Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1886-06-10

LEWISTON IDAHO TERRITORY THURSDAY, JUNE TO- 1886.
sPEbcH OF A., QUAcKENBUsH
On Sunday; May Goth, Decoration
Day, at the Cemetary Of this City.

Day, at the cemetary Of this city.
Soldiers Of the Grand Army and fei-
low citizens.
In the progress of American ins,i.
tuition, and since the establishment of our
National identity among the RACES Of
men distinct periods of time have been
selected, and ccrtains days set apart to be
respected and observed as public Or nat.
ionol holidays. These seasons Of gatcty
and rejoicing, or Of meditation and
penancc, are in celebration, either Of some
grand achievement in the affairs Of out
country, or in sad commenoration of a
public calamity. Twenty-Five years ago,
this day, and the occasion Of its bringing
US together, were not marked BY any
special significance in the annals Of our
countrys events. But, to-day we are
here-and Why? Why this public
visitation Of the living, to a city Of the
dead? Whence come these strains Of
marshal music, and the measured soldiers
tread? Why strcw upon yonder grave
the dowery decorations Of loves boquet
These earthly mounds are but cold mani.
mate clay They give back no response
to such holy tribute; and yet We i'm.
mersc them in the inspiring fragrance Of
Gods emblems Of purity and inne cence.
What peculiar offering is this we make
at this appointed time, and upon this If.
responsive altar Of death? All, my fcl-
low couutrymanl the echo Of Sumpter's
guns ever reverberating through the death
chilled caverns of mcmory's sepulchural
past, answers the question. The tattered
remnants of the thousand of America !
blood bespattered aud lead ridded battle
liass answer the question. The imper-
lshable record Of our late theatcr of war;
Of Bull Run, Donaldson, Antetem,
Shiloh, Stone River, Lookout Mountain.
The Wilderness, Chancellorville, Clncka
mausa, Gitesburg, Vicksburg, Nashville,
Atlanta, and many other bloody fields Of
mortal strife--answer the question.
The presence here of these war worn and
battle Scared veterans IF thc-grand old
army, clad in the typical livery Of the
Federal uniform, also tell us why we are
here. Beneath that floral shroud, SO ten.
derly and graciously placed upon our
mother earth. is silent vault, where
sleep the mortal remains of a soldier Of
the American Union. He who pledged
his life in the defence of home and
country, and to sustain the glorious prin
cip'l of human liberty; and folded around
the lifcless form Of this majestic dead, is
the emblemmatical, spiritual shroud Of
the old "Star Spangled Banner" Per.
haps in battles dim, the fatal shot con.
signed him to this tomb generous,
willing, holy sacrifice to freedoms sacred
cause. Or, otherwise forsoo,h, meath pris.
on walls, he yielded up that proud, pat
riotic spirit, chained and enslaved to the
mercilcss fates of war. No matter how
or where, truly may it be said of him he
died that we might live. How oft
bouyant life and war-like vigor, with
these surviving comrades, has ho "mount.
ed to the bugle's call or "fallen in at the
reyille's beat, shoulder to shoulder and
breast to back, forming bulwark Of hui
man flesh around the sacred folds of that
dear old flag. The flag which he revered
the liberty he priced and the home that he
loved, may have been lost to him in his
unselfish martyrdom. If spared to see
the end of war and join in the loud huz.
zas of victory he bore among us, the roy |
al diadem of Columbia's honored son. |
Twenty years ago, at the disbandment of !
the victorious army of the Union, our
war department numbered upon its
muster rolls, million and one,h half of
men. The killed and those who had
previously retired on account of wounds
and other causes; after making due al. |
lowancc for re enlstments in the veteran
service, were at least a million more. |
And yet, we wonder not, at the magnitude
Of this fighting host 7; inspiration of liber-
ty united in battle array to maintain and
our Union of the States, and
to transmit, unimpared, to our country's
children the blood bought legacy of free
dom. OF this vast throng of philanthro.
pic souls, how many today, sleep the sleep
that knows no waking? Since the vict-
ory Of loyal arms, spoke peace to our
common country, this mighty host of
steel tried warriors is known only to
grateful memory. Time-that ever
restless traveller, whose march with man.
kind is from the cradle to the grave-is