Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-06-03
SOLDIERS DAY.

ans of the Union, and if there
are any evidences of ingratitude
here and there on the part of in
dividuals who seek notoriety in
time of peace with the same
alacrity which they would avoid
danger in time of war, the great
multitude of American citizens
have no share in that feeling.
The man of average intelligence
understands how much easier il
is for an Anglo-Mugwimp to
reel off magazine articles against
the soldiers while sitting in his
comfortable armchair, protected
by the power of the nation which
the soldiers rescued from de.
struction than it was for the men
of 1861 to 1865 to risk their lives
in battle and in camp in the
cause of the Republic. Loyal
citizens who knew something
of Confederate hate and Copper.
head vindictiveness during the
war can readily comprehend how
Southern implacables and North
ern towards can join in a cordial
alliance against the brave men
who defeated the purposes OF
both. Americans are not deceiv-
ed with the facility that the
Mugwumps and their ex-Con-
federate allies imagine, and the
motives that inspire the attacks
on the veterans are discerned
with a clearness that is credit
able to the nation and confusing
to those who would fain mislead
it. 1t is safe to say that never
were the veterans of the wal
and the cause for which they
fought more esteemed in the
world than to day; never was
there evidence of a grateful dis
position on the part of the peo-
pie to award to the honorably
discharged and needy soldier
and the widows and orphans of
those who have died the nation
al recognition If faithful SER
vice. If there is disloyalty here
and there it only illustrates by
contrast the deep and prevalent
spirit of patriotism and graft
tude which animates the Repub.
lie; and the survivors of the
greatest of wars may rest assur.
ed that, as they go forth to per.
form a sacred duty to their de.
parted comrades, the heart OF
the nation goes with them.
Thirty years ago the forces of
the Union and of secession were
gathering strength for that nigh.
ty conflict at which the tide OF
invasion was rolled back never
to return, and which witnessed
deeds of heroism on both sides
never surpassed in the warfare
The veterans of to-day were then
young men, full of the courage.
the impetuosity and the enthusi-
asm of youth. Faithfully they
stood the long marches, and
faced the deadly artillery, and
firmly on the field of Gettysburg
they confronted that wild, des-
perate charge, which was the last
rally of the Rebellion, the forlorn
hope of the Southern Confedera-
cy. The men who offered their
lives then to save the life of the
nation will not be forgotten now.
The survivors whom age has en-
feebled and sickness disabled,
will not be refused the pittance
that would save them from the
almhouse and a pauper's grave.
The feet that trod the road to
Petersburg will not tread the
path to the poorhouse while pa
triotism continues to be honored
as a virtue and gratituds is to
be more than a barren sentiment.
The lapse of years is making
its impress Oh the ranks of the
veterans. Death is thinning their
numbers, and age is telling on
the survivors. The young soldier
is young no longer the shadow
on the dial has passed the meri-
dian mark, and life's horizon be-
gins to mellow with the haze of
approaching sunset. A few years
more will witness the greater
number gathered to rest with
their comrades who have gone
before. Who will decorate the
graves then ? Who will pay the
accustomed tribute on each re-
curing holiday to the memory
of the valiant dead ? We doubt
not that the younger generation
will be found ready to honor the
services and the sacrifices of the
soldiers of the Union, and that
the future men and women who
are now children at school will
show that they inherit a deep
and enduring love for the old flag
and for those who bore it in the
day of the nations peril. At the