Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-09-16
'62 AND '92.

ing in which the congress of the United States legislates for the people they read upon an immense banner which was spread across the entire south front of the capitol building the words: ''The country will never forget and can never repay it's debt of gratitude to the soldiers of the union."
 That sentiment was intended to be true; it was true, and it is true to- day. And yet have often heard young men in Washington seeking govern ment office complain because the old soldiers are given the preference in the matter of appointment to government positions. They feel that the old sol diers are in their way and ought to get out of the way of the rising generation, and that the law giving veterans the preference should be repealed. Again and again have heard the complaint, with sarcastic allusions to the length of life of the veterans, such as: "Win they never die?''
 Young men, half million of them died when you were in your cradle. Ten thousand of them fell inside of fifteen minutes on the morning of June 8, 1864, in front of Cold Harbor, when the army of the Potomac made an assault all along the line. Twelve to fifteen thousand of them fell on June 27, 1864, in the same month of the same year, all around Kenesaw's bloody heights. Many thousands of them died in prison or in confederate hospitals, naked, hunger ing, suffering, unloved, and far from the dear folks at home. Many other thou sands of them to-day hobble on crutches or flap empty sleeves in the breezes. They are DYING FAST ENOUGH. Half million of them still live, but everyone of them, barring none, bears in his body a mark of battle or the germs of disease contracted while campainging in order that this government might not fade from the earth. But for them there would be no government for you to serve, nor to protect you. Don't be in hurry, young man! Don't be in a | hurry! These old veterans arc march | ing off the field, brigade by brigade, every year. Regiment after regiment | is disappearing over the brow of the hill of time. They are marching away into the valley of the shadow, right into the river of death, bravely as the old guard at Waterloo.
 | Don't be in a hurry, young man! | Don't be in hurry! These old soldiers are marching off of the field, and they will soon, all too soon for me, be out of your ungrateful way. God bless them, I wish they could live forever. as their fame will live. Sherman is no more; Grant has gone; Sheridan has followed; Thomas is in the Land O the Leal; Meade is dead. Gone are the serried | columns which stood ''in the way" at Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, Atlanta, Chiclkamauga, Lookout, Viclzsburg, Bentonville and a thousand other places, every one of them a Ther- mopylae. Their deeds are blazoned upon the history of more fields than your weak brain can remember. They will soon be out of the way, but while they are here the republic will give | them the preference.
 They will be welcomed royalty in the capital of the republic. They will be treated as heroes should be treated. They will have every attention given them which loyal hearts and willing hands can extend.~~Next week I shall tell you something of the decorations of the city, and how we look in holiday Iattire. SMITH D. FRY