Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1891-06-24

TcS Sf H Oa[-Aay ~, 1871. Medicine
CONTINUED from last week.l
Brethren OF Q cause not lost but sleeping
IT makes me happy to be with you this day
You were not conquered; but overborne BY
vast odds and superior ply steal forces" And
then, but . few weeks ago the picture of Wash
ington was removed frOm the legislative hal
In the state Of Arkansas and that Of Je6 Davis
| put IN its place.
IT'S TO b sincerely hoped that all this hatred
may, Orelone die out. and to this end let IN All
labor and wOPk-treat every southern man
who comes among Ne 90 his merit deserved
Let them know that In the north Q man 1.
measured By the good he does. Let our stand
ard DO that OF merit, OF worth and not OF hatred
or revenge, OF caste, nationality or of birth
For II worth be not our standard, 1--WE may be
wise. rioh or great; but never can be blessed y
At the CLOSE OF the war men who had suryiv
Cd tne wreck and clash or arms. felt the need
OF some Organisation that would perpetuate in
something more durable than marble or brass
the strong friendship and the ties that are
stronger than that OF family or Kindred, those
| gained By friendship, toll and suffering. Ties
gained where one man lays down his life fon
| his fellow-that where . man gives his service
/ oAAN
that his country might not die, but live; an
organization devoid Of all political opinions, OF
religious preferences, and this IL why we are
here to-day.
On the 9Th day Of April. 1858. the nrst post Of
the q. A. X. was organized at Decatur, ILL.,, by
DR.. B. F. Stephenson, late surgeon Of the l4th
LII. infantry. Tho next post was at Spring.
neid, which was rapidly followed by the Or
YO nNa % T. VWya-
va, Ohio and Missouri. The frst department
convention was held 1t Springfield. ILL.,. July
l2th, 1850. and COmrade John II. Palmer was
elected tho nFst department commander. He
was afterwards governor Of that state and is
NO" an nonored United States senator. and
from this small beginning, the order has ex.
tended until 1t now embraces every state and
territory in the union. This was followed by
1ne organization of the Sons Of veverans and
Womens Relief Corpe. All under and subor-
olnate 70 the q. A. 4. The organizations are
all non-political and non-sectarian; but con-
'sin mon ana women Of all political and religi-
Gus creedS. the object being the promotion of
loyalty' fraternity and charity" among their
members. Political and religious preferences
are not allowed to be named among members
while In session. So many of our comrades
- ~~@@S@@e H6D6I
bullets and whose abode were IN silent resting
places OF the dead. while the living comrades,
citizens. children and maidens desired to Der
FORM some hitting act to their memory. and for
the purpose Of fitting exemplincatIon of this
loVe ana anection, shared BY all, On the 9Th of
May 1865, Comrade John A. Logan, then COM
mander In chief Of the G.. A. R., issued an Or
der. setting apart Nay the aOth Of that and all
succeeding years % memorial day, for the
purpose OF strewing flowers on, or otherwise
decorating the graves Of comrades who died In
deIense OF their country during the war Of the
late rebellion. and since of wounds and dis
ease. and whose bodies now lie in aDmost every
city, village and hamlet church yard in the
land.
We are organized, comrades, 40 our reRula-
tons tell us, for the purpose among other
thing, OF preserving and strengthening those
kind and frsternal feelings which haye bound
togethe- the soldiers and marines, who united
to cypress the rebellion. What can aid more
to secure this result than By cheerishing tend.
erly the memory OF our heroic dead, who made
their breasts baricade between our country
and tts foes2 Their soldier lives were the rev.
Hoe or freedom to q race in chains, and their
deaths the tattoo OF rebelliOus tyranny in
arms. We should guard their graves with
sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated
wealth and taste of tho nation can add to their
adORnment and security is but fitting tribute
to the memory Of her fallen defenders. Let no
WaAton foot tread rudely ON such hallowed
ground As rests onour noble. generous, talented
and bravo soldiers ana our martyed presi-
dents, Lincoln and GARFIELD. As nation their
virtues should ever be emulAted. their bravery
ADJ RAN-
spected. Let the pleasant paths invite the
coming and going of revereDt visitors and fond
memories. Let no vandalism Of avarice and
noslect-no rAvages Of time testify to the
present or the coming generations that we
have forgotten. as people the cost Of Q free
and undivided republic.
II other eyes grow dull and other hands
slack, and other hearts in the solemn trust.
ours shall keep it well a. long a. the light and
warmth Of life remain In US. Let us, then, to-
day. a. In the past. and a. We will, God helping
us, At the appointed time. gather around their
sacred remains and garland the passionless
mounds aboVe them with tho choicest flowers
Of SDFingtime, lot W raise above them the dear
old flag they saved from dishonor. Let US in
this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid
and assist those they have left among US, q
Bnc
soldiers and sailors widow and orphan. Let US
hero and now pledge ourselves to keep up this
practice from year to year while . survivor of
the war remains to honor the memory of hts
departed comrades. We can thus keep q
watch over their graves, % long ~ the last
survivor Of this deadly conflict remains to tell
the tale to the rising generation yet unborn;
but when the bugle calls us from earth 70 the
grand army above, where all must meet and
be separated a. . shepherd divides his sheep
from the goats, may it be the happy lot of all
true soldiers to be placed on the right side as
they werO during the war.
But our society La different from all others
80 far as 1 know. While other societies are
constantly drawing recruits from the outside
world. this we cannot do, and as each comrade
is gathered to hts fathers and departed to the
silent home Of the dead. We who are left will
continue to shed the tear and Strew the flow
er on the new made grave until the last hero
falls and then our society becomes extinct
Then the politicians will cease to talk about
the ''old soldier racket" and will cease 70
make promises before the election to be brok-
en- after the election. when we, two years
ago elected a comrade president and majori-
ty of congress all on the same platform, We
all expected the promise ut = service pension
to be fulfilled; but alas! our fondest hopes
soon deOaysd. The same united union hating
crowd from the south. soon like 1t did before
the war. made them skulk like whipped SPAN
iels, and the soldier was told to wait. And in
return. the old soldier told some Of those peri
odical soldier loving crowd to wait, last fall,
and they are stiIl waiting. and will 60 continue
untilthey are Joined by . few more next year.
and then they CsR I'll wait until they become
respectable, Is to numbers at least.
We. as old soldiers, have three demands
upon the country, and we expect to continue
this retiring BUSINESS until they are granted:
A service pension, . return Of the premium on
gold that the soldier lost on his pay during the
war, and an honest enforcement Of the law,
giving the old soldier preference for all Offices
appointive, all things else being equal. and as
fast as our servants commit perjury in the en-
81 AZ L. I'LL -,