Page images
PDF
EPUB

was brought into association with sixty master minds, and all but five of them were Christians. My only hope for the world is the bringing the human mind into contact with Divine revelation." This emphasizes the teachings of American patriots. Above all all the clamor of Castle Garden statesmen we hear the calm voices of the fathers and preservers of the Republic. One of these patriotic fathers, who was a member of the convention assembled to draft the Constitution of the United States, when moving that the proceedings be opened with prayer, addressed the President in these memorable words: "I have lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of the truth that God governs in the affairs of men; and if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?"

To a trusted friend who visited him during the dark days of the Civil War, President Lincoln said, with emotion: "I do not doubt, I never doubted for a moment, that our country would finally come through safe and undivided. But do not misunderstand me. I do not know how it can be. I do not rely on the patriotism of our people, though no people have rallied around their king as ours have rallied around me. I do not trust in the bravery and devotion of the boys in blue. God bless them! God never gave a prince or a conqueror such an army as He has given me. Nor yet do I rely on the loyalty and skill of our generals, though I believe we have the best generals in the world at the head of our armies. But the God of our fathers, who raised up this country to be a refuge

and the asylum of the oppressed and down-trodden of all nations, will not let it perish now. I may not live to see it," and he added, after a pause—“I do not expect to see it, but God will bring us through safe." What a noble company of our youthful citizens is assembled here on this broad platform. That in coming years, as they pass and repass the Monument, they may be reminded of the truths here spoken, permit me to address them a few words. Young Americans, when you have reached mature years, and our lips are dust, the children of the future will look at yonder graceful granite, and will ask, "What mean these stones?" You will tell them how you saw with your own eyes the soldiers of the Union represented by those stern bronze warriors. You will speak of successive Memorial Days, when you saw veteran soldiers embroider with fragrant flowers the mounds made sacred by the dust of their comrades. You will not forget to strew flowers upon their graves. You will interpret for the future generations the message of those voiceful stones.

That you may the more distinctly remember their message, we would have you see on the gray granite four shining gold letters. On the solid base, which symbolizes the foundation of our Republic, a true Christianity, we would have you see the letter F, standing for Faith in God. On the lettered die, which symbolizes a solid education, we would have you see the letter L, standing for Learning. As the polished shaft, by its massive strength and grace, symbolizes the Republic, stable and beautiful among the nations, we would have you see affixed to it the letter A, standing

for America. And as our flag is always associated with renown, we would have you see on that granite standard the gold letter G, reflecting the rays of the morning, and standing for Glory. Remember to tell the children of the future that those memorial stones symbolize Faith, Learning, America, and Glory. It will not be difficult for you to remember this message, and to bear it to the future, because those initial gold letters spell the word FLAG.

Soldiers of the Union, I have now discharged the duty you assigned me. We bring you gratitude, and congratulations-gratitude for arduous and illustrious services; congratulations that a kind Providence mercifully spared your lives for some good purpose. A thousand fell at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but He covered you with His feathers. Through the iron hailstones He brought you safe to greet your loved ones, to receive the plaudits of your fellow-citizens, and to enjoy the prosperity of the Commonwealth. Each of your wears the honored title, "A Soldier of the Union." Soon you will be gathered to your fathers. Yonder memorial will perpetuate your honor.

Surely we voice your sentiments when we proclaim that the granite Standard-Bearer represents no citizen who defends organized wrong. He represents neither infidel nor anarchist. Nor does he stand for the citizen who fails to distinguish between license to do wrong, and liberty to do right-the only true liberty. He does not represent the citizen who with one hand holds up the flag, and with the other hand tears its pure folds to tatters by defending a traffic which

shatters the hearth-stone, smites the smile from the happy face of a sweet child, and murders the soul for which the Son of God shed His blood. But yonder Standard-Bearer does represent, in his massive strength, the loyal American who stands firm for the Bible, the Sabbath, the Church, the Home; for Solid Learning, for Union and Freedom, for the Maintenance of Private and Public Credit, and for Peace on Earth. His sword symbolizes the freeman's weapons -the pen, the pure ballot, and the keen Damascus blade.

So long as the bed-rock principles of the fathers are maintained, the Republic itself will continue to stand, a monument to freedom, stable and beautiful, and seen by the whole world. Because he realizes this, the American citizen, while holding his Nation's ensign in defense of it, and of the granite principles of which it is the glorious symbol, lays his good right hand upon the hilt of his sword.

This, sir, as we interpret it, is the Monument's Message.

COMRADES KNOWN IN MARCHES MANY

BY CHARLES G. HALPINE

Comrades known in marches many,
Comrades tried in dangers many,
Comrades bound by memories many,
Brothers ever let us be.

Wounds or sickness may divide us,
Marching orders may divide us,
But whatever fate betide us,

Brothers of the heart are we.

Comrades known by faith the clearest,
Tried when death was near and nearest,
Bound we are by ties the dearest,

Brothers evermore to be.

And, if spared, and growing older,
Shoulder still in line with shoulder,
And with hearts no thrill the colder,
Brothers ever we shall be.

By communion of the banner,-
Crimson, white, and starry banner,-
By the baptism of the banner,
Children of one Church are we.
Creed nor faction can divide us,
Race nor language can divide us;
Still, whatever fate betide us,

Children of the Flag are we.

THE LEGACY OF CONFLICT

BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT

The captains and the armies who, after long years of dreary campaigning and bloody, stubborn fighting, brought to a close the Civil War, have left us even

« EelmineJätka »