The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-26

So to-day We gather, at the suggestion Of
the Grand Army of the Republic, that we
call up again the memory Of the patriot
dead, and IN our places of worship, as q
the gracious influence that e1haies s' from II N
their graves, endeavoring to catch such
lessons that the record Of history may be:
"These did not die in vain.'
On Friday next we 20 to the place OF
burial to strew flowers upon their graves
many graves, only q name. Soon they
shall be forgotten. But not everything
shall perish. These men, who suffered,
fought and died, we're not actuated by a
selfish ambition. They went out as volun-
teer martyrs upon the altar Of holy pur-
pose: There is duty We owe to the living
soldiers, but there is a duty far more
sacred, that We owe to the dead, and that is
to cherish their memory, to exalt the cause
for which they suffered, and see that their
sacrifice was not for naught.
What are, then, some of the lessons that
We ought to fasten in our thoughts and en-
shrine in our civilization, as an obligation
from the living to the dead? They are
these:
I. Broader ideas of human rights. The
struggle in which these men participated
was conflict of ideas. It was the antag-
onism between an advancing Christian civ
ilization and the fossilized condition of q
dead past. It was the result of reading the
Declaration of Independence in the light of
heaven, and seeing there depth of mean
in the statement, "All men are created free
and equal, and endowed with certain in
alienable rights" It was thus time when
the principle of the revolution was taking a
wider sweep. It was an idea marching in,
like John Browns soul; an idea that the
humanity; that might does not make right;
that he who would rob the least of men of
his just rights, is traitor to his kind and an
enemy to God; an idea whose final victory
means the brotherhood of mankind, and
whose song of triumph will be. "Peaoe on
earth; good will to men,
II. Keener appreciation of the blessings
Of union. "united we stand; divided, We
fall, }" is the motto of one of the states.
worthy to be the motto of all. It contains,
in its expression; world of political phi
states and nations, and the history Of that
continent is but the history of battle, 90
that her soil is almost soaked in the blood
of her citizens. Among the best thinkers
of the age there is project for an inter-
national congress, that shall have power to
settle all questions in dispute, and there
happy thought. Let the nations become
republics, and the world moves in that di-
rection, with the ballot in every hand, let
such congress settle difficulties, and you
have lifted humanity to high pinnacle of
blessing and helped on the good time of
prophecy, when swords and spears shall be
turned to happier uses, and peace spread
her wings over universal empire. All of
this suggests the troubles that would have
confronted us with shattered union, and
tells something of the home joy that is for
us az We stand IN our integrity as a nation.
These patriot dead, whose memory We
cherish. suffered to keep us one. Shall we
not catch lesson from their graves. and
joining hand to hand, as heart to heart,
face the future with the cry, "forever one.'
LII. We catch also q lesson in patriotism
We ought to love our country with devoted
attachment. "A country is an association
tor purpose. Human advancement, more
than We think for, is a result of association.
The lower animals are lower because CON
tent to live and act each one alone. The
family, the circle of friends, cur neighbors
this law, and levers that lift us higher. Be-
ing such, we ought to love our country as
we love our homes. Aggressive war, or that
born Of the spirit of revenge, is contrary to |
the teachings of the gospel. But to defend
walton is legitimate and right. We should
not contend about trifles nor get angry |
at imaginary wrongs. But real wrong /
should be recognized. Jesus says: IF q |
man smite thee on one cheek turn him the |
other ALSO" He was striking at the spirit
Pilate and Simeon unjustly and wickedly
smote him on the cheek he turned to him to
ask: "Why smitest thou me?' Did Paul
brother going to law with brother?
Yet he himself, when his rights as a Roman
citizen were trampled upon, appealed to the
! s for justice and profession.
and eentieness. but it does not
lay traps for his humiliation. II mid
night prowler invades my homo, it is my
Christian duty to put him out. Nor can I
stop to put on gloves with which to handle
MIN SOFTLY, nor must l throw featherbed
out OF the window on which to land him
gently. II he seeks the life of my wife, or
Of my child, it is not my Christian duty
WITH soft words to try and dissuade him
rom ms purpose, or to hold prayer meet
ln9 Tor his conversion, but imminence of
LANCER demands immediate action along
ms tnat God himself has written on hu-
nan hearts. The same Law that applies in
re nome. applies with equal force to the
nation, or any other association that APP
2eaIs to my heart, or holds within its fold
ne aependent objects of my affection. We
euens 70 love our country. And if this be
|xue IN general sense, what wealth of af-
lection should American citizens give to
|near iand' nome OF the brave and of the
|ree.
Thus there be impressive lessons that in
non services - this may veil be impressed
% our tnou9hts. while the grave and
(eath are silent, he it was 40 the living. to
eks these ie:sons, and in these Memorial
Zays, make them eloquent for good.