The Maryland Confederate Monument at Gettysburg. 435
and trustworthy. Of the fifteen hundred men of the Maryland Line at Hanover Junction I cannot count ten that are worthless or broken down by dissipation or laziness. They are competent to fill many humble places in city, county, State and Federal governments. There seems to be a disposition to ignore them, to treat them as poor relatives, to keep them out of sight as a disgrace to the family. I do not ask that they be given places beyond their abilities, but I do in- sist that men who have proved their fidelity by dedicating their lives to defence of their faith shall be taken care of, and not allowed to die in the poor-house.
I will not stand it, and as long as I have strength I will appeal to the noble and generous of Maryland, and largely to the Union sol- diers — for four years our enemies, for twenty years our friends — against this injustice, this ignoble, cowardly feeling that impels peo- ple to disregard us because we are poor.
We can show that we have power; and power always compels re- spect. For their exhibition of power I thank Company C. They compelled the restoration of Knox to his place.
I hope, therefore, that our demonstration for Friday to Gettysburg will be impressive from its size and earnestness. I have no sympa- thy with any attempt to revive the issues or rekindle the passions of the civil war. He has a bad heart and is a bad citizen in Mary- land who would do so. I accord to the Union men of Maryland the highest patriotism and the noblest courage in defense of their opin- ions. I claim for my own people equality in every respect with them, and insist upon equal recognition and respect.
I reprobate all recrimination and recalling of the bitter words and harsh actions of the war. War is a rough business and deals in rough ways. All its bitter memories ought to be buried, and only those noble deeds remembered which are a credit to manhood.
I claim a share in the reputation won by Kenly, Phelps, Horn, and every Maryland soldier on every stricken field, and I will everywhere and at all times guard their honor as my own.
Let every laurel won by either side be the common right of all Marylanders, and future generations will recall with pride the achievements of the Maryland brigade of the Army of the Potomac in the Wilderness and before Petersburg, and the combat of the First regiment with the Buckiails, and its manual of arms before the bat- teries of Gaines Mills, and the desperate charge of the Second regi- ment, "the gallant battalion," at Cold Harbor and at Gettysburg; the fight at Cedar Mountain, where the First artillery charged and
