Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-30


1900, or stand by the block where rest 2 1000 Of
! our nameless dead, or look upon the sturdy
| shaft which marks the last sleep Of gallant Phil
Sheridan, that tears do not start unbidden;
that do not feel tingling even to my temples
and my finger tips, and that am not exalted
to an appreciation. in some degree, Of the
spiendor of that uprising Of the people which
kept the stars and stripes ahoat from Maine to
California and from Florida to Oregon. Nowhere
else are O'Hara's verses SO eminentlv fit:
''On Fame's eternal camping ground
All he eiI silent teas' are sprs s1a roun,
The bivouac Of the dead"
Why drop tear over these happy dead? A
century sweeps us all from the face of the
earth. What boots it, then. to have added in
glorious years to our stock Of days? How
grander far to have died in the forward rush Of
the race for which the forces had been gather
ing through centuries OF time. In all the
providence Of God no one thing is clearer than
this-ali humanity is on trial in our land. We
are Fastening with almost fearful pace to the
elimination Of our cycle. Growing in might
and wealth and power as never empire grew
before our teeming millions are heaving just in
front Of problems 50 grave that only trust in
the wisdom of the divine plan, which is the
motive force Of the machinery of the universe,
can give hope and calm to any thoughtful
breast. The greatest single struggle of all was
now, when the potency of freedom wrestled
in death grapple with the potency Of slavery
and left that black shape from hell dead on the
field.
I'm that strIssle these. our brothers. died.,
And this ground will be forever holy ground.
1t will be trodden by the feet OF all our people,
come they from the shores Of the great northern
lakes. from the tropical lands which border the
Mexican gulf or from the golden sands of the
Pacific. With this air they will breathe in so
much OF patriotic pride as to ask no higher sta
II - H.
cans. And into their souls will steal the subtle
essence OF the eternal verlties, SO leavening the
whole national life that through all the mighty
growth and storm and tumult Of the future we
shall forge safely onward toward the accom-
plishment Of peace on earth and good will to
men. Shed, then, no tears over these happy
dead.
And why say "dead?" They are gone only
from mortal sight, thanks be to the keen plow-
share of sharp griefs which let light and
knowledge in upon the deep intuitions OF our
nature. As sure as I am that now behold the
light of day, just so sure am l that when the
heavens above US shall be rolled up n scroll
and the limitless order Of the universe shall be
resolved back to chaos, we shall all be In the
fresh youthfulness Of an intense and glowing
Immortality. To some Of you such words may
have as little meaning as the murmur Of
echoes Of your own inner voices.
Our frail humanity trembles and shrinks at
thought Of the dark hour wherein the silver
cord is looseued and earth takes back the dust
she lent, bu: the voices Of our reason, Of our
intuitions and Of all the sureties Of our being
speak in clear tones, wherein is no quaver Of
doubt fear, and tell US that the loosing Of the
cord but frees the spirit for conditions from
which we may regard these present lusts and
limitations we with mortal eyes regard those
insects whose uses bind them to delye In dust
and filth.
Nor is there aught of sweet reasonableness in
any torpid sleep Of winged souls; such notion
claims too much of kinshlp with Swiss tales Of
lost souls locked in the cold hearts Of high
placed glaciers: tradition running halfway
back to men who dwelt in caves is father of this
thought; reason and revelation give it fat de-
NAL.
And where dwell these souls who, gone be.
FORE await our coming? Is it in the blue OF
the sky. the green of the sea, the heart Of the
mountains or amid the stars that glorify the
night? Does hmitless space devoid of all cir
conference. permit of any special center?
Where should these free souls be but close at
hand, seeing we may not see, hearing we
may not hear and linked to US by the lines Of
love ard influence behind our consciousness,
beside which the subtlest rays of light are gross
and rude? Thus, indeed, they are to me; at
times the very air is pulsing with their pres
enee.
And as at this hour all over freedoms broad
domain the flowers fall in one sast shower of
fragrance and Of beauty and lie on graves that
cover only empty shells of human lives il we
but had the vision glorified might we not see
their former tenants at our sides, joyous spirits
of the air. glad and grateful at this grace of
sweet remembrance?
Thus let us think OF them, those who wore the
blouse and belt and those who wore the eagles
and stars, now equal. all in Gods equality. And
let US never say to them Farewell but always
Hail. comrades, We speed our coming"
Following is the poem read at Arlington by
Mr.. Dewitt C. Sprague:
At Arlington.
Dear ARLINGTON! With all her vernal bloom.
She gently drops with plying tenderness
And her floral tributes with their rich perfume
And we. o. Arlington the memory
Afectisn,s sacred token. although we
Is eeby wrought and nobler worthier-far should BE-
BY word and deed we fair would truly show.
They Of fraternal love cal never know
Destroying guns, and red torrents smoking fow
The humblest soldier is remembered now.
Each did his duty in his proper sphere.
And though NO Laurel e., eroSTea his h, LIVING brox
And comrades at his grave with reverence bow.
All. remember too. that Iowly grave.
With simple touching epitaph Unknown"
Blessing their dust she Claims it as her own.
While tears from eyes unseen the flowers above it lave
For what priceless stake these dead eontendedl
Hn, thew were faithful 10 their trust and Bonded
Their souls to do what duty had assxned.
Though lowering death itself over them there i'm
pended.
Though perish every trophy of their fame.
Though massive column crumble all away.
Still their proud memory would i've on the same.
Preserved and hon0red to the latest day
In human hearts where Freedom keeps her vestal
fame.
They rear themselves living monument.
Who for their co Intry fight and die for her. -
That's hallOwed groun with hich their dust Is oient
Earth dearest bosom Is their sepUlcher.
For them with grateful tears their countrymen Ia
ment-
Tread soft,yt Freedoms voice this sod hath best!
Here sleep her children. never. nev-rInnre
The rolling drum shall rouse them FROM their rest
Nor them alarm the lannon's awful roar. r.,
Rest. patriots Sleep in peace on Arlington's dear
beast
All we'll we know our b-othe--foe was brave
We not here vain-rlJr ous boast TO make.
Ills blood for what he deem the right he gave,
But We. fought him for the country's sake
We triunphed in cause. yet triumphed All 10 save
And when that fratricidal strife was done,
The Boys i'll Bue and Boys IN Southern Gray
Who had mid battles tre and thunler won
Respect Tor each sides SD eadid vafor. they
Casped hailds-the Nations grander era was begun!
My country! how thy loyal sons have bled
TN many glorious field for Freedoms right;
Whether into the deadly breach they led.
TO break the Tyrant's or RebelliCn's might.
They won all honored place with -arth's INDUSTRIOUS