The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-06-08
IMMORTAL DAY ADDRESS.
The Son Of a Gallant Father Is the
Orator on Decoration Day.
An ABLE Address Delivered BY u. ~.
miirey Before n Large Audi
ence ON May 10, 1898, as
the opera House.

Psterans Of fas Union! Fellsn Cit.
ssn1 The day Of the sword Is fast pass
Ing away. To-day nations resort to wal
only when all other means of preserving
peace have failed.
War brings out the best and worst
passions of man: the noblest and basest.
II builds NJ nations. IL preserves them.
and II destroys them. 1t 10 the greatest
theme Of the poet. the orator and the
historian. Wars are just aud they are
unjust. Wars Of conquest are always
unjust Wars Of rebellion may be Just
and they may be unjust. Wars for the
principles of right and eternal justice are
always just. and there is no -ander field
for human action than in warfare for
right and Justice. In ancient, medieval
and until recent modern times, wa was
the pastime of monarchs. the opportunit,
of ambition and the strength Of tyranny.
Peace was then used as time of pre-
paration for war: might made right aud
the strong oppressed the weak. The
slave marts were filled with capiives. the
homes and cities of the conquered were
pillsged and destroyed. The martial
weakness Of nation was q constant
cause for war against it. The natural
greed OF man for power and for extent of
territory In consonance Herewith has
caused the noted wars of the past; the
map of the world has been drawn with
the sword. The most illustrious charac-
tiers In history have been warriors.
Cyrus. Alexander the Great and Cessr
changed the map of the entire known
world with their swords.
Monarchies are more prone 10 war
al A. h.
people of republics are satisfied with
themselves and their government, and do
not. as q rule, interfere with their neigh
Dor nations; but they will resent oppres-
sion or battle for principle of govern
menf; and the armies of republics are
usually victorious in warfare
Europe has been the most famous
battle-ground of the world, and to-day
the nations of Europe are maintaining
large standing armies, prepared for dead.
" conflict II occasion can be found and
one dares to take advantage of the &C.
casion.
They still govern themselves by the old
maxim: In time of peace. prepare for
war" This has been the actuating pol
icy Of the governments Of the old world
since the dawn of history. and has been
advocated in our own country. Our own
Washington modified the policy some
what by saying: ITO be prepared for
war Is one Of the most effeciual means of
preserving peace" But now the policy
Of our country Is an time of peace pre-.
pare 10 make peace eternal" And Eu-
rope 10 to-day recognizing the wisdom of
such policy. Germany. the greatest
war power In Europe. ID now engaged In
a political contest with her warlike en-
peror on the question of disbanding her
standing army: aud. should she succeed.
the other nations will gladly follow her
example, that their citizens should be re-
lieved of the oppressive burden Of NAM
tanning such large and useless armies.
A standing army is the power and tool
Of tyrant. and. therefore. is dangerous
to the liberties of a country. II fosters
an unp-oductive and semi-aristocratic
class that is not In sympathy with the
producing and taxpaying classes, the
real bone and sinew of the land But
the other day German soldier struck
dead laboring man. and the emperor
allowed the soldier to 60 unpublished be-
cause he belonged TO his army and the
laboring man did not.
Thanks TO the wisdom of our fathers,
we have no standing army 10 menace our
liberties. coerce our ballot or to threaiep-
the destruction of our rights. QSsvss 90
les are made Of volupiesssss,s; arm T
s.rsngssa. D sa government lie In the
patriotism and intelligence Of our peo-
pie, aud patriotic. intelligent people
make the best soldiers. When such citi-
zens volunteer as soldiers. to fight for
their country. their homes and for prin-
ciple, they are almost invincible. Such
were the soldiers of our country in the
war of the revolution and in all the wars
since, and their heroic deeds and grand
victories are recorded in our history.
poetry and song. One day acitizen. pur.
suing the usual avocations of peace; the
next, at wars dread alarm, as volunteer
soldiers. going to the front at their coun-
try's call. And when victory has
crowned their valiant efforts. they return
home. lay aside their arms and are once
more citizens-honored citizens. the pre-
servers of their country. Such were the
soldiers of Bunker Hill, Saratoga and
Yorktown; of Perry's victory and New
Orleans; of Palo Alto and Buena Vista;
of Shiloh. vicksburg, Gettysburg an,!
the March TO the Sea. Such soldiers
have always constituted the military
strength of America and they have never
been conquered, either ON land or sea.
A citizen who when his country is in
danger, its very life at stake. will throw
aside his trade. profession OF occupation. |
leave home and an that Is dear 10 him
and volunteer as q soldier, has more of
an incentive to fight. and fight well, than
a professional soldiers soldier in a |
standing army. who fights merely be-
cause he Is forced to fight The one has
every inducement that brave man can
have to incite him to deeds of heroism
and valor; the other has only his own
reputation or the reputation Of his corps
at stake. The one will willingly yield
up his life as sacrifice for bis country;
the other will look out for himself.
The volunteer soldier of America is a
being sui geaeris. They are of all sta
tons and occupations of life: the scholar
aud the sage: the minister and the law
yer; the merchant and the mechanic; the
capitalist and the laborer-- educated men
and all patriotic from principle Often
Il has occurred in battle, by reason of his
intelligence and independence, the pri.
yate volunteer soldier of America has dis
played more military skill than his Off
Ger. While in battle. the opportunity
has occurred to cross bridge in front of
the line, to gain some desired posses
sion Of q strategic position. or the
right moment has come TO make the vic
torious charge or TO change the confor.
nation of the line TO receive a flank
movement-the privates did not wait for
orders, but successfully and victoriously
executed the movement. They entered
the service at the same time that their
officers did. they learned military tactics
nj the same time and had the same ex-