Across the ocean in a far-distant land is his sepulchre, well nigh forgotten ; while to-day, here in the heart of his old manor, this vast federal Government, by representatives from its army and navy, and speaking through the thunder of its war ships; and this great State represented in the person of its prominent officials ; and above and over them all the sovereign people in assembled thousands, thronging these streets, overflowing the cemetery's slopes and crests

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MONUMENT DEDICATION.

and massing this hall, all unite to pay to them, his tenant farmers, the highest honors which the living can pay to the dead. In very truth have the first become the last and the last the first.

In a broader sense, we dedicate this monument to the memory of all the Revolutionary dead, wherever they may be interred. In life they were all noble, true hearted and brave men. In intelligent appreciation of human rights and the true principles of government, they surpassed all other men of their period and all of earlier times ; in constancy and unyielding confidence in the justice and final triumph of their cause they equalled even the "ironsides" of Cromwell ; and in sublime courage they rivalled the world. The pages of history contain no more striking exhibitions of valor than those men gave ; for instance : when Montgomery in the gray of that early winter's morning led the forlorn hope against the citadel of Quebec ; or when, at sunset of that great day at .Saratoga, after the gallant foe Frazer had been mortally wounded and his veterans beaten back into narrowest compass, they, the Continentals, mad with the wrath of outraged freeman, impetuously charged the hostile lines ; or when, on the other side of the river, scarce fifteen miles above us, Anthony Wayne led the night assault upon the frowning works of Stony Point.