Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-09-30

mOmcnt0u> results depending Oh ts
issue.
Why. too, should not the sentiments
and preiudices of the late ciyal war De
pcrpctuated! The war saved the
Union and emancipated the race. And
in the single sentence what vol
umes of precious history, what glor,
ious records of heroism, sacrifices and
patr;otism are condensed. What a
noble lifting of all that is exalting III
human nature. what splendid record
of patieut devotion to duty, what self
forgetfulness and magnificent courage
does it stand for? What centuries OF
human progress does 1t typify? 1t was
4 war for freedom and unity. 1t was
not waged for conquest, nor glory,
nor ambition. 1t was a war to pre-
serve. for all generations Of men, the |
priceless heritage OF seif-government.
ii was war 10 yindicate the majesty |
of outraged law. 1t was q war TO
maintain this republic as q beacon
light for all the world. IL was a war,
as the greatest of its martyrs said,
waged "ihat a government of the peO-
pie, by the people, for the people,
should not perish from the earth"
For the existence of the Grand
Army, and for the reunions in which
il delights 10 take part, no apology Is,
therefore, necessary. They should be
kept up because they do pre-
serve the memories OF the war; be-
cause they do perpetuate the SEN
timents. the emotions, and even the
prciudices of that glorious struggle.
They were noble sentiments, pure
emotions, honest and patriotic preju-
dies, those born of the country's
great peril and happy deliverance, and
no true soldier, no true American,
should be ashamed of them.
Let us, then, keep up the Grand
Army, and our camp-iires. our re-
unions. our social gatherings. They
tvpifva comradeship that should touch
and warm every soldiers heart. In
all the wears since the final muster-out,
there have been no snch friendships
formed as were those cemented IN the
carly mornings long ago, when the
bows fell in and answered "Here.' to
the orderly's call; or during the dusty
and cxhausting marches when the
white pixies stretched so YEARLY long,
! and the evening camp-fires were so
near aud vet so far; or amid the sui
phurous smoke of battle, when they
..closei up on the colors' as the line
dwindled away before the hot aud fu-
rious fire of the enemy. The comrade-
ship that springs from such associa-
tions and scenes as these. Is worth
preserving.
This is the great .'soldier state" OF
the Union-ihc state which be-
gan the civil war six years before
anv other state had enlisted a regi-
| ment. Kansas sent more men 10 sw ell
the ranks Of the Union army, in pro-
portion to population, than any other
state. Onc-;weifth of the present
total population served in the ranks d
The Union army. For Kansas wa;
not only the first cause of the war, bu
The new home to which the veterans
turned thier footsteps when their
marches and battles were over. Every
regiment that served in the arm,
e of The republic has contributed III
quota To swell this magnificent popu
laiion. and there are men sIttins
around quiet hcarthstones in ever
county OF the state who can give per
scnal recolicctions of every march
every campaign. every battle OF tn,
war. from Bull Run 10 Bentonville
; In this audience, | have no doubt. ar
men who have been participants il
every great battle of the rebellion.
Here in Kansas. too, is a generation
of Young men and women who hav,
i'm their veins the blood OF heroes ant
potriots. In this audience ar,
hundreds of young men ant
women whose baby eyes witnessed SAT
partiugs. when their fathers hurriet
away 10 join the company musterin;
, in the village square. Here are ma
, irons who were young wives, sweet
hearts or sisters then, and who, bus!
with household cares, heard the fain
throbbing of the far-away drum, ant
DAYS and weeks before a word wa
spoken, read in the troubled but reso
lutte ewes of husbands, lovers ant
brothers the thought that was busy i
their br:.ins-the thought of siricke
country. sadly needing men. The
: knew, these patient, loving women
what was coming, and in the silenc
; of their rooms, in loneliness aud bittel
tears, they prayed that, if possible. tn
: shadow of this great grief might b'
lifted from their home; and that thos
nearest and-dcarcst TO them might re
main, to tighten their cares an,
, brighten their daily life. But when a
last the word was spoken, race o
self-sacrificing and heroic womel
stood side by side in patriotic devo,iol
with a race of heroic men, and tn
whole world learned, ss the long pro
cessiou of weary months and year
went by, and The men and women q
rs had worthy successors in the mel
I, and women of '6l and 10.
The BOYS OF twenty-three year
ago arc men of mature age: the mel
OF that day are growing old. Th'
: faded and tattered battl,-flags the.
followed are preserved in the Stat
houses. The old sword or muske
hanging over the mantel is rusty wit
age. Every wear the ranks are thin
ming. Wounds and disease, the lega
cy of battlefield. march and bivouat
; are doing their sure work. The gia'
: picture they saw. looking forwar,
, through the lurid smoke and flame o
battle, as the reward Of all their toll
and sacritices-the picture of might
Nation, compact. prosperous, free am
respected by all the Nations Of tn
earth-has been fully realized. Their
is no limit TO the power, no measure
to the wealth, of the redeemed AM
enfranchised republic. Only the mem
cries of heroic struggle are left Us
But until the last survivors of tn
Grand Army that marched and tough
; with Lyon, Blunt, Mcclellan, Rose
Grams, Meade, Sheridan. Thomas. Sher
man and Grant, are finally mustered
ont. let them preserve their comrade
ship. and keep forever fresh and fail
in their hearts the glorious recollec
tons and still more glorious princi
pies of the far-away days when the,
were soldiers of the Republic.
Soldiers of the Union, again hi,
YOU welcome. | welcome you as citi
zcns of this great State. to its capital,
welcome YOU rs patriot heroes, who,
during the darkest DAYS the Republic
has ever known. gladly and proudly
periled health and life 10 save il from
destruction. | welcome you as the
men whose strong arms and brave
hearts gave freedom to the slave. and
made this land. in facts rs well in name
land of liberty And with nv whole