Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-06-05

many another persisted in some Southern
prison, and Others still breathed their
lives away in hospital or came home but
to die. In the National cemetery at Get
tysburg, the scene of deadly struggle; in
many spot where battle were fought
and by many
Rivers margin, where, across the leagues,
Children's fond notes, and woman's memories
come.
Like angels, to sit by the sepulchre,"
they are resting. Since the war also the
survivors have been steadily passing
away-as | have heard some one say,
veteran every hour. We think tenderly
and sadly of this sleeping host. When
Lincoln spoke at the dedication of Get
tysburg cemetery on November 10. 1863,
he used these memorable words: -Four
score and seven years ago our fathers
brought forth upon this continents new
nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated
to the proposition that all men are created
equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil
war, testing whether that nation, or any
nation so conceived and so dedica-
ted, can long endure. We are met on
great battlefield of that war. We have
come to dedicate portion Of that field as
final resting place for those who here
gave their lives that that nation might
live. 1t is altogether fitting and proper
that we should do this. But in larger
sense we cannot dedicate. we cannot con-
secrate, we cannot hallow this ground.
The brave men, living and dead who
struggled here, have consecrated it far
above our power to add or detract. The
world will little note, nor long remember,
what we say here, but it can never forget
what they did here. 1t is for us, the
! living, rather to be dedicated here to the
unfinished work which they who fought
here have thus far so nobly advanced.
1t Is rather for us to be here dedicated TO
the great task remaining before us, that
from these honored dead we take ncreas-
ed devotion to that cause for which they
gave the last full measure of devotion;
that we here highly resolve that these
dead shall not have died in vain; that
this nation, under God, shall have a new
birth of freedom, and that government of
the people, by the people, and for the
people shall not perish from the EARTH
1t seems to me that we are to follow in
the line which these words indicate.
We have no war to finish, but we can
carry on the work of the soldier dead
and show our loyalty to our country by
standing for the right and living "a pure
and true citizens. We are to do our
small part to make this nation worth
saving. The glory of a nation lies in the
intelligence and virtue and godliness Of
its people. When so much has been done,
at ever-to-be-forgOtten costs, for this
land of ours, when these eloquent graves
are speaking to us. shall we fail to live
to the highest aims? My soldier friends,
you who especially desire in this sweet
spring-time to honor the memory of your
fallen comrades, you can bring no flower
so fitting as ''the white flower of blame
less life" Whatever your creed may be,
whatever your courage has been in facing
the old-time Southern foe, fail not to
render God that reasonable service which
He demands. | honor you for what you
have done, but desire that you may be
thoroughly loyal to Him who gave His
life for you and thus at great cost is able
to offer you that forgiveness and life
which every one needs. | beseech you,
show as great courage in fighting the
foes of your soul as you displayed on
distant fields of blood. And as you need
/, ed leaders then, remember that with your
utmost effort you cannot succeed in this
fight without realizing your dependence
upon the most inspiring and mighty
leader the world has known. Would
; that no brave man might fail of the
eternal reward And as the years pass
| on and one by one you are summoned TO
; the silent land. may you depart conscious
= that you have not only been true 10 your
country but true to your God!