The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1892-09-08
90 AND '92.

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:
1.-THE country will never forget and can
never repay its 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preference should be repealed.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 illusions to the length OF
life of the veterans, such as: evil they
never dep
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 3, 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 q, 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 mark of battle or the germs
of disease contracted while campaigning
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 a hurry, young man! Don't be in a
hurry! These old veterans are 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 hurry, young man
Don't be in a 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 Gin the way'' at
Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, Atlanta,
Chickamauga, Lookout, Vicksburg,
Bentonville and thousand other
places, every one of them a Their.
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 shall
tell you something of the decorations OF
the city, and how we look in holiday
attire. SMITH D. Fry.