The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-09-16

~ am not o. the number who doubt
the generosity of tho Nation, or that
she fails to appreciate the services ol
her soldiers. The people Of this country
do not forget the men who fought thelr
battles. Why this ConCourso OF people
here to.day2 Why is 1t that every public
meeting OF soldiers Is accompanied by n
mighty throng OF cltizensP Is 1t mere
idle curiosity? Are we growing so OLD
that we appear to the young as repre-
sentatives OF past genGrationH NO, my
comrades, IL is the voluntary and sponta'
neous homage which the people pay to
men who have performed for them q
great service. II is the judgment o.
dwell done good and faithful servants"
pronounced by the Nation, What mean
these beautiful national cemeteries, dot
ted all over tho country, these great
monuments in every city, and the lesser
ones in every country cemetery They
are the monuments erected over the
graves of her dead by q grateful Nation.
Let no Comrade indulge the thought that
his Is an ungratetul country.
DUTY TO THE LIVING.
4'But beg TO suggest to our friends
that beautiful monuments, lofty shafts,
graceful arches, pleasant cemeteries,
patriotic eulogies aud gorgeous pro.
cesslons do not feed the hungry or
Clothe the naked. 1t was noble deed
IN build a magnificent vaultby the lake
for the mortal remains Of James A. Gar
6eld 10 erect monument At tho grave
ri General Grant in the commercial
ceutre OF the Union, aud 10 lay away so
eiegantly the body OF brave John A.
LOGAN Ht the National Capital. But II
wns greater and noblur than all these to
provide funds for the comfort OF their
families. II was grand work Il. gather
the remains Of our comrades, left IN
trenches or rudo graves on the battle
field or at the hospital, aud PLACE tleln
at Arlington, Gettysburg, Grafton OF
other cemeteries, But II was ,grandelT,
to gather up tho poor old soldier, gu
helpless and homeless, and provide ioi
his comfort In the soldiers home.
any friends, whilpyou arc remember
inc the dead, 10 not forget the living
You have among you maty old soldiers
once independent aud prosperous, bul
now atruggling With poverty, fighting
hravely tho battles Of life. Many o.
ihoSS men wentlnt tho army In middle
iiie, leaving comfortable aud prosperou'
homes, They returned 10 find theiI
niaces occupied by othefs--lhat business
Inodps aud centres lad ChangedI many
oi them have been unablo to regall
their business standing, Lille has beef
10 them, since thun, an unequal task
Their BtAyal.honO nOighbors took ",
iead In tliuir absence, and have kept II
ThCn when tho soldier asks for q libera
nFotpCtion and assistance ot tho Govern
msnt, lle asks but simple Justice, He
M iratnp, seeking 10 reap where he ha
not sown, or To gather the fruits ot an
others toll. llO ls no bpggor, 9sking
CsuSt from the Nations table for OhaI
iva sakU We come 10 our own, an
ienand a portion Of the abundance 8!
cnIei W our labOrs and sacrifices,
,Ls NalIsn united, happy and ptospeI
onsY WHO secured this union, happ
nOss and prosperity
.EnR soLDiERs' NtCnT.
"wo have right then to expect nal
10 demand, that every soldier who u
lila health or was mAimed Ia the serylt
shAll be provided for by the country, III