Daily Republican., 1879-06-13
TALKS AZ HE FOUGHT.
what o stalwart Oregon Preacher
says.

in this city, and editor Of the Pacific
Christian Advocate" publishes the fol-
lowing invitation, which has been re-
ceived by him:
PORTLAND, Oregon, May IA, 1879.
The Rev. j. H.. Acton:
SIR: am instructed to invite
YOU to deliver discourse on the Sab
bath preceding Decoration Day, in COM
Of the services Of our fallen
comrades, who gave their lives for the
maintenance of this great free Govern
lnent. If consistent, we hope that you
will be pleased to comply.
Very respectfully.
N. S. PIERCE, Chairman Committee.
The following reply is made through
the Adrocate. Doubtless there is
class of politicians-men whose hearts
were not true to the country in its
agony-who will condemn it; and yet,
let it bs observed, that the man who
responded to the call of his country, and
fought as a soldier through the war, mas
earned the privilege to speak his sentl-
ments. In this instance they are
spoken with most thrilling earnest
ness. 1t is voice in which fervency
and pathos are blended with the sound
of trumpet:
"We must respectfully decline. Near
ly IS years since, at the call of the
United States Government, We took our
line of march for the bloody fields OF
the South-not as commissioned Off
Ger with large epaulets, large pay and
larger self.appreciation, nor yet as
chaplain, to have as many did, a good,
easy, remunerative time out of bullet
range-but as a private soldier in the
ranks, with our musket and KNAPP
sack.
For three years we stood picket, lay
in the trenches, waded rivers, climbed
mountains, traversed swamps, baked
our own beans-when we had any
shot at rebels, and in turn made for
them target of our own person. We
passed through many bloody scenes,
and some of the most trying battles Of
the war. More than once we narrowly
escaped the. bayonet, Andersonville,
or Libby. We carried ammunition
from the pouches of the dying and the
dead, or some of these same comrades
whose deeds We are now called upon to
remember, and helped with our own
hands TO lay scores of them in their
graves. When the war closed, we join
| ! \ IL nd
sword on the wall. Many of our most
valued friends were left i'll the South.
We tried to dry the tears of stricken
fathers and mothers by rrciting their
heroism, and then went back into the
ranks of the Master to pray for the
fartherless and the widows. But We
were happy. A hale Of glory hung
over these graves. We looked on the
broad acres of this great land, and felt
it was enough. We had spent as ma
tion more than "a, 00O, ,000,O ,O0o, and had
sacrificed hundreds of thousands OF
precious lives, but the cruel war was
over, and our enemies were ready tt
accept the situation.
To-day the men Government paid
us by the month for shooting at are ou'
Congressman. Four Senators only who
now serve us were Union soldiers
while 30 were in the rebel army. Sig
tv-tive rebel soldiers are in the House
Not solitary man from ell the Soutt
who stood Loyalty by the Governmen
with his life in his hand, comes as
Representative. More than two-third'
of the whole number were in open re
belliop and under arms, and yet in SIX
if not in seven, States Of the thirtee1
, which rpbelled the Union voters are IL
, the majority. The tmed soldier j!
thrust out. The freedmen who led th'
, way through dismal swamps, foen(
, hiding-p.aces, ana carried portion
J their ewn scanty fare to cur starving
} boys flying from PRISON pens, VIII
) bound up their wounds and picked tn
worms from their gangraned flesh, tori
. by Observation-Disclosures freedmen ar
3 to-day flying from theic homes to sav
their 2ives. Insult stamps upon tn
. graves of our dead in the South, an
< revolution is complete in its violenc
D only that solitary UHion soldier VIII
Y happens to be at the head of the Gov
ernment stands alone in the breach.
l "No, we cannot preach over the dea
vet. other battles are to fight.
were an empty Offering. We do nc
wish to mock their bleaching bones
They did not bleed and die for te
empty eulogies and handful of hal
faded flowers cast upon their grave
once year. They ask bread and W
give them stone. They rot in thei
graves with gaping wounds of swer
y and bullet and bayonet. and the deaf
stare of those, who starved in priso
pens yet traceable in the dust unde
+, their coffin lids. We push aside thei
i manned comrades to make room for taa
!, men who laughed at their dying screaa
for food, and ordered guards to shot
i the poor crazed maniac who dare
4 reach over the dead-line for half pu
trid bone, and now come in token of on
+ appreciation with wilted flowers. Ho
. these dead skeletons must apprecat
0 this costless Offering God forbid W
Il should approach their graves until W
can carry the old flag over Land un
y ted and free, such as they dreamed
u in their last delirium. Let other hand
:. :. carry flowers. =.
1t is meet that pure and lovely maic
: ems should do this. 1t is all they havt
u Let those preach sermons of eulegy,wh
never shivered in the wilderness nc
heard the roar of the battle above tn
clouds. We shall stand in silence owe
= the old battery. We are still on pickle
The war is not over. The distant nut
ter of the conflict can still be heard.-
: We are vet to lay other treasures ava
S : in the grave-murdere OH the altar
u revolution. We cannot insult our con
1