shall live for
evermore" is a biblical text which
may fittingly be applied to those
brave young men who offered the
libation of their blood for their
agonizing country. kipling's choice
was good, and we do not intend.
by any derogatory criticism, to de-
preciate the worth of his sugges-
ton. But it is due to the memory
of a greater man than kipling to
say that the honor of choosing this
text to commemorate the deeds of
departed worth belongs rather to
America than to England. 1t was
our own immortal Webster who
first made appropriate use of that
text; and, as it fell from his elo-
quent tongue, it signalized an oc-
casion which forms a memorable
scene in the history of our country.
At memorial meeting held in
Faneuil Hall, Boston, on August
8, 1926, to commemorate the lives
and services of John Adams. and
Thomas Jefferson, the principal
discourse was delivered by Daniel
Webster. Our American Demos
themes never acquitted himself
more superbly than on that his
toric occasion. Still in the full
flower of manhood and in the full
possession of his marvellous ora
torical powers, he rose in that dis
course to heights of eloquence
which cannot fail to thrill the STU
dent who peruses his glowing
periods. The circumstances in con-
nection with the event inspired
him. Of the illustrious signers of
the Declaration of independence
there remained only Charles Car
roll, and he was spending the gold
en- autumn of his days in the CRATE
full homage of his countrymen and
the sweet recollection of heroic
services to his country. Thomas
Jefferson, who wrote the Declara-
tion of Independence, and John
Adams, who was the principal pro-
tagonist of the principles which it
involved, had recently been gather
ed to the fathers; and it is a sing
ular coincidence that both had
died on the Fourth of July. They
had lived to see the glorious frui-
tion of their patriotic dreams and
the initial prosperity of their be-
loved country. 1t was to COM
memorate the rugged virtues of
their lives and the glory of their
achievements that the gathering
was held at which Webster deliver
ed this famuos eulogy. The part
which contains the text to which
we have already referred flows elo-
quietly as follows, 81 will detain
you no longer by this faint and
feeble tribute to the memory of the
illustrious dead. Even in other
hands, adequate justice could not
be performed, within the limits of
this occasion. Their highest, their
best praise, is your deep conviction
of their merits, your affectionate
gratitude for their labors and SER
vices.
"1t is not my voice, it is this
cessation of ordinary. pursuits, this
arresting of all attention, those
solemn ceremonies, and this crowd
ed house, which speak their eulogy.
Their fame, indeed, is safe. That
is now treasured up beyond the
reach of accident. Although no
sculptured marble should rise to
their memory, nor engraved stone
bear record of their deeds, yet will
their remembrance be as lasting as
the land they honored. Marble
columns may, indeed, moulder into
dust, time may erase all impress
for the crumbling stone, but their
fame remains; for with American
/ liberty it rose, and with American
liberty only can it perish. It was
the last swelling peal of yonder
choir, Their bodies are buried in
! peace, but their name shall live for
evermore.' I catch that solemn
song. | echo that lofty strain of
funeral triumph, Their name shall
live for evermore. Exc.