The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-06-07
JACKSON. OHIO. THURSDAY. JUNE Z 1888

living. The cold form OF the depart
ed comrade, whether he sleep under
costly monument or in an unmarke
grave, is alike insensible to our cere
monies and our tears. 1t matters nc
to him whether hundreds come an
nually to build to him a monumen
of flowers, or that only the wild flow
er blossoms on his grave. The tear
dropped upon the comrades grave fin
no response in the still heart beneat
the sod. The sweet odor Of the flow
ers we bring passes away upon the idl
breeze, it sinks not into the cold, dea
clay.
No act of ours can serve them, say,
as we serve the living rlwhom ethe,
fell. They have passed over the rive
they are resting in the shade of tn
beautiful trees on the farther shore
they have been mustered out, and per
mitted to go home-home to that coun
try-God's country-in which the,
will learn the art Of war no more.
They were martyrs all-no matte
whether felled by the hand of the as
sassin, as was the immortal Lincoln
or in the storm Of battle, torn by sho
and shell or cut down in the ferc,
charge, amid the clashing steel; O
whether dying in the hospital wasted
by disease, or, worst of all horrors, rot
ting to death in rebel prison pens
cruelty murdered by inhuman fends-
no matter where or when, or how they
died-each who fell in the discharge
Of duty, each who gave his life in tn,
service of his country, died blessed
martyr.
So my comrades, it is most fitting
that we pay this tribute to their mem.
ories lit may not matter how we treat
the living comrade, let us not forget
the dead, let us teach the young mer
Of the land the maxim the Romans
taught their youth: "'Tis sweet anc
glorious to die for ones country"
Mankind admires courage. The
more civilized a people, the more they
admire moral courage, rather than
the courage Of the brute and desper-
ado. 1t is moral courage that makes
the true man, and only true man
can make true soldier.
The pass Of Thermopyl@ is historic
The story Of its defense has come
down to US through the mists Of ages
not simply because men died there,
but because they fell in obedience to
law, and in the discharge Of duty.
1t was high moral courage, a keen,
clear sense of right, a sense Of duty
to country, and an instructive obedi-
ence to law, that brought the Union
army into being IN the year 1851, and
made it the grand military organiza-
tion that it was from 81 to '65.
Turn back the hands on the dial
plate Of time a little past quarter of
century, and what have we? A ma
tion at peace with all the world; as
quiet, prosperous and happy as a ma
ton could be-one-half of which was
cursed with human slavery. A North
ern man has been duly elected Chief
Magistrate Of the Nation, and having
escaped the hand of the assassin, and
reached Washington City, we behold
him, whom the God Of nations seems
to have raised up to save US in the Ma
tion's hour of peril, standing forth in
the shadow of the National Capitol,
beneath the folds Of the National flag,
in the presence Of the great multitude,
as he raises his hand toward Heaven
the Recording Angel writes in the
great book the oath Of Office of Abra-
ham Lincoln, President of the United
States Of America-President Of the
Union of all the States.
The spring of 1861 opens, and the
Northern people, educated to habits
Of industry, are busy with the arts of
peace. The artist, the mechanic, the
the husbandman, each NOV
ing ON in the even tenor of his way,
cheerful with his toll, contented with
his country and her rulers, and happy
in his home.
But look away to the Southland,
where the curse Of human slavery has
blighted their civilization, and de-
bauched the conscience Of the people.
There all is turbulence, excitement,
violence and preparation for war
Fiery orators are haranguing ignorant
newspapers are ladened
with wild appeals to the worst pas
sions of a violent people. The pulpit
is loud in it's denunciations of all men
who dare talk Of freedom. Trea-
son stalks abroad at MONDAY; and
from all quarters of the South comes
The cry for ''separation "a dissolu-
lion Of the Union established by the
Fathers.
The fiery Southerner did not stop
to count the cost, nor contemplate the
mighty power Of the great North,
with her wonderful resources, her
great agricultural and manufacturing
abilities. He simply said, the North
mas no ''code of honor" They have
40 nerve to stand up ON the battle
ield-no courage to resist the shock
and clash of steel.
They knew not the high, firm cour-
age of an educated, conscientious, 10y
Il, law-abiding, liberty-loving people,
add wildly, wickedly and recklessly
hey rush to arms.
The supreme moment was now at
hand. The North saw the impending
langer to liberty and the Union, and
'he saw her imperative duty.
Wen the echo of the first gun of
sumpter resounded along the valleys
md over the hills and mountains of
;he North, her people rose to the
night of the mighty occasion, and the
world was astonished at her uprising.
The great question Of mans capacity
or self-government was now to be
ested. The grave question was now
% be settled, once and forever, wheth-
II government purely republican in
;orm, so simple. yet so grand, in time
# peace, possessed the elements of
trength necessary to resist and crush |
reason within its borders, and carry
IN a war for it's preservation. A gov
rnment, defined by Mr.. Lincoln in
lis Gettysburg Grafton as "a govern
nent Of the people, by the people and
OR the neonla y had no anna. mower |