Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-06-05
New Series, Vol. 80, No 20

birth. Its publication was to be accom-
plished in the hot furnace of civil war
! when brother should meet brother annie
the clash and clang of arms-and many
D how many, go down in death in the dill
!. and shock of the fierce conflict. Vel
may angels weep DER the slain of COlum
bias noble SONS, and the grief stricken
hearts of her fair daughters, as they cast
chaplets of fresh flowers upon the green
graves of their loved and lost But while
they weep, methinks they sweep theiI
harps with increased energy, as they con
template the grand fabric of our yindicat-
ed government, our free nation; while OH
the tOpmOSt minaret of freedoms temple
I stands the glorious form of our new
! national life, waving alOft the banner
of universal brotherhood, and proclaim
ing Liberty throughout the land.'
Weep not for the noble dead; they hear
nothing, know nothing of the tumultS,
contentious and discOrdS of earth. Con-
Quoted to the silent mansions of dust,
they cannot be troubled by the rudest as
saults, nor awakened by the loudest
clamOr.
''Lifes htful fever DER. they sleep we'll"
Here rest the great and good; here
they repOse after their generous toll. a
sacred band, they take their sleep togeth-
er, while the year comes with its early
flowers to deck their graves, and gather
them again as winter comes"
Comrades, citizens, guard well the
sanctuary of Freedom erected by our
forefathers at such fearful cost; cement
ed and rendered well nigh invulnerable
by the tolls, Sufferings and blood of our
fnl hro c
hand is ever allowed to soil the precious
Jewels of her inner sanctuary; that no
traitOrous hand smites the high priest of
ficiating at the altar; that as the ages
wheel by, her walls may become more
| firm-her pillars ever be festoOned with
laurel and acacia placed there by loving
hands; her nave and shrine ever perfum-
ed with the oriZOns of an intelligent, free
and Christian people.
Look to the futurel If we could for
an instant lift the veil, methinks we
would see America occupying the front
rank amid the nations OF earth; and see
the same liberty, equity and independ-
ence which SO glOriouSly characteriZes us
as a people, ruling the world; and where
now stands towering to the skies the pal
aces of monarchs, kings and deSpOts, we
could see rising above them all the col
umn OF civil and religious liberty, proud
ly pointing to the glorious orb of our in
dependence, which now sheds its effulgent
beams only on the shores of our beloved
land.
Happy, proud Americal The light
nings of heaven yielded to your philosO
ply, the temptations of earth could not
seduce your patriotism" Let us act well
our part in life's grand drama-eyer re-
membering that the generations of men
are like the waves of the sea-in quick
succession they follow each other to the
coasts of death. Another and another
still succeeds and presses on the shore;
then ebbs and dies to give place to the
following wave. Now buOyed, perhaps,
by hope-now sinking in despair rising
on the tide of prosperity, or overwhelm-
ed with the pillows of misfortune. Some
times where least expected, the storms
gather, the winds arise, and "life'S frail
bubble bursts" Be cautioned, then, not
to trust to cloudless Skies to placid seas,
or sleeping winds. Forget not there are
hidden rocks. Guard, too, against the
sudden blast. Have faith in Christ your
pilot, and then when life's grand bivOuac
closes, and the angels reveille sounds,
calling all sleepers to arise and prepare
for the final rOll-call, you will be safely
guided into the haven of eternal bliss.
Let us look toward, not to degraded
but an improved and elevated future
that when we die, and our children have
been consigned to the charnel house, there
may be a jealous, fervid love of cOun
try in the bOsomS of those who shall bear
our name, wear our features, or inherit
our blood.
Comrades of the Grand Army, your
ranks are thinning-mOre are beneath
than above the soil. Your deeds to-day de-
clare that you are true to each other still
| need not exhOrt you to be loyal to the
cause in which your comrades died, and
to be true to the principles for which
they fought. This country has in you a
mighty power for the perpetuity of its
liberties and its laws. Let us perform
well our part in life's grand drama, that
when lying helpless and low upon our
dying beds, we may be permitted to
thank God that we also had something
to do in crushing the great rebellion.
Now let us take our farewell of those
who slumber in these cemeteries. Their |
ashes are sleeping meath sweet-scented
cOverlets.
''The muffied drums sad funeral roll has beat
The soldiers last tattoo;
No more on life's parade shall meet
That brave and fallen few;
On fames eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread
And glory guards with solemn round
The bivOuac of the dead;
No rumOr of foes advance
Now SwellS upon the wind:
No troubled thought at midnight haunts
OF loved ones left behind;
No visions of the mOrrOw'S strife
The warriors dream alarms;
No braying horse or screaming fife
At dawn shall call to arms.
ton, embalmed and sainted dead,
Dear as the blood you gave;
No impiouS footsteps here shall tread
The herbage of your grave.
Nor shall your glory be forgot
While fame her record keeps,
Or honor points the sacred spot