The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-06-04

Once more have we assembled on the
Both day of May, the day that the ma
tion has set apart for the decoration o
the soldiers graves. Sacred are the
memories which cluster around the
scenes of those eventful years from 1861
to 1865. Those were years of sadness and
of sorrow. Scarcely was there house in
our fair commonwealth, and throughout
the land, that had not in its home circle
r vacant chair.
Duty had made its stern demand q
nation had called for her sons to defend
her rights and liberties. Martial music
echoed from every hilltop and valley
old men shook their heads and sighed
the younger fell into line and marched
to the place Of conflict and of death, dem
onstrating by their actions that they low
ed their country more than life.
Thus in the course of events, ont of cir
cumstanees growing out Of the war of the
rebellion, there originated the happy
thought to organize the survivors of the
loyal forces into a solid compact, called
The GRIND Army of the Republic -
This brotherhood is organized on the
broad principle of Fraternity, Charity
and Loyalty y; into her ranks none can
enter on whom a stain of treason rests.
1t is the duty of the living to keep sacred
the memory of the dead. Sentimentalism
and cant will never obliterate the scenes
and experiences of those years from the
memories oflate comrades in arms. Their
pains and aches, now felt by them, are
silent memories of their historic past. A
republic that would forget the services of
its army, could not maintain an existence,
for the existence of republic depends
upon the patriotism and loyalty of its
citizens.
The war of the rebellion is over but
the effects Of the war are, and viii be
forever, apparent in the history and gov
ernment of the United States. The
three and half millions of enfranehised
freedmen are living monuments of our
national struggle who now enjoy the
blessings Of liberty as the result Of the
war. But there are many families to-
day who can scarcely realize that the
gain of the nation was any gain to them.
The desolstion that took possession of
their homes and bereft them of all their
charms, has cast q shadow over their
lives that no sunlight can penetrate. In
these homes treason and rebellion are
considered crimes of the most desperate
character. The ability to suppress trea-
son in government when its roots have
entSined about its heart, and the poison
GUS fangs Of the scorpion monster have
fastened themselves into the vitals of the
nation to destroy it, is something entire
ly different from conquering an external
foe.
Treason as dark as death, with designs
deep as hell, lifted up her bony hands to
tear down the flag Of the country, TO tram
pie its sacred folds into the dust. These
things can be forgiven, but, they cannot
be forgotten, at least by the soldiers who
participated in the struggle to maintain
the union of the states bequeathed to our
fathers.
We believe that. there is a God who
watches over the destinies of nations, and
that he does in some instances change
the course of events to reach unforeseen
ends. Yet we eheerfully accept the
broader sentiment of free agency in a
a national sense, the same as in indiyid-
ual matters. have not the credulity 10
believe that God would have interposed
in our behalf, if we had all remained at
home in the north.
National activity was required, and in
dividual vigilance to preserve for us and
our children the best form of government
on the face of the earth. Eternal vigil
lance is the price of liberty" The time
for silence on the subject of the rebellion
has not yet come, and during the life
time of my comrades it will never come.
They cannoti blot out of existence their
own history, neither have they any de-
sire to do so. 1t is not the object of the
Grand Army of the Republic to engender
strife nor to inculcate malicious feelings
into the hearts of the young and rising
generation toward our conquered free
men. Nor is the q. A. L. especially call
edto bury ou: Of sight the deeds of noble
daring and the untold suffering of our
comrades. The patriotism manifested,
and the heroism displayed during the
war Of the rebellion has scarcely paral-
lei in history.
The fairest pages of Spartan history
can boast of no truer patriotism than
ours. Did Spartan wives'encOurage their
husbands to be true to their country,
even at the cost of their lives, and our
American women do the same? Did
Spartan mothers give their sons to die
in defense of their country? Did Ameri-
can mothers withhold theirs What
sacrifices did the Grccians or the r omans
make that were intelligent and reasona-
bic, that the union people of the north did
not make? Did any soldiers ever die
nobler death than ours We answer,
no. Such thing would be impossible
to coniceve of.
The thought of,!death is sad enough,
but 10 think of dying away from home,
among strangers, is sadder still but sad
dest of all, is to think of dying as our
soldiers died. Many died alone where
they fell on the field of battle, in the
woods, in the swamps, and among the
rocks, alone no mothers voice to cheer
and comfort them, no wife to wipe the
death damp from the face or raise
the fevered head a little higher. Rob-
bed of all the sacred influences of
home, to die alone and be forgotten.
No Not forgotten To-day we call
their self.sacrifee.. and loyalty to mind,
and while the nation lives they will not
be forgotten. They live forever enshrin-