The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-05-31

Such is the wife's story. But
hers is not the only story. There is
yet to tell of the gray-haired father,
and of the feeble mother. OF sweet
heart, of brother and of sister. And
the little orphan comes and wants to
tell her story.
These are home-scenes from the
drama of war mere outline sketches
far removed from the scene of strife.
But go now where the armies meet
and you may hear the story of the
soldier. [ cannot tell it. 1t can be
found in every library and in the
history of every nation. 1t is one
of long and weary marches under
the scorching sun, through parched
countries and over dusty roads; of
scant rations and broken rest: of
the destruction of fields and the
desolation of homes: of famine and
flames, and of the indescribable
brutalities of Andersonville prison.
1t is story of preparation for
battle; of the rage and roar of the
missiles of death of the charging of
cavalry, and the hand-to-hand strug-
giles of infantry. OF the neighing
of horses and the cries of the
wounded. A story of CHASTITY hor-
rors; of blood carnage and atrocity.
1t cannot be exaggerated. 1t is
never fully told. So desperate are
the actions of men when controlled
by passion; so frenzied do they be-
come in the pursuit of revenge, that
war as q means of settling domestic
and national difficulties should be
the last resort.
But there come times when it can
not be avoided; when oppression
can no longer be borne, and when
the honor and happiness of homes
are at issue. Then. having exhaust
ed every peaceful process, and
after forbearance every hope of re-
dress is eXtinguished, the country
is justified in calling upon its peo-
pie, men and women, to make the
bitter sacrifice. And, when the
battle is over, and the end attained,
we cannot do too much honor to
those who answered the call and
went forth to the contest.
There is no higher duty than this.
Let us lay flowers, upon their graves,
for they died for their country.
But what shall be said of those
who for trivial causes, for selfish
purposes or from revengeful motives,
stir up discord and contention among
people? Those whose intellects
have been trained, but whose hearts
are dwarfed, and who by false argyll
ment and false advice seek to de-
ceive those whom they should teach.
Encouraging violence until arms are
taken up in groundless or unworthy
war, they waste the strength of mer
and consume the constancy of wo
men. They prostitute to the bases
purposes the rickest treasures of the
nation. The mark of Cain shall bt
upon them, for they have shed limo
cent blood.
In the category of action there is
nothing named more base nor more
dire. What punishment too great
to measure their offense?
In life may they be stunned by
men, and in death may their graves
be unhonored.
War and flowers. Let us turn to
the brighter subject. What are
flowers and what do they signify or
such occasions? They grow by the
Indigenous and In the woods in field
and in the garden. They are loved
by the good and the brave every
where. "They paint the meadows
with delight" They are the star:
of earth lighting up the dark places
They are the gems and jewels of the
poor. They develop the same beauty
they diffuse the same fragrance
whether grown in the gardens O.
the rich or in some rude box in thu
garnet of tenement. They pass a.
universal tokens of loving sentiment
between parent and child, pupil anc
teacher, lover and maiden, from
friend to friend, and from the living
to the dead.
And what is their object? Nature
makes no mistakes. Though nur
tured and cared for by man, do they
add one jot to his physical com
fort? They neither clothe nor feet
him. They will not keep off TIT
winters cold nor the summers heat
"They toll not neither do they
spin," and yet the brightness o
glory is upon them.
Standing in their beauty anC
humility, seemingly conscious o
their lowly part in the great affair
of the world, they speak in Language
eloquent and unmistakable of thos
realities which the physical sense
cannot prove.
They tell us of higher and noble
things to attain than those crosse
objects for which we strive.
The fulfillment of duty for duty
sake alone the performance, whethe
in high or humble place, of thG
which we owe to ourselves and t
others without looking for materii
reward, is the lesson taught by th
flowers. 1t is the lesson of sacrifice
What more fitting tribute than thes
howers can we offer those who hay
illustrated the lesson by the nobl
: example of their lives.