St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-02-13

to their couutry's call some years ago and to
their capitals invitation yesterday, abund-
antly entities her to the distinction.
THE GRAND ARMY VETERANS.
It was proud day for the veterans.
Everything was favorable to make it great
day. The weather was in the best mood 1t
has been since winter set in. Ii the car
nival association or the Grand Army had
the fixing of it the weather couldn't have
been better for public demonstration than
il was yesterday. And then the occasion just
fitted in at a time when the carnival associ-
alton was in condition to contribute most to
its success. All the confusing work which
necessarily attaches itself to the opening
of a carnival had been disposed OF
and was out of the way. The association
had been enabled to reduce everything TO
system, and a more orderly send-of
could not have been given to the Grand
Army boys. And in addition to that. the
enthusiasm of the people of the city was
just at the right pitch TO bring them into
thorough harmony with the occasion. Thus
it was that all things worked together to
make Grand Army day the most important
and the most imposing day of the carnival.
1t was proper that it should be so.
There is no other class so thoroughly
entitled to the gratitude and respect
of the people OF this country as our
surviving heroes. II there is TO be any
discrimination in favor of any one, they are
the ones to be favored. There can be no
feeling of jealousy excited because of SUI
perior respect paid to our war veterans.
They are the men who took their lives in
their hands and went forth to battle 10 de-
Tense of tie honor and integrity or our
country. All that we are and all that we
have as nation is the result of their hero
ism and patriotism. They are the men
when the union of these states was threat
ened went out and stood on the
outermost brink Of danger. and walked
ON the perilous ridge of battle. Theirs
was devotion and sacrifice more unself
ish than ever before illuminated the pages
of time. They are the men who displayed
a beautiful love of country that has never
been equalled and sublime devotion to her
institutions which constitutes bulwarks of
national defense more powerful than iron,
brass or stone. When the integrity of the
Union was assailed and the tocsin of war
was sounded, fathers left broken-hearted
homes; sons and brothers in the brightness
of youth took last farewells Of fainting
kindred; our armies were filed with ar
dent, hopeful lives as food for the
leaden hail, the bayonet and the
grave. When the deadly peril of dissolution
came upon US. hearts bounding with warm
affections and brains filed with visions of
peaceful and happy years sprang up from
every little spot, from away up in the
dark pines Of Maine 10 the far-off mouth of
the Columbia river, and gave all to country
that GOD enabled them to give. The glory
of their achievements is written In our
country's history.
Is it any wonder then all hearts are cleo
trifed by the sight of the survivors of those
gallant armies who saved the country and
preserved its institutions? Is it a matter
of surprise that all classes are en-
nObled and glorifed by their pres
ence in our midst? Oh. no. We can
not do too much for them, nor can we
show them too much love and veneration.
There are not great many of them left
to us. AS the years have gone by since the
war closed these veterans have been drop
ping out. One by one they have been re-
ceiving their final discharges and have
been mustered out of earths service. They
are sleeping here and there, with their cher
ished faces turned upward toward the
flowers that bloom over them. OF those
who still remain some have left an arm on
some far-away battle field where swept the
stormy and headlong charge under the
bright folds of the blessed flag,
while others are finishing the journey
of life upon one leg. But we
love them all the more dearly for their
MANNED condition. Yes, we esteem it the
highest privilege to honor the Grand Army
boys. We love to see them marching
through our streets under the same old flag
which they followed to victory quarter of
a century ago. 1t made our hearts beat
with pride to see them run up the stars and
stripes over our ice castle. Their mimic
battle in the storming of the castle carried
us back, as it did them, to the days when
war was no milnicrv, but horrible reality.
Now that the parade is over and the cas-
tie has been stormed and captured, the
GLOBE extends its hand to our heroic vet
Grams, and asks them to assemble around
its camp fire and recall the "reminiscences
of the long ago.