The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-06-08

I the scenes OF this life; they nolong-
ecr stand in battle line receiving the
fire from the eneny's guns. their
blood no longer flows TO sfrtilize the
fields of carnage we behold them
no longer rushing through the
smoke and midst OF battle with ban
ners,batl I'd in the blood Of fallen
comrades. As such they are dead,
but how little, if any, of the good
thev did can ever die. 1t Will live
and live forever. Their achievements
upon the field Of battle can never
die. and the star of their glory can
never grow dim from the friction of
time. There are periods in the his
tory of all nations, as well as in
the lifetime of individuals, that
much depends upon the action Of a
single day. What mighty issues
may be suspended upon single bat
tie, and how uncertain the result.
The fate of nations may trcmble as
II in balance as great armies are
drawn into battle line and the vic
tory may fall upon the one side or
upon the other without accomplish
ing prominent results. The victo-
ries of Yesterday may be reversed
by the defeat of to-day. The star
OF military glory may like meteor
fall. The victor and the vanquish-
ed may alike pass into oblivion and
be forgotten, and the condition OF
the world remain unimproved. But
there are battles that haze decided
the fate of nations and gwen new
turn TO human affairs and will con-
tinue to transmit their influence
through succeeding generations.
Such is the character of the ricto-
ries achieved by our loyal and pa
triotic dead, and we can look along
the future line of time and behold
their influence in the overthrow of
despotism and the ad ds.uement OF
human knowledge and the promo
ton of human happiness. What
American can read the history Of
his country without feeling some
emotions 4? What glorious recollec-
tions thrill through his soul when
ne reads of the skill and valor OF
his countrymen so signally display
ed upon so many a battle field. All
the glories Of the Republic, with all
her great and free institutions Of re-
ligion, philanthropy, and learning,
point back to the time when true.
talor and manly courage purchased
for US this great heritage OF liberty,
the Union and free government.
1t was the love of religious and
civil liberty that made them the
true and noble heroes that they
were. History informs Us that the
love OF religious liberty is com
pound sentiment dwelling IN the
breast of man, made up Of the clear
est sense of right and the highest
conviction of duty, and can look
the sternest despotism in the face
and accomplish results that seem
almost impossible for it TO accom-
plish. Human invention has de-
yised nothing, human power has
compassed nothing that can forci-
bly, check or restrain the love OF re-
ligious liberty. 1t only loses its
power when il has accomplished its
ends.
Let it not be supposed by anyone
present, as it sometimes is, that our
object here is to create any political
feeling or national hostility, or even
to nourish a military spirit. Our
object is higher, nobler and purer.
We are here to express our graft
tude and once more record our hom-
age to those whose memory must be
forever dear to us. We desire that
the blessings Of peace and prosperi-
ty may forever rest upon the nation.
We desire that infancy may look on
and learn our purposes and that old
age may find solace in the recollec-
tons it suggests. We humbly pray
that when the days of trial and dis
aster come upon US, such as betalls
all nations, that patriotism may
turnits face towards the sepulchres of
our departed heroes and learn the
lesson their example teaches, and
feel assured that this government
was founded upon the proposition |
of equal and eternal justice, and that
our national power viii forever re-
main unshaken.
Iknow of no special local feeling
connected with this place, other |
than it is the Oldest cemetery in the !
county, and furnishes a resting |
place for the remains of some who |
fought in all the principal wars Of
this country, beginning on the plain |
of Lexington and ending at Apo
mattox, but we are not far removed !
from the place where true American
valor lent its influence to bring this
country under the control ofthe all
conquering Anglo-Saxon race. We
look across yon hill and behold
there is Mount Washington {; We
look to the sand banks of our own
beautiful Youghioghenny and be-
hold the place that once received
the footprints OF the father of his
country. We are on the line Of
march TO liberty, free government,
and free institutions.
We need not stop here to inquire
when, where, how, or in what war
these heroes fell. Some may have
fallen from the exposure ofthe camp,
others from the fatigue ofthe march,
others went down in the schock of
battle pierced by the enemy's ball,
while others died at home among
friends but it matters not when,
how, or where they fell, SO long as
they remained true to the principles
for which they contended upon the
field of battle. They are all the
Nations heroes and entitled to the
Nations gratitude. We distinguish
not between them for they have q
glorious alliance with all that per-
tains to the pride and glory Of our
history. What was gained by the
one was preserved by the other.
Now, fellow-citizens, let us not re-
tire from this occasion without car
rying with US the deep conviction
Of the duty that devolves upon US. !
1ur beloved couOfrv the Tlpion md I.