Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1895 — Matthews as an Orator. [ARTICLE]

Matthews as an Orator.

Governor Matthews has made many great speeches, all couched n the most pleasing language, ami most beautifully exure.-sing the sentiments of patriotism. [lis speecli at the dedication of C'-iek-amauga was no exception, aud will 'auk well with the be t p oductions of the great orators. “Is it a wonder,” said lie, “that we are here to honor heroes 1 viug and heroes dead? i'nat a great state, in g-ateful remembrance, sheulti creel monuments cotnmemor tivo of the valor of her sons? We will weave the wiliow in our garland of trinmp:, and in the paean of vict ry mingle a sigh fi r the dead. It is fitting that here should b« established e great ..as tional park, for of all the battles of the war this was a national battle ground. Twenty-eight states of the Union sent their sons to contend for the right as they saw it. In this time of peace, when swords are beaten into plowshares and sriears into pruning hooks when th ■> grass waves aud the flowers bloom alike upon the gravesof olden foes, what a meeting should this be of brave, generous and magnanimous men. Though once arrayed against each other—the one side filled with thi conscious ness of right, and the oternal justice of their cause; th.- other wrong as proved by the arbi rament of arms, and the verdict of the following ye irs, but equally brave, honest a d sincere.

“As brave men they fought, as brave men they resignedly accented the c n litii ns,return’d to th lr homes with but little, est save their manhood and the virtue of their vomen, to take up the work or the Am.ncan citizen hat adds to the common pros; ericv of the country. Had they not been brave foes the victory would not be worth the boasting; were the and you less brave and generous now, you were not worthy to be citizens of a great republic. “Here is given strong rebuke to the narrow g mis whi h would yet pi ate of dissensions or sectional -drifo and hate, ihe lesson sent forth to the w uddfrora this natclefield will be that of forgiving, but not forgetting the great cause of strife. The American p.-ople, whether thorn the north or from tne south, are brothers in sympathy atm heart and purpose, march ing stead.ly on, hand in hand, to achieve that grander destiny which awaits uses a nation in the future —as one people, of oue country and under one flag.”