Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-06-09

1iHSiiSnA cope ,tudlxS TO Zen. John
A. Logan. through whose efforts Me.
moral Day has become a national
holiday.
We are here now to honor these
brave soldiers. This holiday has dis.
tinctive features that should ever be
preserved. It is right that we should
observe the 4th Of July and Washing
tons birthday. The future of this
nation will be indeed dark when we
fail to observe either. But these ser
vices are of a peculiar interest. How
appropriate that at least once a year
we should gather around these graves
to keep fresh in our hearts the memory
of those who fell in the civil war; to
recur to the lessons of that war, and
remember what it cost to keep this
nation undivided. wish to bear wit
ness again that the cause for which
they died was right. eternally right. I
willingly drop a tear to the memory
of those who wore the gray, as men
and Americans; but il we do not believe
i'll the right and eternal righteousness
of the cause for which brave Union
men fought and your comrades gave
up their lives, then these ceremonies
we are now performing are worse than
a mockery. The blood of our common
fathers watered the tree Of liberty,
which they planted and left as an in
heritance to us. When bloody rebellion
tore it from its bed Of green sward,
the blood of Union men watered il
again and their steady hands support
ed its dropping branches. and caused it
to bloom forth more beautiful than
ever before. Aud shall we now apollo
gize for your actions and say to-day
that your comrades died in vain and
that the cause for which they died vas
wrongf
The principles fought for were sa-
cred. The course of each side had
been thoroughly considered and the
probable results carefully estimated.
The South, the home OF aristocracy.
Violated every compromise made in
Congress looking to a settlement of
the status Of the slave. She wanted
the new States to poison the blood in
their veins by the continuation Of slav-
cry. She was jealous Of the loss of
power that would surely follow their
admission. and rather than lose her
supremacy. rather than play second
fiddle. rather than bow to the will Of
the majority, she broke the compact
that existed between the States Of the
Union and flung the banner Of the
Co~nfederacy to the bre exc. She cast
her die and lost. The Inconsistency
of claiming this TO be the land Of the
free and the home Of the brave, when
millions Of human beings were in
bondage, is now, no doubt, evident to
all. Slavery was contrary to every
feeling Of justice, aud would have
been abolished anyhow, and now has
neither the sanction of the South. nor
Of humanity in general. That the
South could have dispensed with slav-
cry beneficially to herself, is evidenced
by the strides she has made in enter
prise and wealth, since it was wrench
ed from her. The mistake made by her
brave and generous people was that
they did not sell their slaves to the
government and permit it to free them
as was proposed by the leading states
men and philanthropists Of that day,
instead Of losing all, and having them
set free and constitutional right and
justice established and melted out at
such a fearful sacrifice of life and
property.
But these questions of intent and
policy have been so thoroughly dis
cussed. that no new argument eau
now be presented. Every true Amer
lean should be glad that the wal ended
as it did. Look what a country we
have. Productiveness on every hand;
education universal; inventive genius
busy; prosperity manifest; happiness
and contentmenti in mauyoj our homes;
political and religious freedom strong,
manly, liberal-minded people. We
have nc standing army as compared
with other nations. but the Haunting
of the flag OF danger, would see a vast
militia in the field. On the sea we
have no powerful navy, but the valof
of our eauien has never been surpass-
ed. A W years ago the war vessels
of Germany and the United States lay
anchored off the island Of Samoa,
growing at each other like dogs Of
war. One day a war Of the elements
rose. The heavens grow dark. The
storm king sweeps the pillows noun
tain high. The wind sobs bitterly aud
loud. Out on the troubled deep, the
American sailors stand at the post
OF duty. The anchor drags-the angel
of death flaps his winds over their
heads-and the ftful flashes Of spite
iul lightning show their faces. so
CHASTITY and pale. One vessel must
soon go down. Slowly she settles
in the water. Death treads her
decks. There is no escaping for
the sailors. Do they fearl Do
they bemoan their fate Is there
any shirking' There is a h%urrying to
and fro on her decks. The ropes are
united. And with the wind bowling
and the waves roaring In their ears.
the horror. striker people who line the
shore, see the stars and stripes run up
to the mast head, and float there in
defiance to the hurricane. Aud harki
Above the blast OF the storm they
catch the faint strains Of our national
hymns. With their eyes on that glo-
rious emblem Of independence aud lib
erty even though death stands grin
ming at their elbows, the brave
American sailors sing on. a huge
billow strikes the vessels eide. There
is a wild minglingo of cheers and songs
lit passes on, and there is silence.
The flag no longer waves. The voices
Of the singers are hushed. The old
ocean has claimed her victims. Mems
hearts have throbbed with emotion
and women have shed tears as they
have read OF this battle with death.
Who trembles for the safety Of this
nation Who bemoans the absence Of
valor and patriotism Who fears the
encroachings Of foreign foes, while
such grand and sublime patfiomtis
finds a home in the breasts ofAmerica's
brave sons and daughters a united
country stands ready TO uphold the
honor and glory Of the nation.
That union for which your comrades
fought and died. is to-day indissolu-
able and protecting the pride Of every
patriot heart, and receives the admir-
alton Of the civilized world, and your
services are not forgotten though there
be those who begrudge you your honor