The National tribune., 1892-11-03
OUR LAST WORD.

the opposing hosts meet at the polls, ant
the American people decide by formal ex
preston of their will the issues now before
them.
Are you sufficiently impressed with th'
solemn fact that while for the rest of oul
fellow-citizens this decision may be amended
or reversed four years hence, for us and our!
it will be forever?
Four wears hence more than 200, 600 o
our comrades and their dependent ones will
have passed from time to eternity and
be with us no nore-be beyond the reael
alike of our loving help and sympathy, and
the Justice and injustice of those in power
Then four years of our own lives will have
passed beyond recall, and what has been
denied us in them will have been lost to us
forever.
For us, then, ii will be the final battle
when everything is at stake, and we must
win or lose all. There will be no appeal
during our lives from the decision rendered
When we were on the eve of decisive
battle, during the old heroic days when we
wore the blue garb of patriotism, we looked
anxiously around to see that every comrade
who could help in the least 10 win victory
was in the ranks with u.s. The GONZALES
cents came out of the hospitals; the for
ayers and stragglers were gathered in; the
detailed men dropped their work and picked
up muskets. Even the cooks and teamsters,
the prisoners in the guardhouse, the clerks
at Headquarters, and Quartermaster's en-
ployes came into the ranks to strengthen
our force, and aid in securing victory.
Now, let us exert ourselves in the same
way for this supreme effort-this last de-
cisive fight for the rights of ourselves and
the dependent ones of our dead comrades.
Let us not only be in line ourselves but
make sure that all those who can help US
are there with us.
There are in each community comrades
whom business, social or other affiliations
have made seemingly Indifferent to the ties
of comradeship. They are not really so.
Let every one of them be seen, and the mem
DRY of the days recalled when they answered
the bugle's silver voice and the boisterous
that the trumpets are once more sounding
to the colors" for fight which must be
an Appomattox for one side or the other
either for the veterans OF their enemies.
Convince them that while other questions
upon which they may feel strongly can wait
for settlement, this one supreme issue
mast be settled aOar and forerer. Urge them
to once more fall in with their faces to the
enemy, with those with whom they 80 often
faced the enemy in the days that tried mems
souls. Impress upon them that the ques-
tiohs beside which all others sink into minor
importance are, whether the next President
shall be man who bravely fought with us
for the country, or one who lurked and
Kissed in the dens of Copperheadism at
home; whether it shall be man who has
ever been our stanch, unwaveriDg comrade
and friend, and who is now bitterly assailed
for his acts of substantial friendship to Us
and ours or a man who has been our stead
fast traducer and enemy, and who is ardent
ly supported on this account by men who
are venomously hostile to US, and hope by
his election TO work rs imm measurable in
jury; whether the liberal pension legisla-
ton of two years ago shall be approved, OF
whether it shall be nullifed by hostile adj
ministration; whether our disabled COM
rades ard their widows shall be properly
cared for by the Nation, or whether they
shall be denied all relief except that afford.