New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-06-27
New Memorial Men Who Offered Lines Spanish War

lie finance, introduced measure Of
self government and the end is not
yet, some day they may yet political.
ly free.
1T was the Spanish American war
which led to development which In
tho long run We could not In any
event have escaped. The barriers OF
national isolation were broken down
and tho shells Of Dewey's guns
pierced the curtain Of world politics
and revealed America standing ma
jestically In equity and good con-
science at the council board Of the
nations.
after the Spanish war. went
forth the challenge Of America to
the world that America b altruistic,
that America Is idealistic. that
America is unselfish; that while at
home she Is engaged In many en-
terprises, while she Is advancing
with giant strides In every kind Of
industry and work. while she rivals
other nations in the getting OF
money and In the building up Of all
hdr material interests. still back Of
all her endeavors and achievements,
back Of her enterprising and pros
gressive spirit. underneath II all.
deep In the hearts OF her people
there Is something better. something
holier. something more sacred than
these material interests OF life. and
this is the advocacy Of the rights. of
men, respect for whatever man en-.
joys from God, reverence for the
dignity God has bestowed upon his
children and which she wishes to be
enjoyed not only in her own land,
but wherever Gods children are
throughout the length and breadth
Of the world.
ITO the army and navy to which
the men belonged. whose name ap.
pears on this monument, the nation
Is indebted for one Of most brilliant
chapters Of American history. for it
was the Spanish-American War that
reunited the North and the South
and destroyed the last vestige Of
sectionalism in this country an &C.
com piishment for which every
patriot will forever re-
joice. During that war the son Of
Johnny Reb and Yankee Doodle
locked arms in comradeship. broke
bread at the same mess, stood GRIM
ly shoulder to shoulder in the same
enbattled trench. Under hostile fire
on foreign soil; fighting In a common
cause, the memory Of old disagree.
ments faded into history. From the
camp and campaign there came the
magic healing which closed old
and effected their scars. AZ
The result Of this the government
proved itself invincible In the Span
Ish American War and, out of It
came a nation that will remain In
forever.
II do not propose to burden you
with \ recital OF our historic mill
larry unpreparedness prior to the
Spanish American War but believe
that can point with pardonable
pride to the fact that the men whose
names appear on this monument did
not hesitate to volunteer their serv.
Ice to their country. Within few
weeks after the declaration OF war
.hese men we're recruited. clothed.
drilled and transported to the front.
ready to take their places besides'the
brave and efficient regulars, ready to
march in jungle trail. ready to suffer
from tropic heat and rain and ir.
regular rations, ready to charge.
ready to fight. ready to die at their
call for the freedom and
protection OF races so backward and
child like that they might not even
DO able to appreciate their sacrifice.
These men were not born or bred
to soldier life. Their country's sum-
mons called them from the play, the
forge, the bench. the loom. the mine.
the store, the office, the sanctuary.
They did not fight for greed or gold,
to find adventure or to win renown.
They loved the peace OF quiet ways
and yet they broke the clash Of
arms. turned away from the
glances Of tender eyes, left
goodby kisses upon tiny lips to SUBJ
ject themselves to hardshtps and
privations in strange climates and in
unaccustomed surroundings with the
prospect Of meeting death IN its
most hideous form. Never before
was the moral and physical dbre OF
our citizenship subjected to such Z
terrible test among alien races and
under strange skies- How well you
must remember how these men went
forth from this city with banners
yaily flying and martial music thrill.
ing their generous souls How dif-
scenes Of Chicamausa and
Montauk Point and other camps ut
hat time when we saw them In the
struggles unto death With wasting
lever, their shouts OF joq turned
INTO groans OF pain, when martial
music had given place to the ncisc-
ess death watch, when their NYcrs
Jus forms which had gone forth in
he strength Of manhood were re.
luced to shadows Of their former
selves. when. after serving their
they possessed naught but
hat for which they had striven.
heir country's stainless flag.
Monument Altar of Patriotism
II trust that this monument will
sver serve as an altar OF patriotism
the people Of this great
OF their dutiesas citi.
.ens Of the greatest country H. tho
world and hope that by these serv-
ces you will be strengthened by a
to take a deeper in.
crest In the affairs OF our nation.
For. after all. this dedication means
unless we combine with it 4
to carry out the prin.
.iples for which the men this statue
'epresents we're willing and ready to