The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-06-06


back had not their very blood tingled with
the patriotism of their ancestors.
In front they saw the war cloud big with
death.
They beard the cruel threat of a fire in the
rear but nothing daunted they left their wives
and little ones to the tender mercies of the
world and marched on Our hopes aud pray
ers went with them. Never was such stake
fought for before. II they failed self govern :
ment as practical system failed, the cause OF
the people the world over failed and the last
republic would have persisted In disgrace
but
'There is star in the West that never will
set
"Till the records ofvalor decay"
For the first time in history Liberty with
stood the shock of civil war Our heroes
poured out their blood like water. They
were defeated but never overcome. They fell,
but never tel back What perils they encoun-
tered what privations they en-"
dured, what staunch services they did
is evidenced by the length and obstinacy
of the struggle and it's glorious termination.
Here stand living witnesses who might attest
their fortitude and prowess. Comrades, you
would rot blush to have them meet the heroes
of Thermopyae But we need only point to
the old flag and remember that through all
its vicissitudes it has not lost a star /; though
riddled with shot it has never once been tar
nished with dishonor. Our heroes have saved
everything for us, but lost all themselves save
the gratitude we now prefer. Stones have
risen up from their rocky beds to commemor-
ate their deeds the historian has paused to
chronicle their valor, and unborn generations
ism. But better that monuments
will applaud their timely hero
better far than eulogies is the subdued enthu-
siasm that the memory of these men exeites
in the hearts of grateful people. AS long
ago as when Horace wrote it was held
sweet and honorable to die for ones coun-
try" Country then meant Augustus Caesar.
And the sentiment was a At one to be sung
by Augustus poet laureate. KotO the Senti-
ment means more. It no longer indicates o
blind attachment to family of despots, but
takes in the dynasty of the human race, pro-
gress and civilization. The sentiment cannot
now be confided to the keeping of postical
pensioner but must be cherished and pre-
eerved by the a0hole people as it is to-day.
What q spectacle this land presents to-day
five could only take it in at glance! The
cemeteries are peopled with life to-day. See
the tens of thousands of uncovered heads
the myriad little mounds decked wit flow era.
Hear the souls tirring masic OF thousan d
bands the volleys from untold guns, re-
verberatirg from ocean to ocean the volume
of signs and tears that burst forth unbiddcn
but are san6tifed by patrioticjo Is not this
the choicest Offering that ever came from n
pation's heart ?
For you, soldiers, this day has another of
fee. You may have a personal communion
today with the comrades who fell beside you
in the ranks. Memory presents them to you
now. Their familiar eyes, long since dis
) solved in death, resume their wonted bri =
5 liancy. Intelligence again sits on their
, manly brows. With them you may follow
} back over the scenes of those eventful years
! Waited back on the swift wings of recollec-
ton you now stand where together you en-
listed. The tears of mothers flow gain; the
farewell greetings are exchanged and yos
feel again the raptures of the enthusiasm
that s:ezed you at the moment of parting
Thence you speed on, retracing every step.
Dwelling here and there on thrilling scenes
You experience again the nonchalercs that
a veteran only feels. One by one your com
rades drop out this fanciful army march on.
You sympathze with them in the death
agonies you witness their patient fortitude
in hospital and prison. Now you join in
the exciting charge, and now follow to the
slow cadence Of the dead march-soon the
familiar quick step brings you back to duty.
So memory leads you on in this sacred COM
: panionship even to the last roll call. There
the reverie must end for your comrades have
all left you to seek the self samegraves where
= for years they have sIumbered meath the
alternate covering ofthe grass and snow. So
may you keep the recollection Of your COM
rades bright until you meet them at the last
great roll call when the battesof life are Ger
Notwithstanding the multitude of graves
now strown with flowers, our heroes are not
all there,
Though glade and glen, from deep to deep
: The silent host of heroes sleep"
: Who shall decorate the unkno,Cn graves
where neither mound nor slab points cut the
spot ? He who notices the wounded sparrow
as it falls has not overlooked the spot where
these brave men fell. May we not til en- leave
this sacred Office to the modest flowers that
have retired to the solitary spot?
"And immortelle and myrtle weave
4 dewey wreath for them at eve"