Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-30
3. Il. Faunce.

were 2.327. 917 enlisted men in the service
during the rebellion, their average age
k peing twenty-five years. the largest class
being eighteen years. OF the total number
llOOO were killed or died of mortal
wourds- More than twice as many, or
2iI,4JS. died Of disease other causes the
total deaths being 3J9.52S. or 15.4 per cent
or nearly One-seventh of the whole number
enlisted. Think what an offering that was
Tor bberty. what a terrible sacrificed Their
enlistment paper was their death warrant
and they are the ammunition expended on
the enemy, and how precious IL was, At
this distance from the days when those Of
ferirgs were laid upon the altar of freedom
IL seems almost incredible. We who lived
at that period, whether participants in the
struggle or not, hardly realize the enormity
OF the sacrifice that being made. The
:iower OF the nation were there, and fell
Dying that the land might be free and the
republic preserved. Who was the brayest
where so many were brave? Answer il We
who may. Sufficient for me is the fact that
they grandly lived and grandly died"
He spoke of the COL tracing circle of the
survivors OF the war, as each year death
Claims one and another, and how their
memories will not perish. but will be kept
green In the continued observance of this
day. He referred TO the dying out of the
bitterness engendered by the conflict and
OF the high respect which northern and
southern soldiers have for each other born
of actual contact In battle He was salts
ned that nothing would more quickly heal
Whatever wounds may now be open than
Tor both elements TO have a common foe
lie, however. did not wish for another war
but thought II were better to await the
healing balm of time
The Pension Cutlery.
AS you go from the place" he continued.
where you have decorated the graves of
our dead comrades 1 beseech you not TO
forget that you have a still higher duty
TO the living Remember what they have
done for you and what you owe them. Re-
member they are growing old, they have
passed over the hill of life and are now
rapidly descending the other side Rear
tenderiy in mind the widows and orphans
whose earthly helpers have Joined the great
majority beyond leaving them to struggle
along as best they can in this cold selfish
world We are living in peculiar DAYS I
sometimes think the old 'cOpperheads' of the
IT 1SG4. The hiss is the same and the
venom is the same, but firmly believe that
the great heart Of the American people Is
with the soldier yet and at the proper time
and place it will speak in such tones as can
not be misunderstood. A spirit is abroad
among portion Of our people endeavoring
70 Great a sentiment against the veteran.
IL cries out against the pension roll, calling
IL a roll Of dishonN' and the pensioners
as 'paupers.' bummers' 'coffee-cooIers'
'bOunty-jumpers,' eIeventh-hour recruits
and other like epithets.
The signs of the times point to the utter
Reputation Of the vilifers of the old SOL
diers. Those who carry on this warfare
should remember that since the 1000 900
men laid down their arms another 1000, 900
and more have arisen. sons of veterans.
who viii not look with complacency on
this detracttOn of the honor of their fathers
and will surely rebuke and punish it, / do
not doubt that frauds are committed on the
pension laws, nor do doubt that pensions
In few cases. have been wrongfully al
iowed-the same is true Of every class Of