Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 9.djvu/43

WEBSTER reached you in the heart of France, and caused a thrill in your ardent bosom. You see the lines of the little redoubt thrown up by the incredible diligence of Prescott; defended, to the last extremity, by his lion-hearted valor, and within which the corner-stone of our mon- ument has now taken its position. You see where Warren fell, and where Parker, Gardner, McClary, Moore,* and other early patriots fell with him. Those who surdved that day, and whose lives have been prolonged to the present hour, are now around you. Some of them you. have known in the trying scenes of the war. Behold! they now stretch forth their feeble arms to embrace you. Behold! they raise their trembling voices to invoke the blessing of God on you and yours for ever. Sir, you have assisted us in laying the founda- tion of this structure. You have heard us re- hearse, with our feeble commendation, the names of departed patriots. Monuments and eulogy belong to the dead. We give them this day to Warren and his associates. On other occa- sions they have been given to your more im- mediate companions in arms, to Washington, to Greene, to Gates, to Sullivan, and to Lincoln. W have become reluctant to grant these, our highest and last honors, further. We would gladly hold them yet back from the little rem- nant of that immortal band. ^' Seriis in ccelum redeas.^' Illustrious as are your merits, yet far, oh, very far distant be the day, when any IX— 3 33