, 1889-05-30
THEY SLEEP IN PEACE.

1
Twenty.eieht years ago to-day the brow
of every Union patriot was clouded with
doubt ana dread. The slaveholder's rebel
lion had but recently assumed the hideous
form of war and the fate Of the govern
ment We had inherited from our fathers
was subjected TO that dreadful arbitra-
ment. The 6rst shot had been fred at
Fort Sumter and the smoke of battle had
been growing deuser and darker for lit
tie more than month. The war drum
had resounded throughout every village
and city in the land and President Lin
| coin had issued his call for IS 900 volun-
| teers to crush the rebellion. Anxious
hearts were beating in every loyal home,
for the sentiment OF treason was scattered
far and wide. An extra session OF
congress had been called to convene
on July the 4th, and each day added some
new and important event In the impend.
ing crisis. In the loyal states OF the
North legislatures were being hurriedly
convened In response 10 the presidents
call for troops. and Southern states like
Virginia were passing ordinances Of Sc
cession and seizing government arsenals,
mints and navy yards within their reach.
All posta, service in the seeded otates had
been discontinued. A rebel flag had been
raised in Alexandria, even within sight of
the nations capital, and the brave Colonel
Ellsworth had been shot for hauling it
down.
IL was in the presence of great emer-
gency. an emergency calling for patriot.
ism, bravery and self.sscri6ce that the sol.
diers Of the Union went forth TO battle.
Thousands, hundreds of thousands, Of the
brave men who responded to the call of
the nation in those trying times are to.
day asleep within the quiet halls Of death.
"On Fame's eternal camping ground their
silent tents are spread" ALI business Is
suspended in their honor, and from the
gulf to the great lakes, wherever the grave
of one of these Union soldiers is found il
will be decorated to-day with flowers and
greeted with blessings.
Such graves as these are pilgrim shrines,
| Shrines to no code or creed confined;
| u6 D6IDhthu Nhlt5, tHt EdleSLluts--
Ths Meccas Of the mind.
Give me the death OF those
| Who for their country die,
And obi be mine ike their repose.
| When cold sad low they liel
| For peace they fought,
! For peace they fell:
| They sleep in peace
And all Is we'll!
They died for libertyLthey died for US.
TLey are at rest. They sleep IL the land
they made free. under the dag they rem
dered stainless, under the solemn pines,
the sad hemlocks, the fearful willows and
the embracing vines. They sleep beneath
the shadows Of the clouds, careless alike of
sunshine or storu, each in the windowless
palace of rest. Earth may run red with
other wars-they are ut peace"
The veneration in which this day is held
is proof Of the nations love for those who
saved 1t. This sentiment has become a
part of the American nature, like deep
rooted conviction. Il grows with every
hour and ripens each season into fresh and
renewed vieor. Time but the impressio on
deeper makes, az streams their channels
deeper wear" II ia like another Indie.
pendence day. The abolition of slavery
Union against the hateful doctrines OF
states rights and secession was no less
worthy of commemorstion than the over.
throw of British tyranny In l776. No war
in the worlds history ever settled more
important issues than did this war of the
rebellion. The battle of Runnymede
was not more decisive than was
that of Vicksburg and the latter
is not less noteworthy in the annals Of civ
ilization. To 4,OO0, 900 human beings it
meant a transition from slavery to liberty.
from ostracism to equality as q race, from
ignorance TO intelligence, from the slave
pen to the public school-house, from the
auctioneer's block to the pedestal of free
man hood, from the bloodhound to the
ballot oox. 70 the nation itself 1t repre-
sented solution Of problems that had
ever threatened dismemberment of the
states and the destruction of federal su.
premacy.
Thanks to the soldiers whose graves We
stop to decorate this day. we have peace
aud prosperity throughout united coun-
try. Thanks to these soldiers the grave
questions that so long menaced our coun-
trv are forever settled. This is a fitting
tribute we pay to their sacred memory. 1t
is fitting demonstration of our gr attitude
A.. - + L
that the land we live in might be free,