The Russellville Democrat., 1875-09-23

the late war with Great Britain. The old soldier is now getting high up in eighty perhaps S3 or S4 years old l do not remember precisely-such soldiers are now dwindling down to be very few, and soon tic time will be we can look upon such men no longer in the flesh. Many of the present inhabitants of Pope Go. are not apprized they have such . veteran in their midst. The venerable and much esteemed old soldier is Maj. David West. He not only soldiered in the war of 1912, but when the drum was tapped for i the war with Mexico, tie old vet eran moved with an elastic step and headed a company of infant ", and acquitted himself with credit and honor to his country. The present inhabitants of the United States, or all who feel an interest and love for their coun- try should revere and venerate the soldiers of 1912 almost like they did the soldiers of the Revo- lution. Whilst those of the Rev olution fought to give the govern : ment existence, the others fought to fully establish and give perma- hence and character to the Nation. The British lion and other Euro pean powers became convinced of the prowess of soldiers called at any time from the blow handles and work shops, who baffled the skill and bravery, and that too greatly superior in numbers,
 
 the flower of the British army headed by Lord Pacbingham. It proved to be a wonder to Euro pean powers, that a nation of only seven millions of opulation, with standing army amounting per haps but little more than life guard of q European General, and with territory and frontier to protect almost without limit, hence their great prccaution how they dealt with the United States since the close of the war of 1912. Let Us reflect for moment of the foundation laid and results of the war 1872, and think of soldier in our midst who participated in the same who has lived to see his nation since he first entered the army increase from seven millions to that of about forty three mill ions in population and an addi tion to the American Union of about twenty states, add the many magnificent Improvements and vast cities reared up where once perhaps the old soldiertrod when but waste bowling wilderness. l feel sure such has not parallel in the history of the world.
 Mr. Editor if we compare the next half century with that of the past, the immensity of the Amer ican Union will be beyond concep- tion we need have no fears of the contemplated progress if we main tain the constitution of our coun- try and keep down internal dis cussions, to do which, educate the masses and couple with the same, Christianity and virtue-educa- tion without the latter, is like fine boat without a rudder. I must make little further mention of our soldier as large portion of our present population are not acquainted who he is and what he has been. He has not only served his country in the capaci- ty of a soldier, but many ways in civil capacity. He served as a member of the Tenn. Legislature in hls own state and in many other smaller positions, and great ly distinguished himself for many years in Pope Co. as leader and stump orator of the old whig party. The writer, though we were antagonists in politics, must do the old veteran justice to say he was the strongest man the democratic party had to contend against in this part of the state. In his younger days he was gifted and fluent speaker and we'll posted in the principles of his party, and very well capaci tated as a sharpshootcr at the democracy-in short he was but little inferior to any of his party ;n an, mart of tho otata I baya