The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-06-08

for Office who can scoop in the great
est number of votes, no matter
whether they do il by brain,or Drawn,
or money, should not be permitted
by people, who, in their freedom,
can name the man for the place they
wish him to serve in. We need
government governing as little as is
consistent with the general welfare,
and a people sensitive to any small
infringement upon the rights and
liberties that are their heritage. 1t is
one of the grandest things connected
with the memories of this day, that
we bedeck with memorial garlands
the graves of the soldiers, not that of
leaders only, but of men who sacri-
feed comforts, ambitions, hopes,
Ives that surrendered the lifes blood
of heroic and loyal hearts in the de-
Tense Of the Nation. We honor them
most'who aim to lift upward to purer
heights the Nation they saved. We
honor them best who in this sacred
place re-affirm our confidence in
integrity as the rock bed upon which
alone we can rear the superstructure
Of the Nation so as to make it i'm
pervious to the power of selftempta-
ton, and close its portals to every
form of demagogism. Dazzling elo-
quence, and glowing defamation will
not do this. Oratory that may charm
the listening ear for the time-may
siren like lure to the Isle of DEATH
but faith in sterling intelligent in
tegrity as the only safeguard of our
government, Orpheus like will
make more thrilling music and lead
US safely past all that would endanger
or destroy.
The consciousness of deserving
honor is worth more than receiving
honor. The great heart Of our peo-
pie is righteous, it has the innocence
of that charity that is toe easily
duped. l have spoken not of the
men foremost in the Nation, but of a
tendency toward wrong that should be
crushed by the giant force of lntegri-
ty and conviction. To help in that
work is heroic. The oak is just as
mighty when it gives its genial shell
ter to man or beast, as when it resists
the turbulent elements of the storm.
The Nation is just as great-yea
greater--when it protects weakness
and lifts to opulence its own sub
jects, and that nation is greater than
all others which does this work by
men and means of its own selection
You who were soldiers may be proud
of the fact, you should be; but let no,
that distinction lift you to any false
notion, or change in the least that
simplicity and integrity of character,
which by its unobtrusive prominence
invites confidence and respect.
With the myriads elsewhere we lay
then our tokens Of remembrance on
the soldiers graves about us. Some
fell bravely in the fierce encounter,
others we're permitted to die where
loving hands affectionately ministered
to wants the. closing hours of life
created. This we do to the few here
is the emblem of what in heart we do
to the grave of every soldier in the
land; we add our leahet to the rich
garland woven to-day all over the
Nation. We let our tears fall to min
gle with that stream of sorrow that
to-day flows from the Nations heart.
Hawthorn says, "to take in the mean
ing of picture you must be alone
with it," You then who can recall
the darkness of these hours accom-
panying the ravages of the deaths we
recall, in the silence of your thoughts,
meet as alone with your loved and
depar:ed-enter by faith that realm
where translated from the mortal coil,
they are clothed upon with the vest
ments of. life. For in the work done
and in the. hearts now in the land,
the soldiers, though dead, speak.
Hear their voice-heed their plea
defend the Nation they died for.
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