Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-06-09

nanos Wnlcn conceived and con
structed yonder beautiful monument, $,
appropriately dressed and dedicated t,
snem. Let US now, and at all times
oring forth the sweetest flowers, and rich
est gariands, with which, in imagination
TO oeck the unknown mound beneath
winch moulders their sacred ashes.
/, Inc names OF all these brave men shall
De known and read in all coming time
and the very earth shall be sensible O
praise where their bodies are deposited
here among their honored graves " the
muses. shall observe the night. and watch
Ing trim their lighted lamps to the NOR
ning's dawn"
ASK me not the names of these noble
heroes. The muses. in after times shall
tell you OF them, and the future bards
shall WOO them to their songs. The verse
which shall be SO happy as to embrace the
name OF one of these shall be immortal.
10 you who have lost your sons and
and your brothers in this contest for the
life OF the Republic, would say dismiss
from your minds every shade ,of grief
and In the midst of your sorrow and you,
mourning, thank God that you have been
| accounted worthy to make such sacrifice
Tor your country; mourn not for them
out guard well the priceless treasure they
have committed to your charge.
But, my comrades, amid all these out
bursts of patriotic feeling and holy rever-
ence for our fallen brothers, let us not
forget the living-let us take heed that
we have other duties to perform, besides
to build their sepulchres, to decorate their
tombs. There is, it seems to me, a more
substantial offering demanded of us to-
day, than floral gifts, touching and beau
tiful though they are when in the
very morning of life those heroes took
their lives in their hands and went forth
to battle for God and the right, you prom.
Used, if they fell, to provide for the loved
and cherished ones they left behind.
Have You carefully and religiously minis
tered to the wants of the widow and the
orphan, and done all in your power to
smoothe the rough path along which they
have been called to tread !? God grant
that you have, and may continue to do so,
as long as they may be spared to receive
the gratitude and blessings of generous
and gallant people.
And, my friends, as year after year.
you recall, with gratitude, the final VIC
tory which kept our nation one, and
speak, with loving praise the names of
the great leaders whose wisdom and valor
guided our armies to that victory, beg
you never TO forget the patient endurance
and sublime courage of the private SOL
diers, which alone sustained those leaders,
and made that victory possible.
These men left home, and wives and
little ones, as dear to them as YOURS
are this day to you, that they might
save their country and yours. They wore
the soldiers blue and folded the rough
grey blanket around them, they outwatch-
ed the stars on the lone picket line, and
laid down to rest under the pitiless storm
they toiled on the march, aud wasted in
the loathsome hospital they stormed the
deadly rifle pits, and died on the field and
in the prison pens, that your liberty
might be preserved, and your homes an
happiness be secured.
In memory of these things be to than,
not tender only, but be rsverent!v iust
and meroiful; each yeaT their iiv;nor
ranks shall grow thinner and ieebler. They
were the soldiers Of the Republic in hcr
dark days of trial and anguish as ao,e
shall come upon them, AID the brown
locks silver, and the strosg limbs grow
weak, let them be the loved and cherished
OF the Republic in her glad days OF plenty
and of peace,
But as we hasten OIL to the close of these
exercises, the beautiful thought comes
back to us that if it is true that the re-
deemed and disenthralled spirits of the
wise, the brave, and tho good, arc permit. |
ted to return to earth, and with angelic |
vision watch the conduct of men. how
must the spirits of our departed comrades
exult over the ceremonies ofthis occasion I
With what pride must they behold this
light assemhlaee of roya1 Es1en ana wo-
men VINO have come togethec on thi.. ga
cred mount to commemorate to GREAT
principles for which they fou, nt and laid
down their lives, and to L., 1stica ~ tbe
of the gallant lead One bv one
our old comrades r.re passing away and
gong TO their Inward, and nethinks when
IL Is annor -hoed to the Inhabitants of that
upHH<sr world that the spirit If another he
TO has arrived at the portals ii the Golden
City, that the celestial gates are thrown |
wide open, and the heavenly choir with |
thrilling joy perform the nitional airs of
Paradise The diadem which encircles |
the brow of our Blessed Reaeemer while |
he bows at the meroy-seat otJehovah and /
lmplores pardon and forgiveness for sim
full men, is thickly studded With the souls
Of those who have gone up through much
and have washed their robes
white in the blood of the Lamb. But
among them all, those which shine with
the most holy and heavenly radiance, and |
that will sparkle with CELESTIAL glory
through the countless ages of eternity,
and which shall grow brighter and bright
or as ages roll on, are the souls of those
who have laid their lives Wiling saori-
fee upon their country's altar in this Sec
ond war for our national independence.
Gallant men | look for you to-day and
call your names in vain Alas you can
not hear my words, for no voice but that
Of the archangel shall heneeforth pene-
trate your narrow cells. You viii live
hereafter in the grateful hearts and men,
Dries of your fellowmen your monu-
ments are more enduring than marble or
brass, and will constitute in after years
the way marks to national honor and ma
Iional glory. To the end OF time the spot
on which you fell, and the soil which
holds your dust, is holy ground and will
be trodden in reverence by every patriot
while America has name among the ma
lions. We will cherish your memories
while we live, as our country's jewels,
than which none are richer We will
teach our children the lessons of match
less patriotism which you have taught us,
with the fond hope that our Union, now
restored, may be perpetual, and that our
liberties, rendered more valuable by your
blood, may only expire with the last of
earth. To you, my old comrades, permit
me to say that your work as soldiers is
and ended, but your duty as
Christian men and citizens has but just
and God grant that in the fu-
tnre, as in the past, your abors may be
with honor and success
To-day the voice of your country comes
to you through these honored graves like
the prophets word warning and entreat-
ing you to guard and protect her from
her secret enemies and from the impious
hands of those who may be seeking her
destruction.
Soldiers of the Grand Army, you are
the minute men of this great Republic.
" laN, 600 nd