upon their coin, the Swiss who employed the genius of Thorwaldsen to boldly hew from the granite face of the Alps a lion to perpetuate the courage of their countrymen in a foreign land, the nations embodying their patriotism or skill at arms by triumphal arch or memorial column, were all actuated by the same motive. Even beyond these, upon the banks of the Nile, as remote as the days when the Pharaohs ruled, and amid the sands of old Assyria, can we find the remains of magnificent specimens of memorial architecture.

In how many instances, however, were these but the work of hands which had been held aloft with glee as the conqueror passed in triumphal procession through the capital, with his enslaved prisoners bound to his chariot wheels; or, at best, were but the tribute to the ambition of kings, or, still more to be regretted, the result of the superior prowess of disciplined forces over hastily-gathered levies defending their homes from ruthless invaders? Happily, upon this field every tablet represents loyalty to country and flag-a sublime devotion to duty never excelled in the world's history. They have been erected in response to the sentiment of the nation, demanding that which should be a patriotic remembrance for all time. Where the men of their state fought and died with the nation's life in deadly peril-where rebellion against it reached the noon-tide of its progress, and from thence went reeling out to meet its inevitable sunset at Appomattox-should the granite and bronze arise. They represent a united country cemented by the ordeal of battle ---refined, clarified and strengthened in the furnace of war, and the circle of fire in which armies fought and navies sailed. Each block stands for a unity of interest in every part of the land, and a national future one and indivisible. Whatever may have been the opinion of the individual as to the primal cause of the rebellion, they rest in the graves of the fallen, with the memorial tablets of the various states keeping watch over the places in which they lie buried forever. Thus the lives of those we represent on this occasion were not lost to their country or their kindred-they are eloquent even in their nameless graves. They crowd about as with all the incentives of honor and patriotism. They survive in our admiration of their deeds, in our respect for their sacrifices, in love for their patriotism and devotion to country. As the representatives of principles which are eternal, so will their memories remain. Through the efforts of the dead and living but one flag floats, or dare float, in this, our common country. To do justice to them, it should be so planted as to

wave above all error, sectionalism, injustice or division of sentiment as to the righteousness of the cause for which those we represent yielded up their lives.

In this, however, we by no means desire to confine our allusions to this immediate vicinity. It is but part of such a line, or series of lines of battle as the world never beheld. The right resting at Donelson, it encircles a vast extent of country, until the left is reached here in this quiet valley of the Keystone State, in the vast circle that sweeps down the Mississippi to the gulf, diverges to the Rio Grande, and eastward through to the Atlantic, coursing along its coast, and, by the familiar Potomac, leaping the wide rivers and high mountains-lines of natural defense-to where we at present stand. Its entire length is marked by honored graves-veteran sentinels of liberty-whose challenges will be heard forever and aye by all disturbers of the nation's unity, or conspirators against its honor. They will speak with the authority of the embattled hosts who fell in that line resisting the advance of error, and with the result that all now sit in peace and comfort.

But with reverent respect for all, we are, to-day, desirous of doing honor to the soldier of our own state. These are their monuments. Those graves contain the dead of the state who fell upon this field. Men of Pennsylvania, they were of your flesh and blood, they went out from your homes, they battled for the preservation of your firesides, and the vacant chairs remain within your households. Their comrades claim them in memory and friendship, and it is a claim as far-reaching as the warm-throbbing heart of the old soldier can make it. With tear-dimmed eyes they range over this field as over no other spot in all the land, and would say to the trespasser, "put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground."

This being Pennsylvania's battle-field, what more fitting than to properly commemorate the deeds of Pennsylvania's soldier sons upon her soil? Here, as everywhere, at the call of duty, during the entire period of the rebellion were the men of Pennsylvania conspicuous. It has been contended that the battle of Gettysburg is of much greater scope than that which the hills around us encompass, vast as that is. Some would even include the entire extent of territory lying between the battle grounds and the fords of the Rappahannock in Virginia. Full of interest and importance as the days preceding were, it culminated in the struggle which began on the 1st and ended on the 3d of July, 1863, and to this history will confine it.

Take a view of whatever portion of the field within the range of your vision, and you behold Pennsylvania's memorial tablets. Upon the cavalry skirmish-line with Buford, in the column which Reynolds led to its position, and in the line which formed as his prostrate form was carried to the rear-upon the extreme right and left flank of the First Corps were regiments from the Keystone State, and the first infantry fire poured into the advancing enemy was from another of them. In that corps death reaped a rich harvest of gallant Pennsylvanians. When the Eleventh Corps was hastily thrown into action they were in the advanced line, and the losses recorded attest the manner in which they fought. One of her batteries took possession of east Cemetery Hill, and the first day's fighting sullenly ended amid the shotted salutes with which the enemy were greeted from these guns.

