Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-05-29
4ancaster fntelIige1lrer.
EVENING, MAY 20, 1880.
For the INTELLIGENcER
OUR FALLEN HEROES.

SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 20. 1890
For the ISrELL1eENcER
OUR FALLEN HEROES.
Honor Decks the Turf That Wraps Their
Clay.
Soldier, rest! thy warfare O'er
Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking,
Dream OF battle fields no more,
Days of danger. nights Of waking"
The sword sometimes determines that
which neither craftsmanship nor diplo-
macy can accomplish. 1t cannot, At is
true, d ,termine any principle of right in a
government or between nations any more
than it can settle a question of policy in a
government or between nations, without
reference to the justice or expediency OF
that policy. France appealed to the arbi
trameDt of arms, and the great war power
of Europe was compelled to accept the
dismembermemt of Alsace and Lorraine.
Paris insisted upon war, and the commune
despoiled the galleries Of art and destroyed
the Column Vendome, which spoke so
eloquently of the martial glory of the
emli.e 1t may be that the French
nation will yet rake from the askcs
that shoulder in the hearth flame
that will blaze in Thousand camp
fires, but just beyond the Jura mountains
will be Prussia, conscious of her strength
and proud in the power of her might. 1t
is certain that for this day, and for this
generation, France must accept of the leg
islatiOn of war. The South appealed to
arms, and whatever may have been The
teaching Of the earlier statesman of the
power of state to dissolve its relations
with the general government, it has been
decreed by the bayOnet, and written in
blood, that the unity of the republic must
be maintained. The ruined harbor of
Charleston, the dismantled Sumter, and
the wasted and burned cities Of the South,
spoke of the evils that flow from nullitica-
tion.
But the United States cannot afford to
wear Grape over the dead issues of Sc
cession and human slavery. The
issues of the war, the prejudices begOttcn
of color, the interests intensified by sec
tiOnalism, must he forgotten in the bet ter
idea of humanity and country. The men
whose memories are this day commemo-
rated are Some of the grandest figures in
history-the American soldiers.
"0n flames eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread,
While honor guards with solemn round.
The bivOuac OF the dead"
Their memory is preserved not in party
platforms, but in the grateful recollections
of the whole people, who to-day, in fitting
tributes. commemorate the fame of those
who died for their country. How many
fond recOllectiOns will be centered around
the hearts of many who to-day stand by
the graves of those who, less than score
of years ago marched by their side be-
meath the same starry flag, keeping time
to the music of the Union There are
many whose MANNED bodies tell how much
it cost them to save that starry flag
Many a gray-haired father ana mother,
who have walked with bowed heads for
nearly score of years, will not forget how
great to them was the cost of restored
Union. And many a widow in solitude,
and orphan, who is alone, can tell, if they
will, the rich sacrifice that was laid for
them upon their country's altar.
There are none who will keep his just
need from the great soldier who was re-
Gently the guest of our principal cities.
There are none who did not welcome him
home from his visit around the world and
none who did not feel that old prejudiccS.
growing out of political ant agonismS, were
fast disappearing under the influence of
his modest manners and republican sim
plicity in the presence of European luxury
and eastern magnificence. He was Ameii-
cas- hero, returned unspoiled from contact
with the splendOrS and powers of the old
nations. But where is the Ameican who
has read with patience the speeches and
batteries of which he has been the subject
and OBJ ject since his return home? From
every one VINO has not grown entirely un-
American there arises protest against a
continuance of such things. Amongst the
throngs that attended Grants receptions
were to be found men who have paid a
higher price for the saved republic than he.
Call the roll of the living, and from every
city and town, and from every hill and
valley, you will get responses justly claim
ing a share of the honors of the war.
Now call the long roll Of the dead
They fell in the valley of the Mlssis-
sippi, on the dark and bloody ground of
Kentucky, among the mountains of Ten
nessee, in the swamps of the CarolinaS,
in the tangled underbrush of the Wilder
ness and Richmond. They sleep around
the little church at Shiloh they fell on
that dreadful day at Chickamausa they
perished on the long march to the sea
they gave up their lives in the blood d-stain-
ed thickets on the way to Richmond tn, y
rode into death with Sheridan in the valley
of the Shenandoah. and they wasted ava; BY
lingering disease in camp and hospital
And the sobbing winds, laden with far-off
voices, will rebuke the insensibility that
awards to one man the credit of triumph
the graves of these dead heroes were diggcd
to secure.
At the last stages of the war it was
Gen. Grants good fortune to command
armies of veterans led by veteran officers.
With his success or failure was bound up
the success or failure of the Union cause
In the presence of the final struggle criti-
cism was hushed, and every possible aid
was extended to him by the administration
of Lincoln and the country. Victory
crowned the efforts of the army, and the
rebellion was crushed. The people in
their gratitude put aside all of their
trained statesmen, and crowned it's leader
with the highest honors, and placed him
side by side with Washington. With this
let him be content. There let the business
of crowning cease The limit of two
terms was established by him who was
" first in war, first i'm peace, and first in
the hearts of his countrymen.'
Its wisdom is illustrated in
all of our history, and it forms now the
only bulwark we have against executive
aggression. There is before the people of
the United States a career of unparalleled
grandeur or unparalleled shame. Shall
they hesitate because of cowardice. or re-
treat because of unjust condemnation?
There are hands beckOIing onward there
are voices calling for us to cast aside the
idea of building monarchy on the foun-
dation of a republic, and follow in the
footsteps of the 80 Father of his Country"