Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1891-06-04

lished. The example OF the illustrous
Grant during the last few weeks of his
life, the messages of peace and good will
that went forth from his death bed,
were fitting close of most memorable
life, and the heroism and magnanimity
there displayed were not eclisped by the
splendor of his most brilliant victories of
the war. We believe that peace in truth
and fact is at last brought about. The
cordial greeting extended to the presi-
dent of the United States during his
recent tour in the south is convincing
evidence of an era of peace, OF return
of good will and fraternal ties that were
severed long before the firing upon
Sumter. The war clouds gathered and
burst. The lives OF thousands of brave
men we're offered up to the god of war,
the pent up passions spent their fury,
"the government at Washington still
lives" and at last peace reigns through
out united and happy people. We
come today with our offering OF flowers
and devoutly decorate these graves as a
slight but appropriate testimonial to the
heroism of those who braved the dangers
and hardships of field and camp and
march that ours and succeeding genera
tions might enjoy the priceless boon of
peace. We adopt this means of bring
ing forward and carrying along from
decoration day to decoration day mes
sage from the past to the present and
from the present to the future. The
nineteenth century is sending forward
to the twentieth century and to all sue
ceeding time, message of appreciation
and love for fallen heroes; their virtues
are proclaimed on every hand today;
their valor and patriotism are the theme
of Inspiration for orators and poets and
singers all over this great land, and with
out any reference to past or present po-
litical alliances or differences, without
any distinction as to religious creeds or
biases, the whole people of this great
sisterhood of states, completely obliter-
ating all the prejudice and bitterness
and passion of the past, today join in
universal acclaim, in keeping sacred and
hallowed the dauntless valor of those
who went forth to battle at their coun-
try's bidding.
And what of those who still linger
with us?
All of the great commanders have sur
rendered to the tactics of the one enemy
they could not overcome. Death has
claimed them all. And the ranks are
thinning out. The young man of thirty
years ago is the gray-haired man of
today. The middle-aged man of then is
now old and feeble. The fight of time
is appalling. For an undivided country
and for the prosperity and peace that
are ours, we owe to them debt of low
ing gratitude, which neither requiem for
the dead nor eulogy of the living can
discharge. These services and the
strewing of these flowers are and can be
only commemorative.
And the living should not be forgot
ten. 1t is pernicious custom, SO preva-
lent today, of waiting until after per-
son is dead before making the least eff
fort to discover the virtues and merits of
his life. Amy person will lead better
and more useful life, if he knows there is
some just appreciation of his worth. To
the soldier, then, while living let us ex-
press in unmistakable terms the excel
lence and value of his service in behalf
of an undivided country, and let CRATE
full and appreciative nation, through its
representatives in the congress of the
United States, provide suitable and sub
stantial means of contributing to the
ease and comfort of his declining days.
With these sentiments of love and
generation for the fallen heroes, of end
less esteem and gratitude for the living
heroes, of thankfulness of heart for the
prosperity, for the happiness, for the
good will and Peace that abound, is it
not fitting on this day that we should
pause and considering the uncertainty
of life, calmly contemplate the dawn of
the coming of the rainbow of perfect
Peace; that Peace switch passeth all
understanding" the Peace of the New
Jerusalem?