Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-06-15
AsHTA BULA OHIO FRIDAY JUNE 49, 1877

was future. Nor did hope die or cour
age flag as the war went on, and the rank
| were decimated and armies destroyed b,
the poison of disease, the hardships OF thu
campaign, and the carnage of battle. Tn
vacant places in the ranks were filled with
men who came from every station IN life
singing 1--WE are coming, Father Abraham
SIX hundred thousand more" Without
compulsiOn and without complaint, they
crossed mountains, breasted floods endar-
eu munger, fatigue and hardships in every
Iorn, marched and fought by night and
day, starved in prisons, and faced death in
every form, that 1.-THE government of the
| people, by the people, and for the people,
should not perish from the earth"
10 the memory of our soldiers who fell
IN this struggle, grateful people have
dedicated this day. With willing feet we
visit their last resting place. We hope and
believe that this day has taken a perma-
nent place in our calendar of public day ;.
and that hereafter II will be fttingly OBJ
served by coming generations. Were we
called upon to declare the cause and sig
nifcance of this ceremony, what answer
should we make? ITO one ignorant OF the
object and purpose of these professions,
music and flowers, in honor of the dead, it
would seem strange indeed that we pass
by, and for time forget, the graves of the
pioneers, and Others eminent for their
worth and character, and lay our wreaths
and garlandS on the mounds where rest
the ashes of those men so brave, so faithful
and so true. When we remember who they
were, and what they did, it does not seem
inappropriate or eXtravagant that we
should seek to recount their virtues. recall
hair II l.. -. L =.
ute of praise and eulogy. Our soldiers
were brave men, and we honor them for
their valor. They were faithful to their
country, and we revere them for their pat
riotism They were true to duty and hon.
or, and we therefore love and cherish them
in our heart of hearts. They were so loy-
al devoted and noble that they counted
life not too great sacrifice to be made for
duty and country. Can mortal man do
more to earn the lasting and Just approval
of his fellow men? How vain it is to at
tempt by feeble words, or by any words, to
describe the merits of such grand and ex-
alted cOnduct!
The soldier meeting death with sin
cere purpose in Just cause, presents hu-
man nature in its subimest aspect. Length
of years could have added nothing to their
fame. Their history was complete, their
lives a success, their nobility established,
their renOwn secured when they fell facing
the foe. By this heroic act they made good
their title to the highest honors. No mat
ter from whose loins they sprung, or in
what condition or station of life they were
reared, by this heroic act they placed their
names among those whom the world de-
lights to honor. They have become the
comrades of the brave of all ages. l love
TO think that while our soldiers were cut
off in youth and early manhood, and torn
from life with all its blessings and endear-
ment they have earned the right to the fel-
lowShip of the past, 'whose distant foot
steps echo down the corridors of time" As
the years sweep by, the very names of our
soldiers will be forgotten, but the influ-
ence, the inspiration of their heroic con-
duct will endure forever. Their deeds are
Their example will live in
fame and story. In the far off future men
will be truer and Drawer as they read the
story that shall tell how they resolved,
fought, and died to keep the old flag of
the republic in its high place among the
nations of the earth. The hero dies, while
heroism is immortal. The brave will be
forgotten, but bravery cannot be buried.
Who asks for the names of the immortal
three hundred who stood in the pass at
Who cares to inquire how
they passed their time before the day of
their glory? That day made their history,
and it would be sacrilege to call the least
among them by any other name than hero!
We need not fear for the fame of our illus !
.rious dead. though their names are forgot |
zen and no monument or slab of wood or |
stone shall mark the spot where they lie. |
They cannot be forgotten in the land they
lied to save. Their exalted patriotism, in !
services, and heroic examples |
lre priceless legacy. The nobility and
grandeur of true courage cannot be exag-
gerated. 1t is the very bones and frame
work of manly character. He who dares, !
S never despised. A brave man in the
wrong wins our admiration more than |
coward in the right; the world never tires |
If recounting the deeds of its heroes. The |
,emple of fame itself is but monument to |
heir achievements. Intelligence is admir- |
ID; wealth and power respected; justice is
'evered; virtue is praised; but our chief |
homage is reserved for those who have /
laced EXTREMIST danger with lion courage.
l have but one word more for this occa-
sion. Let US for a moment inquire, in /
Tiew of the history of our noble dead, the /
great sacrifices we as a people have made /
% preserve and perpetuate free govern
nent, and in view of the great interests in
7olved, what wisdom demands and duty |
low requires at our hands. We are bound
Is men and citizens, by every eonsidera-
ion of manhood and patriotism, to make it
,ur first duty to secure for our country
he full fruits of our triumph. What was
gained at such fearful cost should stand as
ixed and enduring as the DEGREES of fate.
The supremacy of the national government,
he freedom of all, the equality of all be-
ore the law, these must be preserved at
III hazards as the immovable pillars Of the
Republic. We can never consent that our
lead shall have died in vain.
Another duty meets us to-day. The bit
erness of the past must give place to other
sentiments and feelings. We must endeav-
II to rekindle the altar fires of patriotism /
throughout the South. We must forgive,
receive and fraternize with our misguided, |
defeated and disheartened countrymen,
whose hands are red with the blood OF our
lain. The grace of magnanimity belongs 4
o the victOrs, and the government has act
ID magnanimOus part towards its con-
luered rebels. 1t has chosen the course OF
wisdom as well as magnanimity. Patriot
sm is not the fruit of cOmpulsion. Love |
If country cannot be forced into the hearts 1
If people by an efficient army and navy.
The sword alone cannot make us united, 1
and peaceful people. Not the 1
people of the South alone, but the people /
If the North also, must accept the Situa-
ion. We must let the dead past yield its
;ceptre to the living present. We must
mite with patriotic men, everywhere, IN
IN earnest effort to repair the ravages OF
he war. We must again become united
n interest, sympathy and love of country.
If rancor, dissensions, and the enmltleS
BORN of strife are to be perpetuated ana
Kept alive to subserve party interests ana
ends, or to crafty sectional pride, or Ior
INV other reason whatever, the war VIII
Drove failure, and our soldiers VIII have
lied in vain. He who now seeks to SOW
seeds of discord, revive hatreds, or arouse
he slumbering passions of the ended strife,
s forgetful of duty and unfsithful to the
demands of patriotism and peace. Time,
mutual forbearance, the renewal Of friend
" intercourse, and sense Of common ben
sfitS and common interests in united
will and must at no distant day,
neal ali the wounds OF the war. The cheer
'ul sunshine of peace will dissipate the last
cloud in our political sky, and a harmonl-
)us and happy people will inherit our
broad domains. In the near future, Whep
the last vestigeS of the war have uIsaP
Deared, when the republic, securely es!ap
ished in the affections of people uillSTTu
and bound together by the lndlsSoluole
,onds Of ;nstics patriotism and fraternity,