The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-06-07

ancient Romans JdugnU Inolr yOuLn DJ
the famous motto, "duzce ct decoratn
est pro patriG mort" 1t is sweet and
beautiful to die for ones country. This
observance is not alone a matter OF
beauty and sentiment but has in it real
philosophy. Young hearts all over
this broad land to-day experience a
thrill in harmony with the solemn mar
tial music; receive an impression such
as they never get from the music OF
the ballroom. The youth who are
touched by the respect shown for the
memory of the dead; the young men
who listen to the story told to-day of
the great price paid to preserve the
liberty we thoughtlessly enjoy, will be
better citizens because they will better
appreciate the value of the legacy
transmitted to them and when the
time comes that the sword must be
drawn to protect those precious rights,
the first bugle note of danger will
awaken a vibration of patriotism even
as the strings of the harp respond when
they are touched.
With a people like ours this exercise
is more healthy and reliable than act
ual drill in tactics and manoeuyres.
It is, on this side Of the Atlantic, more
important to have the minds Of the
people in accord than to keep their
bodies in line. Citizens so taught to
appreciate our institutions by reason
of their great cost, educated to revere
the memory Of those who died defend
ing them-Will be easily modified
wnen we need an army. But let our
children understand from our example
that the whole business and concern Of
life is to make money that there is moth
ing sacred enough in our history to
warrant us in devoting any time to it's
commemoration; that the scramble
after wealth should not be interrupted
by holidays-and they conclude that
patriotism and self sacrifice are matters
of sentiment, which no active business
man has time or occasion to entertain.
This course Of training will fast
bring us where Rome found herself
when virtue had departed, when her
own prosperity and wealth overWhelm-
ed her in corruption and effeminacy.
All her gold and luxuries, all her Gull
ture and refinement could not protect
her in her hour Of need, and she who
had conquered the world fell an easy
prey to barbarians
Yet | saw an article in q paper not
long ago pronouncing this a senseless
and expensive custom and advising us
to take the money thrown away in
these exercises and bestow it upon the
widows of the late war; It occurred
to me that this objection was not orig
inal with that editor. You remember
that when the Savior was upon the
earth. Mary once observed some decor
alton exercises on her own account.
She took q pound Of expensive oint- |
ment and Amounted the feet of Jesus
and wiped them with the hair of her
head. Judas Iscariot who CHANGED to}
be present took the same view as the
editor referred to and remarked: "Why
was not this ointment sold for 30Ol
pence and given to the poor" So you
see the suggestion originated with Jul
das, and even Judas got so ashamed of
his own cussedness that he went and
hanged himself. Perhaps it would
have been better if the doctrine had
died with him. No. The same spirit
that draws us to the grave Of the dead
soldier to-day will lead us to his desc
late family tomorrow.
But he who in the true spirit Of the
occasion decorates grave to-day is not
alone paying tribute to the individual
whose name is written on the head
stone but to q patriot representing al
grand idea, which is the same at Gettys-
burg as at Thermopylae; a principle as
necessary to an American as to the
Spartan. It by no means excludes the
idea of charity to the living. Both are
plain duties. Neither should obscure
the other He has studied our institu-
tons to poor purpose who can seriously
suggest that the giving of aims is an
act SO comprehensive as to include the
duties of this solemn hour.
If the American people abolish their
national holidays, to save the lew dol
lars SO expended they will have given
q sign of new era. When sentiment,
patriotism and love of our institutions
are subordinated to filthy lucre; when
the good, the true, and the beautiful
are to be neglected because they yield
no money. When we are to forget the
heroes who with bare and bleeding feet
marched through New England SHOWS
to plant the standard of our independ-
ence because mere memory bears no
interest. We are not to dwell upon
the history of the men who gave up
life and all to put down treason. That
is mere sickly sentiment and makes, no
man rich. Let this noble army Of he
roes sleep in unknown graves. They
are dead and their estates are all set
tied. God grant that the day may new
er dawn when such sentiments are &C
cepted by the American people.
1t has just been brought to our at
tention that some 10 or y soldiers lie
in yonder cemetery with no stone to
mark their resting place; with nothing
tc indicate a grace save little mound
of shifting sand. Fighting for us and