Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-05-30

were purchased by pouring out tbeil
own hearts blood.
All honor then to our brave comrades
who have died on the bloody field ol
nattle, on lonely picket duty. in muddy
trenches, in the extemporized hospitals
wounded come Of them and permitted to
come home to die and the thousands
and tens OF Thousands who died linper.
ing deaths, in Andersonville, in Libby
prison. incarcerated and starved to death
Dy fiends in human shape. Shame upon
the man who tramples carelessly upon
the graves Of the heroes and who has
not soul enough to drop the fragrant
blossom and to say as much as this
Peace to their ashes"
l. We gather here tonight, then, "a
celebrate the heroic deeds and manly
courage OF the nations defenders. The
great majority Of these men were volun.
teers. not drafted men, who left home
ana all It's endearments, their families
whom they loved as their own lives, and
taxing as 1t were, their destiny in their
own hands. willingly and uncomplain-
lngly laid themselves on the altar of
Their country. They were brave at
the front, brave at the
cannons mouth, brave on lonely picket
duty, brave in their terrific charges over
abattis and breast work, brave in their
oying messages to their friends. Come
With me to the Gettysburg battle field :
1t is the Sd of July, 1863. All around ma.
on the right, left, behind and before. the
red sea OF battle rears and RACES. Bnt
look! By yonder turn in the valley the
billo rs swell highest and rsddest. Here
is the key of the battle field-it is the
grand struggle to secure the little reund
top. Platoon after platoon blend into
each other, bayonet crosses bayonet.
breast hurtles against breast. Nov
there ls another awful shock, fiercest Of
all. and then, above the groans Of the
dying, the thunder of artillery and the
rattle of musketry swells shout. long.
clear, ecstatic-alt is ours!' What r.
'ours2" A smoked-blackened, shot-rld-
died. bayonet-bent. old flag. It is the
star-spangled banner. Why was that
flag saved at such an awful expense of
Life? Why was it that human LIE passed
for almost nothing in the presence of the
tattered old flag? Because in that flag
were gathered country and constitution.
government and loyalty, glory and ma.
tlonal pride. It contained the essence
OF all that was good, noble and grand in
the government and laws of the United
States: So long as the flag foated over
the soldier, he felt that be had every
thing TO fight for and make him courage.
GUS. That flag is respected, feared and
loved ground the entire globe.
In lIol, congress passed resolution
putting on it twenty-one stars, in which
it was provided that new star should
be added to the flag on the admission of
each new state. To-day thirty-eight
stars blaze on our banner. with the hope
that southern Dakota will soon consti.
tute the thirty ninth. It is by the valor-
GUS deeds of our brave dead, that the
star spangled banner has become q sym-
boil of our nationality, the record of our
glory and dear to all our hearts. On
land and on sea the presence of the dear
old flag swells the heart with pride.
The most beautiful flag in ali the
world in appearance, It is stained
by no disgrace for it has triumphed in
every struggle. Through three wars it
has borne rs to victory, and in its last ter.
rible struggle against treason, though
baptized in the blood of its own children,
not q star has been effaced and 1t still
waves over united people. It is the
peoples flag and is sung BY every patri.
otic heart. It not only appeals to our
national pride, but it appeals to our af.
tections as the friend of our dearest
rights. But bravery appreciates bravery,
or 1t has its own label and is soon reco9.
nized. Such instances are not wanting
in those who attempted. to break up our
union.
In battle during our late war, the
confederates were driving back the union
army, who were in swift retreat, when .
union officer fell wounded. One of his
men stopped at the risk of his life and
put his arm around him to carry him
from the field. Fifty rebel muskets were
turned ct the young man who was pick.
ing up the officer. But the confederate
captain shouted: "Holdl Don't fire.
That fellow is toe brave to be shot," As
the union officer, held up by his private
soldier, went imping slowly off the
field, the confederates gave three
cheers for the brave private, and Just be.
fore the two disappeared behind barn,
both the wounded officer and the brave
private lifted their caps in gratitude to
the confederate captain.
Standing in this sacred place. with
these brethren in the ministry and
speaking to this great congregation
shall l say, shall any man say that the
gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ shall be
less generous than the world? God for.
bid.
Our cause was q Just one, theirs un.
just, ours was in the interest of freedom.
theirs in the interest ofslavery, ours was
holy in its purpose, theirs unholy, ours
in the cause of God, theirs of Satan,
but the south having appealed to the
sword which decided against them We
have. no bitterness in our hearts TO,
them. We have no word of reproach
nor would We recall one unpleasant
thing.
With love for what was grand IN their
common humanity, with equal forgive
ness for what was evil, earth, the mothe,
of US all, holds alike the ashes of loyal.
lat and rebel in the resurrection
robes OF fragrant spring flowers
It is a part of the highest element d
bravery to pause at the grave of oul
foes. for the sentence of death is with
God alone. There speaks no voice oi
anger from those cold ashes SO let there
be no unforgiying spirit or bitter malice
in any heart tonight. Courage, honor
and true manhood alike demand that we
who by the favoring hand of the God oi
battle, were victors in the strife-should
forgive them, but you say you cannot
feel the same toward dead foe as q
dead friend. But our elf.respect does
not require that of Us. In 1862 q dear
brother of mine gave his life for his
country, leaving TO mourn his loss faith.
er. mother, five brothers, three sisters
wife and two children. It is not requir.
ed Of me to cherish the memory of the
confederate soldier equal with his. NY
brother John died 10 save his country
and in defence Of the dear flag, but my
brother of the south died in attempting