Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1884-06-19
Nye's Memorial Tribute.

y
Decoration Day address is published,
with Mr.. Nyc's consent, for the first
time. 1t is not humorous, but Il hu.
moriSt is sometimes permitted to wash
off the paint and come out of the ring
to say what is in his heart:
Nearly quarter of a century in the
history Of the nation has gone by since
the first sounds of war found their way
TO the north. A score of years have
gone by since the worn and crippled
veterans returned. They purchased
for us the ptslcc, prosperity and honor
which we to-day enjoy. They made ii
possible for lis TO he proud that we are
Americans. That is the reason we are
here to-day. The war was crowned
with victory on the side of RIGHT. II
demonstrated the metal which made
up our armies. When Columbia called
for aid, she asked it of young farmers.
clerks, students and professional men.
They knew nothing Of war They went
forward braycly. however, and to-day
every southern state holds their sacred
dust. Death at the mouth of the can
non, in the heat of conflict. was easy
under the old flag, but to suffer tn for
months in the hospital, fighting blood
poisoning, malaria and the anguish of
cankcring wounds, was hard to bear.
To die at the moment of victory, was Il
a brave thing, but to Starvc out the
eternal years in southern prisons, with
broken health and in the face of DIES.
pair, was IN experience of which, we
who were at home, knew little
At the close of the war came another
trial. The soldier returned to find his
trade or his profession in other hands.
1t became necessary to lay aside his
muskct and Sabcr. to wrcst from out
ragcouS fortunes livelihood in the
avorations of peace. This he has
done with no less honor to himself
than when he fought the foe and rot
the victory. Herein rests the safety of
the nation. A republic resting upon
the sure foundation of Il patriotism,
which is alike devoted to the common
good, whether under the clouds of war
or the blue sky of peace.
There can be but one sentiment for
the soldiers Of America; "honor for
the living, tears for the dead And
il is to both we owe an eternal debt
to-day. The money required to pay
the sO-callcd war debt need not wolry
us. This debt to the Grand Army OF
the Republic we can never pay. They
fought that freedom might exist in
fact rs well rs in name.
The time is coming when the graves
of our honored dead will be decorated,
not by the comrades, but by future
generations. The veterans of Oul
great conflict are growing fewer as
years 90 by. Their names will soon
be found only on the marble slab, and
in the hearts of II grateful people
The comradc with silver in his hair
and the golden badge upon his breast,
who bowed his head to-day over the
graves Of his comrades and paid his
lender tribute of flowers, will soon be
gone. The Grand Army of the Rcpub
lie will have joined the silent majority
of those who have fought their last
| ~ Nllh Nh' lllNN NbH lllt NltlOTNi
above whose tombs may be written as
II knightly days;
"ThC knights are dust,
Their swords are rust,
Their souls are with the saints, we trust"
To them is due the nations great
war debt. With each recurring
Decoration Day the nation becomes
more deeply indebted TO the heroes OF
the civil war. Living or dead, we arc
their debtors. With the heritage OF
freedom comes the solemn, sacred
duty of nations grateful rcmcm.
brancc.
We can never pay this war debt.
We can only pay the interest on each
recurring memorial day with ma.
ton grateful tribute OF flowers and
of tears.