The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-07-07
When liberty is SPOKEN Of, and heroes,
let tbeir well known faces appear and
their honored names be heard

the "OId General, bis gray head bowed
down with age, but his military bear
ing never forgotten; his kind eye and
pleasant tongue; his nstural polteness
overHewing toward all men, and his
chivalrous love Of the ladies'. It was
not astonishing to us, nor did it in any
manner SAVIOR of egotism to hear him
tell how his soldiers loved him and
how he moved down the serried hosts
of Mexico at Buenna Vista and re-
ceived that beautiful sword in surren-
der from the naughty Santa Ann..
Who would not have done as his SOL
disrs didl What mortal army could
withstand them under his leadarsiips
Now he sleeps within our view, at yon-
der spst toward which the Umpqua
glides and seeming TO discover his rest
ing place, disturbs 1t not, but winds
around the hill and goes mourning to
the sea.
It was not given him to die in battle.
He had fought for liberty ard had not
died. His last battle, however, was for
that other aud equally sacred right
life-and he died like soldier, none
the less gloriousl, because he fought
single-handed with victorious enemy
IN the silence of his own home.
They were all heroes-these men who
fought for liberty and love. None the
less is this true of the noble and gal.
liant leaders than of the honored men
whe followed them fearlessly to victory
or death. The world is pretty thor
oughly convinced, now, that America,
with her non aggressive policy, is a
first class friend but an enemy not TO
be sought after. All that she desires
from strangers is good will and to be
let alone, and strangers are not back
ward in granting her that privilege.
The other danger which threatenep
our young republic was not less immi-
nent and is one which is quiescent
only in the faea Of a vigilant standing
army. IT vii never bs conquered but
can be kept at bay. | refer to Isno-
rance-the mother of all the ills that
flesh is heir to; naughty, arreg mt and
unreasonable; the destroyer of peace
and the fomenter of disturbance; the
malstrom of destruction to fam lies; and
the tidal wave of ruin to nations; the
king of the past and the menace of the
future; the fog which has enveloped
mankind but is rstrcsting rapidly be-
fore the organized intelligence of the
nineteenth century. Education is tha
keystone OF our political anch Take
it away and the whole fabric falls, q
mass of ruins.
In countriey which are governed by
one man, their ruler is carefully edu-
Gated and no expense is spared to make
his mind and body perfect. He is cul
tivated at home AMI educated abroad
| He must know mankind in order te
govern mankind intelligently. 1t has
been said that every American citizer
is king, and it is true. How neces
sary, then, that every American citi
zen should be an educated man to til,
extent Of his ability and opportunity
and his opportunities ought to be made
coextensiye with his abilities, 10y th,
general public. Every man ought t,
be familiar with the essentials of. !.
common education, and there should b'
firmly planted III our soil the great Ig
drasial tree of scientific lore, "Whos'
roots the realms of hales pierce, while
waves it's top amid the stars.
| Let lis encourage and patronlzf
schools Let MS teach our children t.
10 right, and no, forget 10 do right our
selves, and by so dong peace will reign
brotherhood prevail and dissensio'
cease. Thus can we smile at the en-
counters of this second great enem,
and render him powerless as a babe tt
do as harm, though he may continue
to maintain miserable, negative sx
istence.
Our country has stood all the test
! and still lives mere vigorously. w
have known the evils ef internecin
strife. We have seen brother airayet
against brother and father against son
| But while it seemed lamentable ne
cessity, it resulted in great gsod. NJ
man can now sneer a. America as bein'
free and yet harboring slaves, and NJ
lnsinuation is Just which intimates tha
we dc not live our princi'les. We ar
at peace. 1t is true that there are thos
whese blood moves with more ensrgeti
flow while discussing the right an
wrongs of the rebellion. There ar
these within the sound of my voice VIII
thrill at the mention of the name. Blu
we of the later generation do not dis
cuss the right and wrong of the rebe
lion, and we read Just as eagerly th
exploits of Napoleon and Caesar as W
do the daring deeds of Sherman an
Lee. I am young man, and l no
say to you that to the rising generatio
must the country look if they would Sc
the results of the war accepted full
and freely as matter of fact, and *
its being forgotten except as histor
crystal; thing to he remembered fc
its lessons; to be pitied for its carnaa
and to be rejoiced in for its good result
The time is at hand when you oidt
men shall have finished your dut
You must soon retire from active lif
, You must give the governmental reir
, into more vigorous hands. We reco
nize your services and honor you f,
them. We hope to render the evenir
of your lives as peaceful and secure !
ron have made the morning Of our