Upon the second day, amid all the fighting on every part of the field, their record was well maintained. In the volume of battle which began on the left of our line and surged along the Third Corps, involving it and parts of others, no more heroic deeds were witnessed than those which Pennsylvania soldiers performed. Clinging to the lines at the peach orchard, surging back and forth through the wheat field, changing front under terrific fire, amid the rocky sides of the Round Tops, were heard the crack of their rifles and their shouts of defiance. Aud at this point the sun of battle went down as the Pennsylvania Reserves charged down the slope and over the valley of death, driving before them the last line of the enemy attacking this position. As they planted the Maltese cross of the Fifth Corps, the men of the Sixth displayed their Greek cross in support, and the left was safe. Away on the right was the Twelfth Corps, and its star waved over Culp's and Wolf's Hill. Here the battle raged fiercely, and there, too, were Pennsylvanians, and not an inch of ground was yielded, until, under orders, they vacated it to aid another part of the line. As if to fittingly close the second day, it remained for her sons to meet the charge of the enemy upon east Cemetery Hill, and over the guns of her batteries men fought with a courage and desperation never exceeded, and using weapons unheard of in such warfare. Here, also, nightfall beheld the enemy defeated and discomfited, and the position of regiments and batteries which had fought upon every part of the field could have been marked at that time by the dead, who lay as they had fallen, with their faces to the foe. The morning of the third day was ushered in by the determined effort of the Twelfth Corps to re-occupy their vacated lines. Aided by detachments of the Sixth they obscured the sun

with their smoke of battle, and after five hours of incessant fighting they were back in the entrenchments, and the right of the line was secure.

You cannot fail to recognize the Pennsylvanians, who, at this part of the field, represented their state and nation. And now, in the quiet which prevailed until after the mid-day hour, batteries, cavalry and infantry gird their loins for the final contest all knew to be impending. When, from Seminary Ridge, the cannonading of over one hundred guns shook the earth, quickly and effectively was it responded to. When the enemy sought to move troops from their right to strengthen and reinforce their center they found cavalry there to prevent it, and they did prevent it. Away off to the right the mounted legions seek to turn that flank and reach the rear of our line. There, also, were our cavalry, and the Rummel Farm became the scene of one of the most determined and sanguinary conflicts of man and horse; and the several lines of infantry, with which this attack co-operated, as they emerged from the woods and swung across the plain, headed directly for the troops of the same old state over whose head floated the well-known trefoil of the Second Corps. In brigade line they awaited the attack. It came, and with their comrades of the east and west they rent the clouds with their shouts of victory as the decimated lines disappeared in the smoke of the conflict, and the battle of Gettysburg was over.

At the headquarters of the army-of corps, division and brigade-were the men born on the soil of our state. In every grade, as well as at every point, Pennsylvania soldiers were in the forefront, and when we have completed the work in hand, and the memory of men in the ranks have been rendered immortal to the full extent of our ability, can we not, will we not, all unite in efforts to place

"Under the dome of the Union sky

The American soldiers' temple of fame

in a most prominent place upon this field a just tribute to the valor, ability and devotion to duty of that glorious son of Pennsylvania whose name is so indelibly associated with Gettysburg and with the Army of the Potomac wherever it fought? Until George Gordon Meade has a fitting monument upon this battle ground Pennsylvania will not have entirely performed her duty.

Pardon this digression. I have not attempted to picture or doscribe the battle of Gettysburg. I disclaim any such intention. My object has been to present with the monuments which rise at every point of the field brief reasons for their being, and to as

sure you that each one occupies the position it is entitled to through the valor of the men who followed the flag. Wherever may be seen the bronze coat-of-arms of the state, there stood and fought at one period or another in the desperate struggle the command represented by the memorial, and the soil has been rendered sacred by the patriotic blood there expended. In honor of the service rendered have these enduring tablets been erected. It is a fit and just tribute. The armies have long since struck their tents and silently merged with the masses in every part of the nation. The fields upon which they struggled gleam to-day with the glory of peace, and death no longer gathers the rich harvest which springs from their fruitful soil. Many have ended life's battle since then, and the lines are fading away swiftly before the ravages of time and disease. They stand but in anticipation of a speedy reunion with those file-leaders who have crossed the dark river, and with whom we hope to again fall into ranks in the great hereafter. Let the gratitude of the nation continue to go out toward these men. It should be proportioned to the benefit received, as well as the purity of intention which imparted the benefits.

Predicted as an inevitable conflict, the war came, and was fought to the bitter end. The logic of events clearly proves it to have been an epoch in the nation's life, which, under Divine Providence, was to result in either liberty to all or death to the nation. The result could not have been otherwise. It was a tribute to the splendid civilization of the American people, which, by the efforts of a century, had developed the country, educated the masses, created a vast internal commerce, all culminating in placing the nation upon a plane of greatness never before reached by any government. Through the future gleam the possibilities, which, may we not claim, will mantle the earth with such achievements as will make this the undisputed, the eternal hope of liberty.

We have learned the true value of nationality. Like our own mountain ranges, we will recognize the different peaks as they rise in various altitudes and claim specific names, the whole forming an indivisible body conspicuous in its greatness as a whole. These monuments represent this great nationality, and will stand forever as testimonials of a state and nation's gratitude to the valor of its citizen soldiers.

Let the morning and evening sun, which shall greet, gild and linger on their sides, and play upon them from base to capstone, symbolize the showering benedictions of their countrymen, which