The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-05-22
While God is marching on.
"a VISION or WAR"
COL. II. O. IsGEBsoLLL GREAT ISprANAPoLrs
sPEEcH.-sEPr 81, 1876.


COL. II. O. IEGERsoLLL GREAT IypIANAPoLrs
sPEEcH.-sEPT 81, 1876.
The past riscs before me like n dream. Again
are in the great struggle for National life. We
bear the sounds of preparation, tho music Of
bosierous drums. thc silver voices Of heroic t,Ies.
We see thousands Of nsscuitiaEes. and hear the
appcats of orators. We the paie checks OF
women and the flushed taees OF men, and in those
urscmblagcs we sec all the dead whose dust
we have covered with flowers. We lose sight Of
them no more We are with them when they
list IN tho great army OF freedom. We them
part with those they love Some walking for
the last time in quiet. woody places with lie aid-
eur they adore. We hear the whisperinEs aud tie
sweet VOWS OF eternal love they inReringly part
forever. Others bending over cradles, kissing
babes that nre naieep. Seine arc receiving thc
blessings Of old men. Some parting with
mothers who bold them, and press them To their
hears gain mas again aud say nothing Kisses
aud teafs-tsaTs aud kiHses--iiyine niuglinB of
agony aud love Aud some talking with wives,
and endeavoring .yith bravo words, spoken in the
old tones drive from their hearts the awful fear
We sec them part. Ne see tho wife standing ia
the door with the babe ia her arms-slanding ia
the sunlight sobbing. At the turn Of the road
hand waves--she answers by holding high Ia her
loving arms the child. He Is gone, aud forever
under the Haunting flags. keeping time TO the
grand wild music Of war-narchtnR down the
streets Of the great eiies-thTough the towns and
across the prniries-down To tho fields OF glory, TO
do mud TO die for the eternal right.
We go with them, one and all We arc by their
side on Hii the CORY acids-in all the hospitals OF
pan--on all the weary marches. We stand guard
with them ia tile wild storm, and under the quiet
starr. We with them ia rHyinss running with
tFsa fgil q.
them between contsndiBg hosts, uaabls to move,
Wild with thirst the life ebbing slowly away among
llIe wilhercd leaves. We them pierced with
balls and torn with shells in the trenches. by forts
and in the whirlwind Of the charge, where men
become IRON with nerves Of steel.
We are with them in the prisons Of hatred aud
famine; but human speech can tell what
they endured.
Wa arc at homo when the news comes that they
dead. We sec the maiden ia the shadow Of her
first sorrow. We the ailycred head of tIie old
man bowed with hs last grief.
The past rises before as, aud we see 1000. 900 Of
human beings governed with the iash-we scs
them bound hand and foot-wc hear the strokes of
cruel whips-we tile hounds tracking women
through tangled sWainps. We babes sold from
the breasts Of mothers Cruelty unspoakaDeI Out
rage iniinite
-Four millions bodies ia Chains 900 900 souls In
father aud child trampled benealh tle brutal feet
ofmight. Aud all this done under our own
| beautiful banner of the free
The past rises before US. We hear the roar and
shrelS Of the bursting shell. tbs broken fcltoFs
| fall. These heroes died We look. Instead OF
| slaves we see men and women aud children The
wand OF progress touches the auction block the
/ slave pen, the wbipping-post, aud we sco homes
and lresides, and school houses aud books. aud
where all want and crime and cruelty and fear
/ we see tie faces Of the free.
These heroes dead. They died for liberty
| they died for They at rest. They sleep In
! the land they made free, under the flag they rem
! dercd stainless. under the solemn pines the snd
| hemloeiGs the fearful willows and the embracing
| vines. They sleep beneath the shadows Of The
clouds careless alike ofsunshiuo Of Storm each
| la the wndowlcss Palace Of Rest. Earth may run
| red with other waFs-they are at peace. La the
midst Of battle ia the roar Of conflict they found
the serenity Of death. i have sentiment for
soldiers. living dead: cheers for the living
tears for the dead