The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-31

Il
ment which fails to meet this sacred obligation
Is false to its trust and not deserving the name
| Ola government OF free people. What Is the
meaning of the ceremonialsf Why 10 IL that
throughout the length and breadth Of our
| country where patriotism exists and the flowers
| bloom the memory of our heroic dead
is held sacred7 First and foremost a,
an act OF gratitude, coupled with
| asweet remembrance chat divine instinct Of
the human souD Sthose who gave their lives,
tho richest gift Of q loving God, as a sacrifice
| that those who came after them might enjoy the
nignest blessings Of q tree government Second
mat 1t might act as holy inspiration, to pro-
tecf, defend and preserve the legacy SO be-
| Queafhed to them and purchased with such
| precious price The lessons of the civil war ana
| It's causes cannot be without interest to the ris-
Ing generation and should be told them on the
| erandsire's knee, in the home aud in the school,
SO that the future citizen of the republic may
Know the value Of our institutions and what
they cost
Tell them the mistake our fathers made in
rounding our government in permitting slavery
ana It's adherents an abiding place with Free
uom ana her disciples In our beloved land. Tell
them how slavery grew and clamored for extern
son, and the friends of Freedom trembled at
| the outlook with despair aud misgiving. Tell
| them how the fabric of the Union was near be.
Ing destroyed and dissolved, and was only
sverted by repeated compromise with the en-
/
was greater than the general government grew
and threatened to destroy the unity OF states
| leii them that when the people by their choice
elected that great and good Lam, Abraham Lin
| coin, president OF the United states, that the
south and its Shareholders, in their mistaken fear
| tnat ne would destroy their "divine Institution"
| oil slavery, seeded from the Union. Tell them
| that when treason reared its Shiny head and
| hred on the flag at Fort Sumter, million patri-
QUO men OF the North rallied to its defense.
Tell them that mothers gave their sous, wives
| their husbands, the loving child its father to
| their countrys cause. Tell them that the
| bloody strife ragged for four years, aud the dog
mas OF secession and state rights and the
| shaekles OF four million human beings were
buried forever. and in their stead q monument
was erected dedicated to the Union, liberty and
the rights OF man. Tell them that nearly half
million as brave men walked the earth
shed their blood and gave up their lives in free
| doms holy cause, some OF whom are at rest in
southern SOIL meath the signing of the
| mourniul pines, and in the unknown
waters where they fell, and some whose whit
| ened bones lie near the prison pen where the
cruelty OF man is the only epitaph which marks
| thelr grave. Tell them that during that dark
period loyal mothers, wives, sisters and sweet.
hearts sat in Loneliness and sorrow aud some in
want, watching and waiting for the return Of
loved ones, and some of whom are still watch
ing and waiting, but in vain! Tell them that
all has been forgiven but not forgotten; that
sectional animOsity and passion has passed
away: that those who tough: to destroy AZ well
a. those who fought to maintain the Union are
brethren. and mutually interested In it's preser-
Walton In all its granduer and beauty, and guard
with jealous eye her benefcent institutions as
the common glory OF all Tell them that
| II fortune had turned the tide in favor
Of those who made the attempt to destroy the
| Union the trend Of our nat on's history would
have been changed; that tho devastating hand
| OF war would have destroyed the fair cities and
homes OF the North and paralyzed the industries
and energies OF Q once happy people; that in
stead of can indestructible Union of indestruct-
| ibe states" under the loving fold OF one flag,
| there would exist fragmentary union of dis
| severed states under different flags; that we
| would be a weak and defense ess confederacy,
and with dissension at home, the target for con-
| quest by foreign powers aud enemies abroad:
| that the curse of slavery would still remain and
extend itself over Freedoms fair domain, and
| that where the schoolhouse and church now
| stand, the auction block would rear its cruel
| head.
| Tell them that our present glorious history.
! dedicated to liberty and union, was written
with the hearts blood OF loyal men and women:
written by the heroism and valor OF patriotic
men whose memories we this day immortalizs;
| written by them on the tedious march, under
| sweitering sun and through malarial swamp;
| written in the hospital and prison pen; written
at Donelson, vicksburg, Shiloh. Chickamauga,
| Gettysburg and Appomattox; written In the
| deadly charge midst shot and she'll: written on
| a sheet OF fire in a storm of deadly missiles:
| written I'm the clinchiug and clashing Of bay
| onets in the carnage of death; written with the
| groans OF the wounded and dying; written with
| the warm blood Of the dying soldier, and as his
spirit winged its fight to realms celestial, re-
| corded in the book of immortal life. Tell them
| to treat with veneration and respect the surviv.
Ing soldier and sailor, the remnant OF that grand
| army and navy which filed the world with
! wonder and admiration for its heroism and
valor, and whose lot In the majority of cases, in
the battle OF life, Is not an easy one. These bat
| tle-scarred veterans will soon pass away
tale that ia told, but the memory of their deeds
will live forever.
| Teach them the love of country and respect
for her flag and that education, intelligence and
virtue are the only true safeguards against the
| decay of the republic and chat II they would
avoid the disaster which has befallen the ma
| tons OF the past, broad morality must quicken
public conscience in political and social life.
| My young friends, love and protect the flag Of
your country, the stars and stripes, the glorious
emblem of Liberty, it floats in the breeze and
| its silken folds kiss the air where freedom 70.
| poses 1t is hallowed with tender memories and
nob.e deeds. 1t has been the guide to victory
| aud the herald of glory and immortal fame
| Heroes have shed their blood to preserve its
| purity aud martyrs have been sacrificed to pro-
! teet il from stain. 1t has been the crucitx to
! the dying soldier on the battle plain and q
| soace OF peace to the hero soul as ebbing life
| lay enwrapped in its loving folds.
| Several years ago visited the capitol OF my
| former state-Illinois-and there in the archives
| of the state house saw the battle flags OF the
regiments OF that state which had served during
the late There were the gifts OF loyal
women when their sons left their homes in de.
tense of their country. The room in which
these sad relics was contained was like q tomb of
the departed. l imagin ned that the spirits OF the
heroic dead were lowering around me. There
saw flags pullet-rdden and torn, crimsoned with
the sacred blood of the nations blest, and some
whose folds had been shot away, leaving the
rnerest shred TO tell the tale OF the saddened
past. They were voiceless, but enshrouded in
! memories dear. and the no bic, patriotic hearts
l. who had followed those blood stained banners
| were hushed in the silence of death. swear
| loyalty to our flag!
MY friends, let us turn from "the purple tesla
| ment OF bleeding war" and the habilaments of
| grief, and being fully impressed with the
solemnity and sacredness of this occasion ask
ourselves the question: How can we best honor
| the memory o. our patriot dead? How best
| preserve the costly heritage which has been
| placed in our keeping and trust? Every genera
| ton has duty peculiar to itself to add 10 and
/ augment the work OF the fathers and defenders
| OF our nations honor and glory. We are proud
! OF our country, its institutions, its people and
its wonderful growth, its civilization, its heroes
| and statesmen, but the task lies before us of
| preserving these blessings and handing them
| down TO coming generations IN all their
| strength and purity. How shall 1t be
| done7 There is but one answer to this
| question. The true grandeur of this nation