The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-10-13

people of the republic. But, there is an
aristocracy in the land which transmits
not its heritage. All soldiers are not
yet classed with this upper tendon; but
every member of the select is soldier
There never was such an exclusive
aristocracy on earth as the Grand
Army of the Republic. Its membership
is select, and its number diminishing,
rather than increasing. Day by day
and hour by hour this aristocratic class
Is growing numerically less. The en-
peror of Germany, the car 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 a. 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 mora 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
aant of 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
Uf new generation will fire an echo of
the last volley which he himself had
fred over the resting place of his last
comrade. Do you realize what an aris-
tocracy that is2 There never was any
thing like itin the history of the world.
It is not likely that the.earth will ever
again see such an exclusive band.
Thirty-one years ago "Halsteads
Horse" the gallant young men from
New Jersey, We're the first soldiers to
come to the relief of Washington.
There was only 4 battalion of cavalry,
snd it was afterwards known as the
Eirst 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
corruption of transportation Of troops
and supplies To-day, over twelve lines
Of road, they are coming by the tens OF
thousands, and no guards are needed to
insure perfect transportation. They
have lived TO see peace, perfect peace
There was time when the people
FRIED peace, peace" but there was no
seace. The entire land was in the
shroes of seismic political disturbance.
Even the quiet New England villages
and the hamlets of the western prairies
were in turmoil Friends of lifetime
were foes and enemies. In a moment,
n the twinkling Of TN eve, discussion
preceded anger; anger preceded insult;
blows followed, and sometimes life was
held as cheap as bauble; and all this
even in our country homes. This condi-
siov obtained in the north, south, east
and west Out of these ebullitions the
grand army was evolved. There are
thousands of old maiden ladies in the
states to-day who were sweethearts
then. They know and have known. all
through the lonely years of bitterness
End lamentation, how and why their
lovers sprang to arms and left them.
They know all too well that they are
still waiting and watching for the time
when they can see Johnnie come
marching home again." knowing in
their minds that their good-by st the
garden gate was good-by forever, and
that their soldier boys viii never come
back: and vet, in their woman hearts,
they are longing to see the troops
come marching home again, with glad
and gallant tread.
You all know the widowed mothers,
whose husbands and sons went forth
They have learned long since that, for
each and every enc of them, some
other son must comfort her old age"
They have learned that the stalwart
husband and promising boy sleep the
sleep that knows no waking somewhere
IL the southern soil between the silen,
waters OF the Potomac and the Rio
Grande; sleep there Il order that this
government of the people, by the people
and for the people might not fade from
the earth. And yet. their wifely and
motherly hearts picture again and
again the blaring bands. the steady
steps and manly bearing of each COM
naaY and regiment that went to the /!