The Leavenworth weekly times., 1879-06-19

battle and disease. They have neither the
wish nor the hope OF personal gain OF pre-
ferment, and they leave behind them no
heart burpings nor controversies TO yex
their descendants nor TO impair the value
of the glory Of their unselfish service.
Dead or alive, they are Cherished in the
memory Of their countrymep, to whose well
fare their lives have beeu devoted. Zap
plause
should but imperfec,iy have performed
my task did / fail to invite your earnest at
tention to duty still higher and nobler
than any TO which | have alluded-your
duty as citizens of the Republic. Cast your
| eyes over this broad land Of ours aud you
see it dotted here and there with noble
structures built by q grateful country for
the occupation of the disabled veterans,
who, because Of their service in war, are
incapable OF maintaining themselves. Sill
more numerous will you find the green and
silent homes Of the dead, the final resting
| place Of those who died in their couutry's
service. Why do we build homes for those
still living? Why do We consecrate the
graves OF the dead?
The answer Is not far to seek. We meet
on such occasions not as soldiers, but
as citizens tf common and
loved country; not TO vsunt ourselves be
cause Of the valiant deeds done In war by
our soldier, living or dead, but 10 pay our
tribute OF gratitude TO the citizens who lie
buried because their lives were needed By
their country. We honor them because
they exhibited the highest qualities Of citi-
zens; because they stood ready to maintain
in arms the principles of civil government
which they held sacred in pesce, and be-
cause they hastened TO pay the last great
sacrifice to the safety and welfare Of their
countrymen.
Such considerations as tEcse teach US all,
and especially us of the regular army, a
lesson We ought 10 lay near 10 our hearts
the Lesson that the highest and greatest
qualify OF good soldier in this country is
that lie shall be good citizen, also. AP,
plause
Let Us not be alarmed nor deferred by
ill.iudged talk concerning politics and poll
ticIsns. more common in times past than
now, in the army. Politics are the daily
history Of our country; the embodiment
and the expression of the wishes and pur-
poses OF our countrymen. Politicians
whatever they may be in thsir personal re
latious, are, in their Corporate capacity, the
men who make our lava, and upon whom
largely depend the welfare and prosperity
; of the country, and OF the hope, wishe.
aad interests Of the people. 50 long 81
the soldier remains one Of the people; SC
long "a he shares their interests, takes part
in their progress, and feels a common
sympathy in their hopes and aspirations
30 lOng will the army be held in regular
esteem and regard, and SO long will the
close ties which should bind
together the soldier and the
citizen be perpetusted among US
When he ceases TO be this; when officers
and soldiers cease TO be citizens in The
, highest and truest sense, the Army will de-
serve to lose. as it Will surely lose, its plac,
: in the affections of the people, and proper
ly and naturally become an object OF suspi
cion and dislike. Whatever we may do Il
avert such misfortune, az great almost tC
the civilian as 10 the soldier, l beg you, th'
! grsdustes Of to day, representing the newss
life and the latest aspirations OF the Army
: here strongly TO resolve that, go far as il
! you lea, no human power shall ever pro
4 nouEce divorce between the Army anC
the people LspplauseE that those whom
Gods providence, a common country and ,
: common destiny have joined together
either time nor circumstance shall ever pu
n asunder. Prolonged spplsuse.
f This address IN sde a marked impression
!. on the cadets, who, when they withdrev
a from the chapel, were heard frequently t,
e speak OF it in the most appIeciative man
I ner