The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-31

Ho fought with Sherman from Chattanooga
TO Atlanta. He marched to the Aea; and
then. turning northwnrd, staid with
Ms company and was In every battle
before johnson surrendered to Sherman,
With a scouting party. no encountered
Wheeler'a cavalry and instantly received
hve wounds, ONE through tho loft lung, one
In the abdomen, two in the left arm anu
one in the right arm. In this terrible CON
rough wagon forty miles and dumped down,
tho only Yank in = rebel hospital. A young
surgaon, who had never held the knife, took
the left arm of at tho shoulder joint and
dressed his other Wounds. He returned to
Ohio and after two years Of intense suffer
ing he again enlisted in another war: ne
cams to Kansas with loss than $3.50 IN
money. He ~pre-empted a home and filed
ON a tree olnim~ adjoining. He built u dug
out; he did his own cooking for a while; he
married a good wife and they, together
with their children. eight years ago. had n
magnificent farm of a half %gection, in n high
state OF cultivation, enough money saved
to buy a good home in the little city where
l live.
/ have heard men say that they were tired
of tho soldier racket. nm not and | never
expect to be, and it will be a sad day for
this country when the people grow weary
of the soldier racket. Ii will be a great
W our COuubIy Wiel elu
children are not taught what the soldier
racket really il. The soldier racket began
when the tlng was lowered ut Sumpter. 1t
will end when liberty and patriotism are
dead. The soldier racket was heard on that
cold morning at Donaldson; it WAS heard at
Gettysburg midst booming of nno and
to the rattle of 10000 musketry. 1t was
heard for four long years throughout one
half OF this country, and its echo shocked
the world. IT bore the flag above the
clouds Of Lookout mountain; it carried 1T
triumphantly to the sea. The soldier
racket was heurd when John A.. Logan
rode down the lines at At
venge.'' Sheridan rode from Winchester
on that memorable day TO the tune of the
soldier racket. 1t was the soldier racket
that caused the proud spirit of Lee to sur
render his sword to Gen. Grant. The moan
ing of the dying on a thousand helds OF
battle was heard in accord to ths soldier
Jacket. The soldier racket il the national
hymn, the Marseillaise of the republic, and
when men become so sordid in their hunt for
gold, when they are carried away in the
pursuit of ambition or pleasure, and sheer
ingly speak of the soldier racket, the re-
proof should come hot and quick from ev-
cry heart hat beats from the transports of
liberty and patriotism in the country.
But on this day let us, while we revere
the memory of the dead soldier and pay
tribute to the living one, try to draw some
lessons from the war. Time has cooled all
%prejudices, 80 that we ought to be able now
to see the truth, and shall / not say it, that
the men who fought on the other side
fought for what they believed to be right.
Tho southern soldier fought for a cause he
had been taught for a century was just.
He had been taught from the press OF all
the southland and much of the north; from
svery stump in the south; from every plat
form-aye, from every pulpit as we'll that
their cause was sacred. The southern sol
tie as did the northern soldier, and he
prayed to the same God for victory before
whom the northern soldier knelt fol
strength and consolation. But the inspira-
tion Of the southern soldier came from IN.
other n q stronger source. He waged bat
tie in his own fatherland. He fought beside
his ~hsarthstone; in sight of his loving wife
ed the southern soldier on every bloody
field. He was wrong, everlastingly wrong
and the boy who wore the blue was right
but that great truth could not be known by
the south until the crimes of a people were
blotted out by the red-hot rod of war
Hence to-day, If there be a southern soldier
who sleeps III yonder beautiful cemetery
within the shadow of that magnificent
mountain, far away from his once sunny
tropical home, do not pass his grave by, bu'
stop and scatter flowers, sweet emblems O.
peace and purity, over the ground where h
sleeps. Let us all believe that over yonde
there is but one camp-over there ar
Grant, Thomas, Hooker, Logan, MoPher
son, Hancock. Sheridan, and but a shor
time ago Sherman joined the throng. They
and thousands Of others who wore the blu,
are camped on the other side, and il
it not better to hope that in the sam,
camp are Lee, Jackson, Johnstoue, Clai-
burns and thousands of those who wore tn,
gray, and the sellers who wore the blue anl
the soldiers who wore the. gray, in tn.
realms of perfect peace and happiness, lool
down in benediction upon the land no more
to be wetted with fraternal blood.
In concluding the speaker thought it vel
to impress upon coming generations tina
the last war was not the only struggle thai
liberty has against slavery. Are We to-day
growing more and more to love money an1
less and less to love country and home!
Are we growing more and more sordid anC
less and less humane? Are there any evil
dences that the select few who are stronger
are ~endsavoring in every way that they car
to make the great many who are weaker
serve them? If SO, to what length will thil
idea be carried? Does public opinion put
proper restraint upon the power of gold
Does public opinion exalt as it should nan
hood, intellect, virtue.
At the conclusion of the exercises the au-
dience arose and Joined in the battle hymn
of the republic.