sustain and uphold it. You, the people, created our army, you support it as an institution, which receives your commendation and praise, and whatever honor, fame and renown, our little army has acquired, are justly shared by the people, who have made it what it is.
In all despotic countries, and all countries, but our own, are despotic, less or more, armies are maitained not to uphold truth but error, not to defend liberty but to support oppression, not to guard the rights and protect the interests of the people, but to hold them in bondage, and deprive them of their rights.
But our army is for a far different purpose and to secure far different objects. It is to defend truth, to preserve liberty, to protect the rights, the interests, and the homes and altars of the citizens. And, as we observed, to-day, in our address to you, though it is never right to propagate truth and liberty by the sword, yet it is always right, and a most sacred obligation to defend those by the sword. And I believe that our swords have never been drawn but for the latter cause.
But were it otherwise; should our army, our officers and our soldiers, violate their solemn and sacred vows, and draw their swords against the liberty and rights of the citizens, what cause have you to fear from our little army, scarcely sufficient to form a body-guard for a European Field Marshall, and scattered as it is, from Maine to Mexico, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific—against millions of brave, intelligent freemen, with arms in their hands, and who know how to use them! how absurd the thought! how childish and silly the idea!
And though our small army would not, of itself, be sufficient to defend our country, and protect the homes of her citizens, were she invaded by a large force, yet, we must always be the first in the field to meet the foe; and then the military science, skill and experience, concentrated in our army—unsurpassed by any in the world—would create a nucleus and furnish leaders, around which freemen, the citizen soldiers could rally that would lead them on to victory and to triumph, as we have ever done. Let us then, ever be united as brethren, having the same glorious cause to defend and the same great and noble ends and objects to promote and secure.
And, in conclusion, let me give a sentiment.
Our hands, our hearts, and our country, to the friends and exiles of Liberty—and our swords for its foes.
The Patriot Fathers of the Revolution.—The High Priests of Republicanism. The Apostles of self-government.—The sainted Fathers of American Independence. The eloquent Preachers for the transformation of the political principles of the world.
Lafayette.—“He is bound to us by stronger ties.” The friend and brother of Washington.—Freedom’s glorious defender, whose eventful career unites the Old World with the New.
