Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-10-03

people of the republic. But, there is an aristocracy in the land which transmits not it's heritage. All soldiers are not yet classed with this upper tendon; but every member of the select is a soldier. There never was such an exclusive aristocracy on earth as the Grand Army of the Republic. Its membership is select, and it's number diminishing, rather than increasing. Day by day and hour by hour this aristocratic class is growing numerically less. The em- peror of Germany, the czar of all the Russias, the queen of Great Britain and Ireland and empress of India cannot join this brotherhood. No Rothschild, Vanderbilt nor Gould; no money king, and no prince of politicians or states men can be admitted to this select circle. None but the boy in blue who bore musket or sabre, or fought at can mons mouth, can find admission to the conclaves of the grand army.
 As the world grows in wealth, and as generations multiply, the money kings and princes of society increase in num- Der, and the nobility of monarchies doth multiply. But the grand army is growing more exclusive year by year. The day is coming when there will be but two survivors of this aristocracy; and one of them will follow his com rade to the grave, and fire the rem nant of a volley over his remains when they are lowered into the grave. The last survivor will be buried by in- feriors, and over his grave the soldiers of a new generation will fire an echo of the last volley which he himself had fired over the resting place of his last comrade. Do you realize what an aris- tocracy that is? There never was any thing like 1t in the history of the world. 1t is not likely that the earth will ever again see such an exclusive band.
 Thirty-one years ago "Halstead's Horse," the gallant young men from New Jersey, were the first soldiers to come to the relief of Washington. There was only battalion of cavalry, and it was afterwards known asSthe First New Jersey. Following them came the Sixth Massachusetts, and in their wake came tens of thousands from the stores, workshops, farms and manufactures of the land. They came by rail, and, because of limited facilities they came in comparatively small de, tachments. Many miles of the old Baltimore & Ohio road were guarded by soldiers, in order to prevent the in terruption of transportation of troops and supplies. To-day, over twelve lines of road, they are coming by the tens ot thousands, and no guards are needed tc insure perfect transportation. They have lived to see peace, perfect peace.
 There was a time when the people cried peace, peace," but there was nc l peace. The entire land was in the throes of seismic political disturbance Even the quiet New England villages and the hamlets of the western prairie were in turmoil. Friends of Efetim, were foes and enemies. In a moment in the twinkling of an eye, discussion preceded anger; anger preceded insult blows followed, and sometimes life wa held as cheap as a bauble; and all thi even in our country homes. This condi tion obtained in the north, south, eas and west. Out of these ebullitions tn grand army was evolved. There ar thousands of old maiden ladies in tn states to-day who were sweetheart then. They know and have known, al through the lonely years of bitternes and lamentation, how and why thei
 lovers sprang to arms and left them
 They know all too well that they ar still waiting and watching for the tim
 when they can see Johnnie com
 marching home again." knowing i
 their minds that their good-by at tn
 garden gate was a good-by forever, an
 that their soldier boys will never com
 back; and yet, in their woman hearts
 they are longing to see ''the troor
 come marching home again, with gla
 and gallant tread"
 You all know the widowed mother
 whose husbands and sons went fortl
 They have learned long since that, fc
 each and every one of them, ''som
 other son must comfort her old age . They have learned that the stalwaI
 husband and promising boy sleep u
 sleep that knows no waking somewhel
 In the southern soil between the sileI