Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-09-12
Speech of Hon. j. Il. Updegraff at
the Soldiers Reunion at CadiZ,
August 20.

COMRADES AND FRIENDS.-l have
greatly enjoyed what have seen and
heard to-day, and arise now to claim
your attention only for moment with
an informal word of greeting and of
sympathy. 1t is not only great mis-
take but great wrong to suppose, as
many do, that either the design or the
effect of these pleasant reunions is
merely to glority war or keep alive its
bitterness. We all realize to-day, that
they have higher purposes and better
results. While we now rejoice that,
"the war drums throb no longer, and
the battle flags are furled," yet after all
the sufferings and sacrifices of that.great
conflict, it is only just that every soldier
should fully realize and enjoy all there
is of pleasure in its stirring, and tender
and holy memories, and all there Is of
honorable pride in Its great achieve
ments and its supreme triumph. This
developes the feeling Of nationality, of
love of country from mere sentiment
into living, healthy, vital principle,
and this is patriotism. 1t is the soul of
national life. 1t is the inspiration of
vnlor and heroism, and sacrifice.
Above all, it is and ha- ever been, the
bulwark OF Freedom. True Patriotism
is the child and not the parent Of
Liberty. Lovingly it reposes on the
breast of a living Ereeduun; but Of Freq
dom dead it can ouly mourn at the
sepucher and build the urn.
Our war was an awful calamity, but
it brought mighty compensations. 1t
awakened new and tender love for
our imperiled land. 1t kindled our
Il nnfiITankAl r1atrinfi m
into holy, deep, unconquerable pass
ion. The spirit OF our people was so
exalted that they gladly, proudly ac-
cepted their trust in all the awful full
ness Of its meaning. They knew that
it meant hardship, suffering, sacrifice,
peril, death. They knew too, that it
-meant liberty, laws. country, govern
ment, nationality. And to rescue aud
preserve these the flower of our young
manhood went unfalteringly, by serrl-
ed ranks, into the valley OF death. A
great purpose like this exalts nation,
and ennObles every one who takes part
in it. Every true soldier who hears
me to-day, knows that when a man
stands ready to give life he is not apt
to be mean or stingy about anything
else. 1t seems a small thing then to
divide his last square of hard tack, or
his last postage stamp, or his last ragged
BLANKET with comrade. Often have
| heard wounded soldier say, ''never
mind me, there is poor boy down
yonder worse off," Thus many
farmer boy, or young mechanic, carry
ing in his soul some grand ideal OF his
country's destiny WAS lifted into a
nobility above all titles and all decora-
tiOns.
Comrades, to-day you remember
many such, resting in dreamle55 glory
in far off unmarked graves, decked
only by natures resurrection robes of
spring time flowers, and as you re-
member them, you long, know, For
the touch of vanished hand and the
sound of voice that is STILL"
In this honored presence l could not
forget, II l would, how the noble wo-
men OF our land gave to patriotism the
full MEASURE OF the inspiration of their
self-denying love and exalted devotion. I
With anguijhed heart, yet with holy
and heroic tenderness they cheered and
blessed their loved ones as they
gave them to their country. They
followed them with prayers and love,
and tender womanly ninistratiOns, and
many a dying soldier have heard as
he blessed, with failing breath, the
women OF MS couhtry for the thought |
full care that shed its holy light around |
his lonely couch, and brought him
dreams at least of mother and of home.
And now comrades, friends, stand !
ing as we do, In the sunlight of peace,
liberty, and Union, which brave men |
bought with their lives, it is our su-
preme duty to see to it that the harvest |
of all this bloody sowing is wisely gath
cred, that it may yield lasting peace,
enlightened freedom and true, world
blessing national grandeur. Let US not |
forget the tender words of Lincoln, ITO |
care for the windows and orphans, and !
those who bore the burden of BATTLE"
Let us see to it that the mementoes aud |
fruits Of these victories shall live ever |
more. That banner of beauty which |
they delivered, and which has been for !
more than hundred years the proud |
symbol of mighty nations power, is
placed now in your hands for sacred |
keeping. five, OF the present do our |
mart "a faithfully aS thO9a who have