Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-07-27

IN tne history OF our country Wnen the
soldier met civilized foe. The time
when it was brother against brother
the great Civil war.
1t ia true the personnel Of the army
on either side was made up from the
same people but the ideas contended
for were wholly different. On the side
Of the north was involved free schools,
free homes and free labor and the
final development ola higher civiliza.
ton, buttressed and upheld by the
strength that comes from union. On
the side of the south was the weakness
for disunion advocating slave labor,
ignorance, idleness and crime and the
inevitable consequence Of worse
civilization, And all the acts of cour-
age and suffering supported by con-
viction of the business Of their cause
can never change the truth Of history
one Jot or little, namely that in that
fearful struggle the south was wholly
in the wrong and the north was wholly
in the right. In that war the soldiers
of the Republic combatted and des-
troyed savage ideas championed by
civilized men.
Poets have sung and philosophers
have talked of the good time coming
when
"The battle nag IL furled
In the parliament of man,
The federation OF the world"
But however II may be in the future
we know that in all the past civiliza.
tion has ever advanced behind the
sword and that the lessening Of the
martial spirit of people marks the
commencement Of their decay and
downfall as a nation, and especially dc
we know that but for the work of thu
soldier, the lives, liberties and proper
ties of this people could never hav,
been maintained and preserved,
1t should therefore be our pleasure
as we'll as our duty TO "render honor L
whom honor is due" the motto Of the
brave Seventh cavalry, and in all oui
relations with the soldiers the
civilian should hold in mind that cour
age is to the soldier what virtue is t
the woman, the priceless jewel of hi
heart; and that any epithet like "caml
follower" or coffee cooler" applied t
the soldier should blister the tongue
that uses 1t.
We cannot have true, healthy
patriotism in this country when VI
grow the least indifferent TO the ser
vices of our soldiers. Better that theri
be ninety nine unworthy pensioner'
than one deserving soldier SHOULD
want for bread
What | have said applies to al
soldiers, whether they saw service II
the volunteer or the regular army.
have heard as we all have criticisms
at times of the regular army that i
costs too much and occasionally sont
thoughtless denssgogue, claiming to b'
direct from the people, charges III,
army to be a useless appendage to oul
government. 1t is that same spirit o.
economy and demagogism that would
measure everything, even tn,
hearts blood of our soldiers b!
dollars aud cents that has cos
the lives of many brave men. Com
manders have been sent into distant
hostile districts with insufficient force
and hardships inde5cribable and sulf r
ing almost unp Irdlleled have BEEN
endured by our army for this reason
aud yet it can be said that in no in
stance has a troop ever disgraced the
army. The same cannot be said of any
department in civil life. Organizations
have been made in MANUFACTURES, in
commerce, in politics and had almost
said in religion, seeking TO gain advan
tage by questionable methods, but No
case can be found in the army where
any organization has ever been had
that reflects upon the honor of our
soldier. In 1865 the 7lh cavalry wai
organized here upon the spot where We
are now assembled. Since that time
this regiment has lost more men il
killed and wounded than the balance
Of the entire army. 1t has fought the
savage from the Rio Grande TO the
British possessions and won renown il
every department of the great west,
beginning with the bloody battle Of The
Washita. and ending with the sigma
victories at Wounded Knee and Drexe
Mission. Ga the 29ih and Both days
of December, 1890, under the command
of its present gallant Colonel FoIBytl
the soldiers Of the 7th cavalry per,
formed acts of daring well nigh unpar
alleled in the history Of warfare. A
willy and savage foe armed with the
best weapons at arms length anC
without warning opened a deadly fire
upon our soldiers. Not man wavered
In the presence Of death. They crap.
pied with the treacherous foe and
destroyed him and next day at Drexe
Mission this regiment won another
victory. In these engagements the
spirits of their dead comrades from
Washita and Custer valley animated
every soldier. While the government