Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-05-25

H.
,E4sSytt W'N den life, II Is
EDymN "a k1EkJ fitting that our
EAS<,SA SS8l,' thoughts turn
II St-.-N.ssSo backward, and,
y re ng
through the gloom, bitterness and woe
that lie at the roots of u rcsurrcctcd
nation, bring up into the air and sun.
light the fruition of its sorrow.
The poignancy OF our grief for the
dead has passed and Memory, be-
loved guest, stands to-day by the grave
which hides their mortal part, Their
better, noblcr presence has risen nbovc
death II breathcs in every anthem Of
liberty, and IL voiced in the gratitude
of people redeemed from bondage.
Year by year the past is hallowcd by
more sacred ties New mounds IN the
churchyard are added to the number
that mark the resting place Of our
heroic dead, and fewer hluc-coatcd
veterans march to the sound Of solemn
music, to lay the tribute Of laurel and
myrtle, symbols OF glory and immor-
tality, on the graves of those who have
passed beyond earthly roll-call. \ few
more years, and not one will bc left Of
all that host that marched beneath
the southern sun, camping fighting,
watching and suffering for their coun-
try. Yet this day will be forever ccle-
bratcd, the hottest of our holy DAYS.
orr nation Hrcsi When IL, foes who
sat in the splendors OF l,ingly courts,
and under the shadows 81 thrones.
a., q q 1g.y
were glad, that "sclf government had
proved failure" and eyes grown
weary with watching for the unriscn
sun Of liberty, In that older world
across the blue Atlantic, wcpt for what
seemed our dissolution. Then n mira.
Gle was done, mighty and solemn Sol.
dicrs poured into the vein, of the dy.
ing nation their own liic-hluul and
revivificd Il. Scared and wounded IL
arose, gathering new strength from
every sacrifice Of its brave sons, new
dignity from the sorrow Of Its no less
brave daughters.
We come to-day, one people, united
by the hot blows of the stern workman.
War, as the smith yields ON his anvil
sundcred bits Of metal into one homo
Pencous whole. We cover the sears with
the beauty of the spring time, beauty
born OF storm and stress and winter
days. The hands Of little children, the
future nation-malSors, bear the fra
grant tokens, the trembling hands Of
gray-haired nation-saycrs that once
graspcd sword and musl.ct ON bloody
and hnrd-fought fields lay them over
the sacred dust, decoration before
which the jewcled trophies on the
breasts Of monarchs pale.
Above the fitting altar Of freedom,
the soldiers grave, the coming and the
passing generation lool, into each 9TH
Cr's eyes. Remember Gettysburg, An
tictam, Shiloh, the Wilderness Re-
member the camp and the field, the
shot and saber stroke says the vctcr-
an. Remember the flag for which we
fought, the principles for which We
contendedw Forever" goes up II
shout which echoes from ocean 10
ocean. Remember. too, the heroes 10
whom Liberty turned not the face that
she wore To us. They fought for their
country and for IL they fell Patriotism
led them not in the paths which we
trod yet as Americans we can look
back upon their splendid courage, and
be proud that we had foemen worthy of
our steel"
Sometimes, when volcanic fires have
burned themselves out, nature covers
the yawning craters with snow, and
from IL the sunlight strikes such beau
ty that men forget the desolation that
once reigned there II Is thus with our
past The craters are healed with
snow, the wounds are covered with
flowers, and the souls Of the slain must
rejoice, In the realm of eternal pence,
that they did not die in vain, and those
who offered their all In the cause OF
Freedom, and lived 10 see the glorious
issue, may rest assured that the lesson
OF their courage has not been lost.
There is n past that Is the dead
past" for In IL Is no seed of truth and
beauty. Our past Is living, for its
struggles made our strength, its desc
lation our fullness, its dissension our
unity. Our wars have not been for
material things for territory, wealth,
possessions, but the ideal Of u repub-
lie has ever been our guiding star.
When the proud civilization OF the
strongest kingdom of the world poured
its might OF arms upon us our infant
nation, like a young David, grit with
the power Of Righteousness, the repub-
lie defeated and humbled IL. When
again our ancient foe would have
crushed us we "smote and spared not, +"
and the ages paused astounded TO wit
ness IL; but world-old traditions were
set at naught, when wo vanquished
our dearest foe-the enemy nourished
at the breast of the same mother,
warmed at the hearth-6re OF the same
household goddess-and then clasped
hands IN. friendship,
Like brothers and sisters made mu-
tually dearer by mistakes and differ
ences, the north and south are all the
more closely bound in the ties Of fam.
lily love. We do not say "forgive and
forget" The atonement has been
made In the blood Of our bravest and
best. We would not forget II we
could, we could not II we would.
Lou V, CHAPLIN.
The Sensible Course.