27 The Blue reflects the crowding stars. Bright Union-emblem of the free ; Come, all of ye, and let it wave That floating piece of poetry. Our fathers came and planted fields, And manly Law, and schools and truth ; They planted Self-Rule, which we'll guard, By word and sword, in age. in youth. Broad Freedom came along with them On History's ever-widening wings. Our blessing this, our task and toil ; For " arduous are all noble things." Let Emp'ror never rule this land, Nor fitful Crowd, nor senseless Pride. Our Master is our self-made Law ; To him we bow, and none beside. Then sing and shout for our free land, For glorious FREKLAND'S victory ; Pray that in turmoil and in peace FREELAND our land may ever be ; That faithful we be found, and strong, When History builds as corals build, Or when she rears her granite walls Her moles with crimson mortar filled. The Chairman introduced Hon. CHARLES KING, who was welcomed with enthusiastic applause. SPEECH OF THE HON. CHAS. KING, LL. I). FELLOW-CITIZENS, You see before you a man for many years withdrawn by the nature of his pursuits from all political affairs, but yet with a heart that beats as warmly toward the interest, and welfare, and honor of the country, as the youngest in this vast concourse. [Cheers.] I come before you, therefore, to speak in behalf of a cause common to every American heart. We are here to-day to co-operate in putting down the most wicked, wanton, causeless rebellion that ever offended the justice of God or stained the annals of man. [Applause.] We have been called upon by those in authority to send forth new regiments to the field, and recruits to the old regiments whom the fortune of war has decimated, and we come together now to pledge ourselves, that so far as each one of us is concerned, those men shall not be wanting, and those regiments shall be filled up. Can there be a more sacred cause than this ? Can anything appeal more strongly to our interests, our feelings, our honor, our patriotism, than this?' Can we submit to the shame and degradation of permitting our sons and our brothers who have gone forth at their country's call, to stand exposed and unaided, to be cut down and decimated by the enemy, while we are calmly carrying on our daily avo-
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM4ODY=