Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-30

clouds, which had 20 long hung threateninRly
around the horizon, and which had seemed 90
far of, now burst forth with an awful sudden
| stoutest heart
| We see these companies Of citizen soldiers on
the morning Of their departure for the fields Of
war taking leave Of home and friends. Some
are walking for the last time with the maidens
they adore. We hear the whispered vows Of
eternal love as they part, perhaps forever.
| Others are kissing babes asleep in their cradles
and taking leave Of wives while with cheerful
words and smiles they are endeavoring to drive
away the awful fear. Others again are receiv-
ing the parting blessings of father and mother.
We seem to hear the sifver-voiced bugles CALI
ing them away and see them falling into line
and march away in their blue uniforms, keep
ing step to the grand music of war.
Through the streets of towns and cities
| across prairies, down to the fields Of glory to
battle for the Union and the right. We are
with them on the CORY fields and in the hos
pitfalls OF pain and suffering, torn by shot and
! shell or wasted by disease. We are also with
| them on the weary marches, in the bivouac and
| on guard with them beneath the silent stars
We see them after complete triumph has
crowned their arms returning again, with tat
| tered banners and decimated ranks to their
| homes and former pursuits of life: many are
missing and by their graves a grateful nation
| stands in reverence today.
| THE LESSON OF THE DAY.
Now, what, you ask, is the meaning Of these
exercises? What are the lessons they are de-
signed to teach? What do these exercises, held
all over this land today, signify? That great
trinity OF principles OF the Grand Army Of
| the Republic, fraternity. charity and loyalty,
hnds no greater exemplification than in these
ceremonies. At the Christmas season deeper
love and reverence for Him whose birth that
day commentaries, and q friendlier feeling for
those around us, takes possession of our hearts.
| IL Is truth a of Garth and
good Will to men. This fraternal union Of
hearts, welded in the fire of battle, as each year
brings around this season of flowers and this
| day OF sacred duties and sad memories, is by
the sweet mantle of charity bound together in
closer bond Of comradeship, and we are melted
to greater hberality and sacrifice for our less
fortunate comrades; and their faults are now
easily transformed into virtues. With US charity
Is used In Its most comprehensive sense. We
seek to wrong no man or judge him for his
opinions. however opposed they may be to our
own. 1t ls the universal custom, / believe,
wherever our decorating committee perform
the duties assigned them. to strsw the graves
OF friends and foes alike.
That charity which sutfereth long and is kind,
that thinketh no evil, but rejoices in the truth,
Is second in the great trinity of principles
which, like band Of silver, unites us. But
overshadowing all others is the crowning virtue
OF loyalty; loyalty to country and the flag we
fought to maintain, loyalty to the eternal prin-
friends and to the government established by
our fathers. Without the loyalty of the people
behind it this would be the weakest nation on
earth and might become a prey to the rapacity
OF nations which would soon take advantage Of
our weakness. But with loyal people we are
safe from their Entertainments. Loyalty is our
greatest safeguard. 1t is better than great
armies OF soldiers who fight only for glory or
conquest. The great mission of the Grand
Army OF the Republic is to teach our children
and I those who come after us this great princi,
pie OF loyalty. So the G. A. r. has instituted
this beautiful custom and the Congress of the
United States has made this q public holiday
for the purpose of showing to the world that
the men who offer their lives at the call Of duty
should not be forgotten by grateful people.
THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY.
Then let us learn well the lessons Of this
hour. But for what purpose, you ask, are we
to learn lessons Of loyalty? Why should men
voluntarily offer their lives for their country?
will tell you that in return your country
offers you civil and religious liberty, and this
is greater blessing than life itself. What
would life be without the blessings which
liberty brings? Some Of you here today know
what it is to offer your life for your country.
suppose that l, speaking for this nation, should
say to this assembly, want your life; come
up on this platform and offer it. How many
would come up here and say, here am I; take
my life for your need2 Yet more than two
millions of men made that answer. Suppose,
again, should say / ask you to become Grip
pies and drag out a miserable existence till you
die, or become idiots for your country. How
many OF you would volunteer to do that? Yet
more than two millions Of men obeyed that
call, and among them were the men whose
memories we honor today.
When Pericles had made Greece famous in
arts, liberty and law he called to his aid the
genius Of Phidias to erect in Athens a monu-
ment to commemorate its glory and beauty.
lie erected on the heights Of the Acropolis
colossal statue OF Minerva. armed with spear
and shield, as the representative of liberty and
law. To every Greek she was an emblem Of
glory and power, before which all bowed with
reverent awe. But the Acropolis, with its
temples and statues, is now heap of rims.
We cannot restore them to their former great
ness and grandeur, but we can erect in our
hearts and those who come after us q monu-
ment more lasting than brass or marble;
monument dedicated to universal liberty and
equality before the law; monument before
which all nations will bow in alteration. The
winds that blow from these shores have carried
to other climes the word Freedom and have
awakened responsive chord in the hearts Of
the oppressed OF all nations. From the vine
clad hills of the Rhine, across the Alps to the
steppes of Russia, the cry Of liberty has gone
up anc waited eastward across the Himalayas
to the plains Of Hindostan. The despotic
rulers OF monarchies turn pale with fear at that
cry from the people they have so long OPP
PASoSC0. Ahcs are ptSifluluB 10 feel the weight
of the immortal principle that the only lust
power OF government is derived from the con.
sent Of the governed.
THE MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC.
The mission of this republic is to solve the
problem of universal liberty and equality be-
fore the law. For this purpose was the war for
the Union fought out. Some think that SOL
diers are chiefly renowned for bravery; why.
bravery is one Of the cheapest kind Of COM
modities. Cats, dogs and lions fight to the
death, and who will say they fight less bravely
than do soldiersi But there is this difference
between their warfares and ours they have no
ideas behind them; our race has IDEAS and ideas
are immortal. The war for the Union was one
or ideas, not mere test of physical strength
and endurance. The right triumphed in that
great contest, and we are here to perpetuate
the principles for which the Union soldier
fought and to honor the memory of those who
fell in defense of those principles, or who.
having survived it, have since fallen by the
wayside in the march of life. stand here to-
day and can truly say that treasuring in my
heart all the sad and sacred memories of the
past, OF fierce battles, of comrades stricken
down by my side, and four years Of toll and
danger, have no malice in my heart for
those who battled for q cause they deemed lust.
and are now willing to accept in good faith the
results Of that war, but can freely say to them
as citizens OF a reunited and undivided country.
as did the great leader OF the army Of freedom.
LET us have peace"
r1,A~o De- 30