The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-05-30
THE DEAD SOLDIERS.

The hOnoring OF the graves OF those VINO
fell in the cause Of their country is not new.
It is a custom that has obtained in all ages,
among all nations, Christian and Pagan.
The strewing of their graves with flowers,
upon a fixed day, created a national holl-
day by law, is, however, singular to the
United States. 1t is a custom inaugurated
by the survivors of the Union army alter
the war and one that now obtains through
ont the length and the breadth OF the land.
ais well in the South az in the North. 1t Is
a beautiful idea. 1t is IL tribute the nation
owes the dead who died that the country
might live. 1t is the one day in the year
upon which the rising and future genera
tions will be taught, in al impressive man.
ner. at what awful cost OF lives and OF
money. the Union was maintained intact.
The day is rather for the living than the
dead. The dead are beyond our honorlng.
The martyred Lincoln said at Gettysburg,
in his short but magnificent speech on the
occasion of the dedication OF the National
Cemetery: "But, in a large sense, we cam
not dedicate-we cannot conservative
HnnOJ udlloN NAlo c
brave men, living and dead, who struggled
here, have consecrated far above II poor
mower to add or detract. The world Will
little note nor long remember, what we say
here, but it can never forget what they ana
here. 1t is for us, the living, rather, to be
dedicated here to the unfinished work which
they who fought here have thus lar so
nobly advanced. 1t is rather for US to be
here dedicated to the great task remaining
before us, that from these honored dead,
we take increased devotion to that cause
for which they gave the last full measure OF
devotion, that We here highly resolve that
these dead shall not lave died i'll VAN; that
this Nation, under God, shall have a new
birth of freedom: and that Government OF
the people, by the people, and for the people
shall not perish from this earth" Here we
have. in the simple, terse and pure Engilsh
that characterized all the utterances
of the great War President, the one great
idea that actuated the old veterans in pro-
posing the decorating OF the graves OF their
fallen comrades.
While men stand t~houghtfully to-day ny
the hallowed mounds upon which the beau
tiful flowers and wreaths OF laurel ana OF
ivy are laid, it seems fitting that they should
look back into the past and then cast our
eountry's horoscope as we look into the
future. Back twenty-five years we see, low
and heavy as il funeral, the war clouds
lower. For four long years the ines OF bat
tie meet, the cannons volley, and the blood
and treasure of the nation are poured. The
only burrows in the South are the trenches
and the rifle pits with which contending
armies have scanned and gashed the bosom
of her soil. At last the Rebellion has gone
down in desolation and death, the Confed'
eracy has folded it's stars and bars forever
| on the stacked arms at Appomattox. The
old flag floats everywhere triumphant, not
a star gone, not a stripe torn out. Then
comes the unrest of 'reconstruction.' For
many years the bitterness OF war mingled
| with the sweets OF peace. The color line
| could not be wiped out in a day. For years
! the bitterness OF ruin and defeat ranklcd i'll
| the Southern heart, and the Northern breast
burned with the stern resolve never to for
| get the rebellion nor to forgive the rebel
| Nature, by the changes she was making
on the battle fields, seemed, however
only to be forcshadowing the changes
that would sooner Or later sweep over the
political surface of the land. Day and night
her unseen forces were ut work The rains
of spring were washing AWAY the long lines
If breastworks and filling up the trenches
and over the redoubt, crumbling away
creeping vine and sweet blossom were yea
by year silently covering them from sight
In the rude cmbrasure. falling into decay
the robin built her nest and filled the al
with the melody OF heaven where one
roared the rude music OF hell. The hand O
nature has long since smOthered over tn
deep burrows in the land and so have die,
out the wounds of the conflicts in the hearts
OF the stern Mortimer and the fiery South
ron. The past, with it's hate and prejudice
it's dying embers of slavery and treason
has faded away, and we have entered upon
new era of fraternity, forbearance, OF
purer Nationality and a loftier patriotism
All the causes of the contest have been ri
moved, the issues OF the warhave been ever
where accepted as final, have become I
part Of four national existence and we arei in
deed a happy and a reunited people, tn
most prosperous and powerful on eartf
How appropriate, then, to make Decora
ton Day the day of the year on which t.
recall the results secured by the armies 10,
bivouaced "On Fame's Eternal Campin
Ground" While life lasts the survivors,
the war should sacredly observe this day
and teach their children to regard it's celt
+ bration as a proud duty. AS the brigh
May day comes back with floral gifts OF
each returning year,
Let the bells toll, and wild war music swaIl.
md for onesday the thought of all the past
OF all those memories vast
Come back ard haunt IL wi h he r might; spe:
Bring flowers then once again,
and >trew with fragrant rain
Of lilacs and o roses white and red
The dwellings of our dead
While we recognize that their work ha
nobly ended, we should remember that on
duties are before us. Dangers will Away
threaten the Republic. Insidious foes az
constantly at work. Communism, prost
tuition of the ballot and perversion OF poI
ular education are to be guarded against
The Industrious and thrifty are entitled t
the enjoyment of the fruits OF their labor
The popular will OF the people can only b
expressed by maintaining the purity OF til
ballot. The future OF the Republic will d,
pend upon the intelligence Of it's citizens
Protect your ballot boxes and your schools
Mr.. SAMUELs, proprietor OF the Wes
Shore, a meritorious publication OF Port
land, is in the city with a staff of artists
He has been making some beautiful picture
OF the Court House, private residence.