CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.



where British valor broke its waves on the cotton bulwarks
of Western soldiery.
  Here we pause; for in the war of 1812 only a few of old
pioneers-Nestors like Shelby-took part. A new race of
men were in power. The age of the pioneer was ended;
the era of the settler had passed. It is of their era and of
their work alone that I desire to speak, and for that reason,
in part, I have not ventured into the inviting field of the
local history of this county. A graceful pen, however, has
put on record this chapter of Kentucky history. A more
fascinating chapter of the tragic and romantic days of the In-
dian fighter has never been written than that we have this
day listened to. I know this vast audience unites with me
in the urgent request that he bring it down to to-day. But
there is one episode that is so touching that I cannot refrain
from an allusion to it. Rich, indeed, must be the commin-
gled blood of Benjamin Logan, John Allen, and John Crit-
tenden; and he whose heart was warmed with its pulsations
must be easily touched by any tale of oppression, and eager
to take any risk to give aid. In the youthful ear of a gal-
lant scion of these families were poured stories of Spanish
oppression, and of Cuban yearning to be free; and with all
the ardor of his nature, and all the bravery of his sires, he
embarked in that disastrous expedition to Cuba. And in
the plaza at Havana, with unblanched face, he refused to
kneel, saying, with the chivalric mingling of the thought of
God and woman, the sweet, reverent intertwining of wor-
shipful love for God and mother and sweetheart that marked
the tender but heroic crusader, " a. Kentuckian kneels to
none but God and his sweetheart," he gave his life to his
murderers. The comnrades who fought under his command,
and died at his side under that murderous fire, were worthy
to die with him-to them death brought no fear. If mi.-
guided, they paid the penalty with their lives; and never,
under the Cid or by the side of the cavalier who drove the
crescent before the cross, fought or died more knightly cru-
saders. That Kentucky blood sanctifies that Cuban plaza,



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