The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-06-18

power from which we draw is filled
from the trickling streams that flowed
down through all the eternities that
have come and gone.
The wells OF everlasting waters from
which we drink are fed by springs
whose foundations are the ocean Of the
ages The fountain filed with blood
IN which We bathe our sOuls is charg.
ed by the drops of every martyr 10
truth aud righteousness, God aud hu-
manity, whose name enriches the
worlds history. The power by which
we live and act, is the accumulated
power OF the worlds life. Much that
we are IS due to what other men have
been, and but little can we add 30 the
riches OF the world; but il that little
be pure gold, blessed be God it will
shine on forever.
In obedience to this law is seen the
significance of this festival. We are
here, not TO glorify the dead, but TO in
spire the living We nre here that we
may transform the fragrance Of these
flowers into the incense Of heroism
and manliness. We ara here that we
may gather mp the threads OF life that
fall from the hands of the heroic dead
and weave them into the life OF the
living. We are here TO drink from the
wells OF loyalty and devotion; TO fill
/ our little cups from the reservoir of
patriotism aud bathe our souls in the
fountains of self-sacrihce, which tho
brave defenders of our nations glory
helped to fill.
a law OF the worlds progress, IL
seems TO bo that every great and good
cause shall 60 through it's baptism Of
blood. Sacrifice constructs the royal
highway, along which move the ad-
vancing columns OF humanity. No
great truth ia evolved: no great deliv-
erance effected; no redemption wrought
out; no great advance made, save il be
at the price Of blood. "rhe blood Of
the martyrs is the seed OF the church, "
and the richeN OF liberty are the blood
OF her heroes. Death is the process
OF growth. Except a corn of wheat
fall into the ground and die, il abideth
alone, but II it die it bringeth forth
much fruit
Think az what sacrifice our liber-
ties have been purchased Think what
a price has been paid for those things
our nation; those things that we Justly
prize so highly aud often abuse so un-
merciiullyl Think Of the freedom Of
speech What has that cost the world?
What price has man paid for the lib
erty Of criticisiDg the doings OF state
and nation and nttarine hia awn apin
ions without fear OF molestation! How
much blood has thi, privilege COST
What hosts Of heroes have been sacri-
feed 10 that Moloch that would make
US dumb before the despotism OF the
world
The freedom OF the press too-how
much has that cost? What has the
world paid for the right of giving
wings 10 it's thought aud scattering it
broadcast over the land' What sacrifi-
ces have been made that this instru-
ment might have such freedom as
would render il power for good as
we'll ns evil And the free school, what
has that cost? Tho opening Of the
doors Of knowledge 10 high and low,
rich and poor who can estimate the
price at which that blessing has been
boughi? Who can fathom the seas of
gore through which man has wG1ed, in
order 10 reach tho haven where knowl-
edge should be free,
Think too what an ocean Of blood has
been shed for freedom 10 worship God7
cburcbes cb podin,fn5g- -6eatrtf,ss.ay city
think what that has cost humanity
How many martyrs, from Jesus down
has religious liberty had? How many
sons OF God have died TO save men from
spiritual despotism? What becatombs
Of men have been immolhted at the
shrine Of that intolerance, which would
compel all souls 10 bow at one altarl
Who can estimate the sufferings aud
sacrifices this freedom Of religion has
cost-vhich we enjoy without graft
tude. and abuse without remorse?
And the freedom Of the ballot-at
what a price has that been purchased
! What millions 81 human beings have
been sacrificed 90 the Moloch OF Gov
ernmentl What has man paid for the
privilege Of governing himself? What
| treasures Of blood have been given for
n Government Of the people, 10y the
people, for the peoplel' In fine think
of all these liberties which we enjoy!
Free press, free speech, free school,
free government, think, o ye cons OF
America, OF the richness aud glory OF
that inheritance into which you have
entered! Think how oil the nges have
been suffering and dying for you
| Think how humanity has watered with
ts best blood, the roots Of that tree oi
liberty, in whose shade you repose 81
| peacefully Think how many souls
ionged to see these days of freedom
aud saw them notl Well, is 1t not, thai
we consider a. We gather around thes'
graves, the price at which our liberties
have been boughi2 These liberties ar'
such familiar things, we have breatheC
30 long the free air Of our institutions
that We forget what they cost and ~
become unmindful Of their value.
Well, then surely it is that We medi
tate on these things to-day. Especial.
so since il was for the preservation o
these liberties, that the noble me-
vhsse graves we seek % honor, she,
their flood and sacrificed their lives
Our civil war placed another hecatom
Of human lives on the altar OF liberty
whose incense shall go mp forever, en-
riching the blessings OF her reign
What one Of our liberties would hav
, been safe IL the rebellion had succeed
; ed7 IL slavery had triumphed, wher
, would have been free speech, the IRE
press free school or the freedom Of relis
, lous worship? III the old civilization
the essence of which was might, NJ
right, had been victorious, what goul
, liberty have been but a name IN tn
! land OF ours7 What kind OF free go'
. eminent would that have been who's
, corner stone was slavery? All, how lit
> we think Of the debt we owe to our boy
. in bluel How unmindful are we OF Il
q value Of their suffeTings and sacrihc'
a TO us7 How little do we think that 81
. arch Of our liberties was preserved
the price of so much blood
e Once / stood IN Fords theatre
o name linked in sad memory with th
e Of the noble heart that bled for b
e country's freedom-now the Arm
q Medical Museum. There / learned
e thessnfering of the war. To the
il pieces OF bone without number;
"a that broken arm, shattered hand. fra
Ie ,ured limb, crushed skull, pierced sid
it aud wounded heart, learned the pa
IL through which our nation Travelled
m its new birth. | stood on Arlingt
n Heights. the Soldiers National Cen
le tery. and viewed those little VII
ie head boards as they stretched away
er fore me rank behind rank. Istood befC
that granite monument to the unkno'
ID dead, and read: Beneath this stone
fe pose the bones OF 2,0ll Union Soldie
TO gathered from the fields of Boil II
TO aud the route TO the Rappahauo,
ns Their remains could not he identif
se Int their names aud deaths are reco