The Princeton union., 1891-06-04

$40, 900 for soldiers monment at Get
tysburg, and a 100000 more for the
improvement of the Soldiers Home.
Personally, it gave me great pleasure
to be able to vote for both of these
measures.
Veteran Soldiers: It must give you
joy to observe that throughout this
broad land, in every city, town and
hamlet, wherever there is a grave Of
Union soldier there are patriotic men
and women to-day to decorate those
graves with emblems of affection the
flowers of early spring; that wherever
there are Union soldiers still living,
there are tongues to voice in chorus a
nations gratitude. The citizens of
Princeton do themselves proud to-day
to honor your comrades gone before.
But while you live it is your sacred
privilege on the day that you have chos-
en-, on the day that you yourselves have
dedicated to the memory of the soldier
dead, to perform the solemn rites of
Decoration Day. To you the silent
graves of comrades gone before are
archives full Of memories. To you they
recall more forcibly than language the
trials and hardships Of marches, camps
and battles. To you they recall the
sacred pledges and friendships made by
common heroism, by common sacrifice
for common cause. To you, the mem
bers of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie, we therefore yield the privilege of
decorating these graves; and, when
yours shall be numbered among the
rest, may the Sons of Veterans follow
your beautiful example, until we shall
all claim you as common ancestors.
| To the soldiers belongs the first need
of praise. But in the days of the ma
tion's peril there were those who
rather felt than saw grim-visaged war.
Heroes there were, loyal and true, who
could not leave the plow, the shop, the
busy mart, lest those in the field, and
those at home, should suffer for want
of bread, raiment and arms. Patriotic
citizens and statesmen there were who
found life irksome at home, who would
rather have followed their nation flag.
Nor will the mothers, the wives, and
the sisters of our heroes be forgotten
on Memorial Day, when tender hearts
and loving hands shall pay tribute to
the memory of our soldiers. Their
patriotism shone forth with pre-eni-
A nent lustre in a war of fortitude and
self-denial. To the soldier she was a
guiding star. At the hearth-stone, it
has eloquently been said, she awoke in
him the first patriotic impulses; at the
door step she consecrated him with
prayers and tears to his country; in
the hospitals she whispered to him of
the loved ones at home, and assuaged
his pains with soft and gentle words of
hope; with skillful hand she wrote in
scriptions on his banners, and waved a
cheering adieu as he marched to the
front; and then, through her tears
looked up to God to beg His protection
for him and for the noble cause.
And while we rejoice in a reunited
country, let us spread the mantle of
charity over the errors and mistakes of
those who contended against US. Let
us forgive if we cannot forget. Let us
believe that they were honest in their
convictions, and that they have accept
ed the results of their appeal to that
court of last resort, the arbitrament of
arms. The sons of America, both north
and south, have given earnest that,
should, the country ever need their
services in common cause, against a
common enemy, they will prove that,
never, in any country, in any age, did
there exist a race of men more cool in
danger, more calm in counsel, more
brave in battle, than the volunteer sol
diers of America.
Having served his country in the
field, preserved the Union, and made
the country free in fact as well as ir
name, the soldier again became the
civilian citizen. Unostentatiously he
took up the work he had been forced tc
leave. Alas! all did not return. Those
who did, came back ennobled by the
J consciousness of having served as vel
as preserved their country. They ha6
{ learned the Importance OF duty. Theil
duty now was to serve the country in {
: new field Of action. Many questions 0
state policy grew out Of the war. Tht
: nation whose life had cost SO mucl
! through war must not be dishonored il
: peace. The south must be reconstruct
: ed. The war debt must be paid. The
i wounds Of the war must be healed
$ Peace and prosperity must be cult
!. waited. No one could better appreciat,
) the Importance Of these questions, none
> could better understand their solution
4 and none were more ready and willing
VI to meet the new obi igatiOnS than tn,