The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-31


1t was dismissed, and the exercises Of the
day we've closed.
The Rutland brass band, NJ. Collins
leader, discoursed excellent music, which
won them much praise Everything was
well conducted, and Memorial day was fit.
I tingly observed in honor of the memory Of
WalIingford's fallen heroes.
At Arlington.
We learn. the services at Arlington were
impressive and full of interest, although
we failed to receive our regular report
The Grafton of Col. Aldace +. Walker was
one of his ablest and most eloquent produc
tons, of which we give brief abstract.
THE SOURCES OF COURAGE.
Among the many noble qualities of the
human mind. there Is one, the manifesto
tions of which evnce such peculiar force
and power, often even approaching to sub
Unity, that the nations of the earth, from
the earliest days, have been wont TO render
to its exhibitors always profound respect,
sometimes even to the reverence of wor-
ship.
What is called courage, may be defined
as the quality of mind which results in the
exhibition of superiority to danger. Its
notable presentations will never fade from
the pages of history; we not only love to
recall them, but they posses an actual
value of the highest use. Those three nun
dred brave Spartans who held the pass at
Thermopylp against five millions Of Per-
SLAMS, aesaulung vainlY until the defenders
had passed one by one through the gates
of death, will furnish an illustration of
4 H. 4
by all SO long as literature endures 1t
needs but W ,rd to recall to every one the
story OF Regulus, the Roman general, who
held his lite as of no account when bal
anced against the welfare Of his country
The STRIPPING David who entered the valley
of III til, sling in hand and unattended
daring manfully TO face and conquer the
armed giant before whom armies trembed,
soon was made the king of Israel. And
Julius Cp sar, proud wi h the consciousness
thst bis feats of intrepid valor had raised
the honor OF the Roman state to the highest
pinnacle OF its history, was spoken OF even
by his enemies, and while the were plotting
his fierce assassination, as the "ImmOrtal
Cmsar."
The sentiment which calls together year
by year general assembiage of our clt-
zens upon the occasion known as decOra-
in the honor which we love to pay to the
courage aud devotion Of those patriotic
martyrs, once of us. but now no more,
who, having addressed themselves to the
task OF a cOuntry's preservation, laid down
their lives for its sccomp lishment one by
one they took their solemn resolution the
path o. duty was trod by each alone !;
singy they fell, though thousands watched
them; personal resolve, an individual
struggle and solitary death brought them
at last, each by each, to his lonely grave.
We find them here, there and everywhere /;
single peih4ps, perhaps arranged in rows
of green by units, by tens, by thousands {;
no mountain township is without them,
many city contains full regiment in its
chambers Of the dead yet the national
courage, which we are accustomed to think
and speak of In the aggregate, was exercs.
ed by each for himself ; and every hero
whose last resting place to-day bears the
little flag which marks 1t as the grave of a
Union soldier, or whose dust lies in I'm
known and undiscoverable sands and
marshes, or is scattered amid the wild
waters Of the sea, every hero of them all
had formed his own life purpose and had
deliberately abandoned it had suffered his
own mental pang, left his own friends,
parents, SISTERS, perhaps children and wife,
had sought for himself his own path of
duty, and followed il in his own way to its
same result in manifold methods of endless
variety. The death of each, though phys
ical in its manifestations, was only possible
because of that moral power which we
call courage, and which alone made it pos
sible for each soldier and sailor to dare all
and endure all for the sake of his country
and the principles which the contest car
ried TO his soul
Therefore no subject can be more ap-
propriate to this occasion than the exam
ination of this wonderful power, so eff
Gent motor upon the springs of human
action the presence and manifestation of
which have created the conditions under
which we meet to-day. There are exhibit
tions Of physical courage which are not t.
be honOred but are intensely to be des-
pissed; there are other manifestations OF
actual bravery, resulting from such condi.
tons of body and mind as deserve no hon
or, although not in essence wrong or cul-
paOe there are yet again such instances
found of heroic devotion, even unto death,
as to induce our belief that the result was
permitted because the world was not
worthy of such high opponents of such
noble aims There is manifestation of
physical courage which is the result of ig-
norance, there is another which is derived
from knowledge. Some of the most re
markable instances of absolute courage, as
induced by the supremest exhibition Of the
superiority of mind over body in overcom-
ing the fear of death. are seen in cases OF
such mental disease that the conscious in
telligent operation of the mind is not III
fact existent. The temporary insanity pro-
duced by the use of intoxicating drink
often gives rise to a pseudo courage, not
founded on intelligence, not eviucing the
least possession of true mental resources,
yet full of eager ard enthusiastic helliger-
ence. The sentiment of this rampant va.
lor is apt to Instantly evaporate upon the
first opposition Of little sober authority
Again, instance of sudden anger often oc-
cur, impelling the stern resentment OF al
insult or the bitter retaliation of an injury
or the unreasonable infclion of punish
ment undeserved. Such courage, manifest
ed without r. Fiction, without knowledge
and often without cause, can be commend
ed by no one.
There is a remarkable result obtained
for military uses by a systematic and rigid
discipline. the object and effect of which
is to exclude from the mind of the soldier
all individual judgment and decision, Il
break down and wear away whatever OF
personal intelligence may be found in The
minds of the recruit, aud to develop The
army into mechanical machine, of which
the component parts are only held together
by the cohesion Of authority and fear
Such an army is often vsluable-to III
owner is often successful-in enforcing
wrong; 10 often terrible-to the oppressed
is often victorious-over true patriots.
Another peculiar condition of mind, re.
sulting in courageous bearing, is often ex-
hibited upon the battle field, and is of tht
greatest DractiCal nae. which ia truly this
result of ignorance, and yet as truly Is an
honorable aud valuable trial. To illustrate
my meaning clearer here, shall ask YOU
attention To a u hiai0ricnl reninscanc cnn