Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-06-01

words
blow, blow, thou winter wind.
lhon art not 50 unkind
rs mans ingfatitude"
Fer 00years this verdict of the hard
OF Avon has been silently accepted by the
readers of his enchanting works. until
the structure It represents has come to lie
considered In the light Of a trulsm
Tie sentiment IL expresses has found
frequent and veried repetition by pessi.
mistic writer's, weeping disclaimers, su.
periicicial observers and turgid orators
oewaillng the imperfections OF human
nature.
Standing at the commencing end of
800 years, Shakespeare has passed a sen.
timent down the line If the centuries,
which has been smpliied By sorrowing
mentor of our own time, into the broad
declaration that republics are ungrate-
ful " And thus, upon the one hand, we
are confronted by the allegation OF the
! Inspired poet, and upon the other, we are
met by It's corollary; the fun proposition
being reduced TO the statement, men and
republics ATE alike ungratefnl.
Friends, upon this closing day Of the
| budding spring, when ''hoary frosts have
fallen in the fresh lap OF the crimson
rose" our smiling land presents scene
that should forever blot from the record
the SANDER Of the poet and the silly carp
ing OF the politician.
Millions of people have gathered to-
day to sing pmons of gratitude to their
| sleeping beneiactors, and with loud voice
TO chant anthems Of sweet appreciation,
that may rise from earth to heaven like
"sabean odnrs from the spicy shore
OF Araby the blestn
| We have come to claim our share in
this beautiful and grateful service, aud TO
| perform our parts in an act that pos
sesses no quality OF a task. To be an
American citizen officiating in service
of gratitude to the fallen defenders of his
country is but second to being numbered
among those to whom his homage IS
rendered. No more lofty acts are TO he
! found In the records of authentic history
than the noble sacrifices Of the American
soldier upon the field of battle and the
yotive offerings OF his countrymen upon
the holy altar Of his memory.
You have devolyed upon me the duty
of voicing your sentiments of fellowship,
of gratitude, and Of affection upon day
that has been consecrated to the Ameri-
can soldier--one thai win continue 20 be
| observed by our countrymen as long as
the Republic shall last or patriotism shed
its beams across our happy homes.
Kind Indulgence alone has prompted
y oq to TINS Is JAl8p9S qBatRat 4e&tAe GaRa
since your last tribute 10 our departed
comrades, has taken his place beside the
pale sleepers-he That now rests by the
murmuring waters OF the historic Hud-
sou, and about whose tomb requiems are
sung by gentle voices swelling from the
tree tops and mountain sides Of the mys-
| tic Catskills.
A realization of my inability to measure
mn to the full requirements OF such an
occasion stares me in the face, but one
owing everything to the indulgence OF
his couptrymen must ever feel reliant
under their support
Assembled countrymeu! quarter OF
n century has fallen into the abyss Of
eternity since the vernal air OF an AprlI
morning rang out the announcement thai
twar borrld war; was full upon oul
peopIe, Men aud women are now before
me in the full growth and estate OF ma
turlty, who have como upon the stage o.
life and action since that appalling even
! occurred. =.
mt they know, as well as the actors IL
IT. the sad story of that blighting conflict
when men of the same nationality met II
onnnsIpo ranks upon the field OF battle
! Their hearts swell with the same prlue o
! country and palpitate with the same pea
of gratitude US do those OF the men ah'
. women who lived through the cruOla
test, whereby the strength Of the Repno
lie WAS tried in the fire OF steer
Two million three hundred ans
thirtv-aye thousand nine hundred
and fifty one patriots voluntarily lelt lnsl
homes, their farilies, and their peacelu
nursuits, 10 defend upon battle-plaln an
over the swelling wave the principle ne
submitted to decision under the urea
orhitramept of war. OF this vast number
( as we learn from Il report OF the aul utau
General. $50. 900 graves in l1e nallopa
caneteries mark the number OF mos
% killed in battle, and dying In hospilalf
upon roadsides, in prisons, rs lne tSsu
~ wonnds. of disease, of hardship, OF "a
) posure or Of m ltreatment' A.,
r we are not here to talk OF causes Una
, demanded the sacrifices represented
q these figures, nor yet to narrate tlrulln
incidents of battle with fas ,inatlnE stoIle
~ Gallant patriotism. But, my IIlenui
nesTlv one half million young, praN'
nsefnl lives have suffered untlmely q
tinauishment through the cruel cirGuLi
F. stances of war, and within the close GlI '-
Of hat excruclating fact Is TO be ioun
.. The moving causes of the remarhap
Il scene this day enacted in our county
q Il ie mo new custom ID offer oDlauol
y in memory of The dead. In every age
G. Intelligent man, the struggles oil ne , ns'
heen sustained by belief in aud ''lon Ion
1. ine after Immortality" There Is no e
- isting record Of the human race Una, 40
q nor attest this interesting fact; Aion
z ,nents. mounds and sepulchsls tnat na
smvIyed the names OF individuals "a, a.
n ontiasted their more perlshaole ooule .
ID olite bear witness of 81. Homer aee,ar
mat "all folk yearn after the gous' 81, a.
tbis observation is no less true OF mo
N wbo worshiped the monsirous creations
me Nlle, the Orantes, the Gsnges' :
psoun deities OF Greece and koms, q
a ne varied intentions of J rude laeol
81 gies down 10 the snnuneialon %
Christian Savior. ,one seven
ma pvramids OF Egypt, some ses ~
~ In number. were built as lomos LOT ~,
~ tnl monarchs yearning after lue d ESe
y a and longing for Immortality, ! ~
I, ,,,,ss renrest nj an amazing enoI' % ~ ~