Cairo evening times. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1865-1866, 1865-10-05
ORGANIZATION. OF VETER ANS.-A
GOOD MOVE.

We are pleased to learn that the veteran
soldiers resident in Cairo, those who have
served three years and upwards in defence of
the Flag and honor of their country, design es-
tablishing an organisation forthwith, and invi
ting Major General John A. Logan to deliver
the opening address on the occasion of the first
meeting.
This is move in the right direction-one
which we cordially endorse. 1t is meet and
proper that the heroes who stood shoulder to
shoulder in battle line of infantry, rode in
scouting or raiding parties in cavalry, charged
and fired the artillery guns, manned our
gunboats, and who suffered the pain of
wounds, the mutiation of their bodies,
or worse. still, languished and almost
died in Southern prisons-we say it is meet
that those heroes should form an organization
within which they can the better aid, assist
and encourage each other.
In times of peril they showed to the nations
of the earth how they priced liberty and Re-
publican form of Government. The majority
of them left lucrative positions and entered the
ranks of the Union army as privates. Upon
numberless battle fields they have stood toe to
toe in front Of the enemy, with their lives upon
their breasts, never needing danger, but keep
ing in view the starry banner as it waved over
them, emblematic of their country's honor and
the sacrifices made by their forefathers, who
left it as a priceless legacy to them. They
have stood together when shot and shell rained
amongst them like hail, but they ainched not.
They have stormed forts, garrisons, redoubts
and parapets, from which blazed all the instru-
ments of death known to a civilized people,
but they pressed on until at last the rebel
hordes cried peoari, the emblem OF treason was
hauled down and the rebelous spirits renewed
their oath of allegiance to the Federal Gov
ernment. r.,.---..- .--... ... .
The flag for which these patriots fought, now
waves resplendent from every fortress of our
Country, not star erased nor stripe oblitera-
ted. Tie thirty four States which graced our
country in 1861, yet have their impress upon
our Nations banner The efforts of mischiev.
Gus politicians to nullify the laws of the general
Government, and establish independent mouar-
chles have failed. Every State still occupies its
position in the Union and the cause for which
our soldiers fought, and so many died, has been
victorious. The clouds of war which so long
lowered o'er our National horizon, have been
dispelled, and peace has dawned upon us as a
people. Where but few months since, our
countrymen stood face to face in battle, and
levelled the musket, unsheathed the sabre OF
sighted the cannon in deadly strife, now they
meet with open hands and sympathetic hearts
and with one acclaim swell poems of gladness
as they swear by the great Jehovah and the
Old Flag, to defend their country's honor from
foreign foes or do mestc traitors.
We repeat that it is meet that the old soldiers
Of the war of '6l and '65, should form an
organization. War has made way for peace
hguratively speaking, the sword has been
beaten into plowshares, the Ratchet Of strife ha.
been buried and cannot be unearthed. but the
memories Of sufferings endured, privations ex-
perienced and hardships inpqmerable borne,
will ever live in the breasts of the veterans, and
though their wounds will never be exposed to
the gaze of their deluded brethren, who have
been forced to fight against their own interests
and better judgments, yet they will be treas
urod by their owners as honorable mement oes
priced higher than caskets of jewels, as remi
nisences which time cannot erase, and show
to their offspring and patriot fellows as evi
dences of their devotion 10 democracy and fire.,
government.
Cairo and Alexander county sent many volun
teers into the Federal service, whom the Coo
of Battles has spared to return. Besides then
there are others who have settled here since tn
rebellion collapsed, and combined, they mum
ber quite largely. We trust that the proposes
organization will not be long postponed, bu
that an early day may be named for the frs
meeting ofthe veterans, and if our life is spare
we will add our name to the roll of vetera
defenders of
The brave old Tag that bears the Stripes and Stars