Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-05-31

became ws newer forget thst eternal
principles q right ssrs the insPirstson
u that wax.
slavery the Drvtansh-
"A barbaric system had developed.
and like devilfish, had reached cut III
tsatseiss ali over this fair land. claiming
moro, more. never sstashsd- ksspiDg no
contracts vish God os regarding
10 lSsS until IL demanded the disrup
ton d tho latest gysndsss hope Of the
sorbi eur Union We remember With
q shsddes that bat fss ysass ago there
stood even Ia the city u Washington.
amber the shados " the capitol 81 lib
effy, . market tor the sale u human
nssh and blood vi>h 10 hear no talk
about radical aggression. o. = mere diff
fsrenes u opinioa- We responded 10
the call d al irrepressibls eoattict. and
IN ~ doing were thu promoters of peace
and good viii In the only manner INA
shich peace and good viii we're possible.
Let us always remember the larger
reasons fos the conflict We - success-
fully vAgcd We fought Tor something
larger than -ststs rights or conquest or
military glory. We fought for man
hood.
we have no Dragging 70 do. no glori,
flying over destruction wrought. But Nc
glory In the fact that We tore out the
root of discord. upon which depended
the nations life. Aud We did this At
immense cost and immense sacrifice.
1T vas . conflict o. the highest moral
principle. though carried out a. tho
point of the bsyonet. and We do not hes
itAte 90 give IL that almost impossible
title a just war.
III there are those Who did not share
this lofty sentiment. let them keep n
lent and not presume 10 bring the mem
cries Ut our var into disrepute and ex-
pose No to the low browcd criticisms
that are quite too common. To be sure.
&c need not bs surprised at those criti-
cisms. coming. N they do. not from
''Sons NJ Vetsrans.' but from ''Sons n
Copperheads." and from those who are
incapable u appreciating anything
better.
BIue-Coated PauperA"
A man With a dirty soul delights to
assert that all men have dirty souls, and
a man who was too selfish or cowardly
10 respond to his countrys call when
the nation WAS In danger 10 the sort OF
man 10 sheer ct soldiers and talk about
blue coated paupers' and pensions.
Yes, when We recall the memories OK
our conflict We can speak not only OF
heroism. but of moral heroism; not only
IT war. but OF just war. And the
thought Ut a million homes sending
forth their best with IN enthusiasts n
worthy OF the cause. raises us once NOR ,
to the elevation upon which we stood in
the golden days OF opportunity-yes.
even 10 higher elevation. For under
the intense excitement Of those days.
feelings Of personal animosity and bitter
hatred were quite too common.
But such feelings have passed away.
The blue and the gray can march side
by side in peace and harmony. They
can. with an honest sympathy. place
flowers upon soldiers graves. regardless
Of the uniform that rests in them. The
harmony OF peace which was above the
excitement of those days. waiting 10 de
scend upon us. has been descending
more and more for twenty years and
right heartily do we all rejoice. But re-
member this. il has come because the
root Of animosity has been removed. 1t
could not even begin to come before.
1T IL not our purpose to continually
assert the truth OF the principles for
which we fought. any more than it is
our purpose To continually assert the
honor OK our wives.
But woe be 10 the man who disputes
I it-woc be TO any administration that
| dares to underestimate or dishonor the
| principles for which We fought. There
will one day be resurrection OF what
they choose to call dead past"
He Grateful to Him.
| The sentiment which we a. soldiers
represent 10 worth more to the nation -
ten times over-than it will ever cost.
remember that. Soldiers die. But can
the nation spare the sentiment which
they represent? Better. far better. en-
dure for few more years burden
which nobody feels, but which many
groan about. than endure the loss IL
sentiment that saved the nation. And
let all our would he great men and
statesmen remember that button hole
bouquet for soldier while living In FAR
better than a CARLOAD of flowers upon
his grave. Be grateful to him while he
lives il you would have his spirit live
after him. And when he grows old. and
perhaps little troublesome. be patient
and DO not forget that he is the same
brave boy. grown old before his time
whom you welcomed with loud accla.
nation when his country could not live
without him.
There are many honorcd graves. and
there xill soon be more. But let no
grave be dug for the sentiment which we
represent
And today we also have our personal
memories IL was ours Ia stand among
the fallen and 81 the fallen. many 81
them dear 10 us. We think. today-Who
would part with these memories! Who
would dishonor them!
They Arc Holy Memories
They are holy memories. associated
with all that we must value in life. Did
time permit | would play the part Of
I Did Mortality who went about from
town To town with loving hands re.
touching the old tombr.oncs that had
become overgrown with moss and age
bringing back TO distinct outline the
names 90 the dead IL Was a loving ser
vice. Ii IL well tor US on such occasions
TO retouch these memories which time
has made ~ dream like and for little
time to suffer again with these who sui
fered. and weep again for our dead. II
"a well 81 think ~ these leave
tskings from the cid home and
feel tho benediction ~ the blessings
invoked upon us. |, is we'll 10 think
a the weary march and terrible
! campaigns 20 take our stand upon
I f4.tI - 49, q J.