The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-05-30
THE MARTYR SOLDIER.
CONTINUED from First Pagel

dccimato tho ranks ,ofAhe advancing
columns; and car tho survivor OF moro
than five and twenty years help weep,
even whilst no joins In honoring
THE TlIouSANps OF BRAVE MEN
whom on that day no saw sacrificed on
his country's altar Perhaps tho scene
which memory 80 wildly paints before
tho old soldiers vision 10 tho fold Of
carnage whom the noise OF battle has
died away. Can no keep back tho hot
tears as no recalls tho sight OF scores
and hundreds OF his mutilated compan.
ions, and tho heart-rending means OF
the stricken and the dying2 Memorial
day! what a world OF stirring events, OF
h~erculean labors endured, OF force bat
ties fought, Of glorious victories won, OF
%undcuhted courage displayed, that SIN
glo word cvokes In tho mind OF tho old
soldier! lie remembers with fool
ings OF reveront homage the Sleep
ing heroes who shared with him
sell In those mighty events
which preserved these States from dis.
indignation and madeSot them a coln.
pact nation. Trcasurihg himself with
loving devotion tho memory OF tho
fallen brave, hc seeks to perpetuato their
names and their fame to all future gen.
erations. Though our church honors
each day somo one or more Of her
sainted children, yet she Sets aaide ono
day III tho year to celebrate the mem
ory Of all her saints. So, too, tho soil.
tary shalt rs 4 lone sentinel may keep
guard over tho grave OF some great hero,
or s0tno special day be dedicated to his
honor, yet it ia meet that the nation,
too, should have n day Of the year
consecrated U tho memory OF oil hor
1horots, as vol Of .hosG who woro tho
Simple uniform OF the private soldier. "a
OF the leaders whose hish:fank entitled
them to richer decorations.
But whilst you, soldiers Of tho repub-
lie, should feel and show the deepest
interest in this celebration, since you
have boon comrades-in.arms Of the
honorcd dead, yet YOU must not be, and
you are not, alone in rendering fitting
homage to your fellow-soldiers. The
great heart Of the nation beats in
sympathy with you. AL who enjoy
the blessings OF American citizenship
are joined with you in paying honor to
the mon who offered their lives an holo-
caust OIL their country's altar. In
them they recognize, admire and rover
ence tho brightest exemplars OF that
highest OF civic virtues-love OF country
patriotism. Deeds speak louder than
words is a trlte but true saying. Not
llc always who boasts in extravagant
terms OF his love OF country is the trucst
patriot. Such Wanting patriots are oft
found wanting, when the Test OF patriot
ism means n willingness to die in de-
tense OF country. But when n man
chooses to forsake father and mother,
wife and children. and all the comforts
and endearmcnts OF home, and to lace
the %privations and hardships and dan
gers Of a soldiers lie out OF love for his
native or adopted country, he puts upon
his loyalty the most sacred seal OF
sincerity.
GENUINE LovE OF COUNTRY,
like the genuine love OF God, always
implies the martyrs spirit-a readiness
in him who processes it to shed his
hearts blood in proof OF the honesty OF
his professions. Such was the loyalty
such the patriotism OF the men over
whose graves loving companions and a
grateful country strew gsrlands OF rich
est, rarest flowers OH Memorial Day.
But this ceremony means more than Il
well merited display OF admiration and
gratitude towards the dead. 1t is an OBJ
lect lesson OF deepest significance. 1t is
an imitation Of Gods plan, and tho
church's plan OF teaching truth and
virtue by appeals to the senses. The
dropping OF sweet tlowerstby loving
hands on tho resting places OF our
valiant defenders is we'll calculated to
inspire the wish and purpose Of initial
ing the patriotism ""uf those
whose memories ARE thus hon
ored. We're it in our power, We
would ontwino a coronet of sweet
immortelles around the brow OF each
patriot in whose blood our country's
soil has been baptized, and inscribc be-
meath his name OH the roll OF fame,
"Du'cs est pro pa,rjn mori"-lt IL sweet to
die for ones country. Yes, soldier
patriots, by the honors YOU Justly
shower on these dead heroes, you are
teaching the rising generation tho
noblcst OF civic virtues-lovo and loyalty
to Fatherland. Your simple, touching
tribute to the memory OF your deceased
comrades is a more impressive lesson
than the most learned disquisition on
patriotism. 1t appeals directly to the
heart, and warns it up with the most
generous impulses OF devoted love and
attachment TO our great and glorious
Republic.
His Emincnce, the Cardinal Arch
bishop OF Baltimore, contributed an
article to last months North .Americdn
Rctitp, on the subject OF Patriotism
and Politics" After a lucid cxplana-
ton OF the virtue OF patriotism, and AZ
Ter citing historic instances Illustrative
OF that %Tirtue. he makes this Just rcflcc-
ton which must meet the endorsement
OF all true Americans:
RELIGION CHERrsHES LOVE OF COUNTRY.
"Whcn We reflect on the happiness
and manifold temporal blessings which
our political institutions have already
conferred, and are destined in the fu-
ture TO confer on millions OF people, we
are not surprised that tho American
citizen is proud OF HIS country, her his
tory, and the record OF her statesmen.
Therefore next to God, orr country
should hold tho strongest place in our
affections. 1t is n sacred duty for overy
American to do all in his powor to per-
pet:ate Our civil institutions and 10
avert tho dangera that threaten Them"
These sentiments go true, so patriotic
are tho inspiration OF Memorial Day
with it's simple but suggestive cercmon-
les, and, %enunciatcL thus publicly BY
the highest church-dignitary in our
country, they substantia,o and cmphu.
ti.. tttr f,.I .. " "