The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1927-03-31


DR.. THOMAS W. KOON
were kinder than the King and mobiles
of the old, and so the human tide kept
coming and the place of the dead was
filled.
Two hundred and ninety-three
years age, March 25, 1884, maryland
Day. the landing OF the Colonists of
Maryland took place on the shores of
Saint Mary's county, Maryland
Almost in the beginning of the Colony
of Maryland her sons were called to
arms; in less than a month after the
landing Of the colonists of Maryland,
the first naval battle between white
men i'll America took plalce between
the Maryland ships the st. Margaret
and the st. Helen, and the Virginian
ship the Long Trail. Governor Cal
vert was called upon to make his
frontier good by force of arms and
that chivalry present in the early
days of Maryland's history has ever
been present in its sons and daugh-
tiers. They have engaged in every
struggle that our nation has been
called upon to make, as men in the
ranks and as officers in the direction
of battles.
History knows no other such ex-
ample as the sacrifices of the sons of
Maryland. Our nation owes its exist
ence to the men in the ranks, the men
who in early days carried the musket
add who in modern times directed
with telling effect the latest of inven-
lions in fire arms.
No man perhaps, except the soldier
Of fortune who makes fighting a pro-
fession, seeks reputation at the
lannon's mouth simply as vain glory
men go to war to save the State,
they join invading parties in order
that the enemy may not invade on
the other hand, and war is only justi-
fled in the preservation of peace and
the mission of a nation such as ours
can only be one of peace and we are,
always justified in striking in the
preservation of peace; history shows
conclusively that the United States
has never engaged in an un-holy war.
In the American Revolution we
fought for representative government
toshake the shackles of a royal gov
eminent that was fast sapping out
our lives; in the war of 1912, we
fought for the individual liberty and
citizenship of Americans on the high
seas and forever settled our grievan-
ces with Great Britain; in the war of
1861-65, it was the preservation of
the Union on one side and the sover-
eighty of the States on the other, and
that conflict left US with a more per-
feet union and showed the world that
the starry ensign of this Republic
had been sanctifed with Southern and
Northern blood; in the American
Spanish war we fought in the name
of liberty and humanity and the last
shot forever destroyed the despotic
force of the Spanish Kingdom in the
Western Hemisphere, so you men of
the American Legion as sons of Mary
land have goodly company before
you. In your service to the country
you have held sacred the traditions of
Maryland-in the war of the Revolu-
ton it was the Maryland line at the
battle of Long Island that Washing
ton credited with saving the day, for
had the army of Washington been de-
feated and scattered on the event.
full day it would have have been the
turning point of the feeble American
Colonies, and we would perhaps have
been still subse1vient to the British
Empire.
In the Revolution, Maryland con-
tributed her sons, her money and her
courage. Charles Carol as chairman
of the Committee on Military Sup
plies, placed his private fortune at
the beck and call of General Washing
ton. General Smallwood and General
Tench Tilman achieved records of
brilliancy; General John Eager How
ard, Otha Williams and DeKalb stand
out as heroes of Revolutionary fame
and had the mantle to command the
forces fallen upon them, they would
have been able and worthy of the
honor and have achieved success.
In the war OF 1872, Stephen Dc
catur, = con OF Maryland, was the