The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-06-07
NUMBER "a.

which silently teach us lessons of patri-
otism. And who so we'll qualified to
teach this lesson as those who gave
not only their lives but their names as
we'll, for the preservation of these
blessings we now enjoy, in one country
and under one flag. Almost one-haf
of those who lie in the beautiful rest
general government have no names on
the slab at the head of the grave So.
terrible was the carnage that even
their name was blotted out. We have
the enormous total Of 31S,S7O who are
buried, and the numbers are constantly
increasing, of which 147, 1858 have no
name, or are unknown" Can it be
that our country should ever be so I'M
grateful as to forget those who, at such
a cost made it possible for US to have a
country as we have it to-day? One
man who well knew the cost of this re-
demption truthfully said: ''There is but
one debt the American people can
never pay, and that is the debt they
owe to the men who saved the coun-
try" And yet, I often think we are
almost where,Israel was when ''Another
king arose who knew not Joseph" Our
leaders and those who served with
them in the days of fearful conflict,
have almost all passed away. How
many generals of the recent civil strife
can you number? Already there are
indications of ingratitude and reproach
instead of honor for the men who
''counted not their lives dear unto
themselves, that the country should
stand. Only little while ago when
victorious armies returned, loyal ma
ton met them with demonstrations of
approval and gratitude, but compare
lively little regard is now paid those
same men who wear our country's
scars. I am no pessimist, but think
can distinctly see the outlines of for
getfulness clearly traced, and when a
nation ceases to be mindful of its obli-
cations to it's defenders and protectors,
it has in it the elements that will soon
be the means of it's own destruction.
Unmindful of it's heroic past it will be
Indifferent of possible future. Turn
for moment to Egypt; wreck and
ruin, because of her ingratitude, from
| which she has never recovered, and
never will, is an object lesson for us.
If we would avoid such relapse into
utter nothingness among the nations,
we must educate in the history of our
country; especially the history of it's
recent past. Will we do it? There
are some shildren who have heard the
story Of suffering from their sires and
have counted them seemingly as an idle
tale. It seems most unnatural that
they should, but they do, and of this
kind we are brought into contempt.
I cannot close without a tribute of
respect to the women Of our country.
1 Brave We're the men who went to the
front and suffered and bled and died
\ for Che flag, but Drawer we're the wives
and mothers who with breaking hearts
sent husbands and sons. Upon them
rested the heaviest cross-the deep and
silent anguish of suspense; and when
the message came that darkened their
homes forever they pressed their lips
more tightly together and went forth
to fight life's battles alone. All! the,
women of our country will never know
the good they did us while trying to
save this country. The army came
home and the people clapped their
hands and raised triumphal arches and
bands gave grand music, but the story
can never be fully told in this world,
of Mrs. Brady who went among the
sick in the swamps of Chickahominv.
of Anna Ross in the Cooper Shop hos
pital at Philadelphia; Margaret Breck-
enrldge, who came to men who had
lain for weeks in the swamps unat-
tended, part of the time frozen to the
ground; of Mrs. Gov. Yates, at Shiloh;
Mrs. Hodge, who came from Chicago
with comforts and cheer for the needy,
suffering men, so that whenever they
saw her coming shouted ''three cheers
for the sanitary commission! God
bless the women at home" VS..
1t would seem that a grateful nation
would not need to be reminded often of
its obligation to those who made it
possible for them to still be a nation,
but man is forgetful of greatest favors.
and many indications of the present
say that the sacrifices of the soldiers
are not highly appreciated, and we
question sometimes when our ranks are
more reduced, if we will not be turned
out like the old dray horse to die. For
1.-THE shores of life are shifting every year
And we seward drifting every year
Old places changing fret us, u.
| The living more forget us
There are fewer to regret US every year,
!, But there are some who will never
forget us, and whom we will never for
get But many are already mustered
out.
Our fames eternal camping ground
| Their silent tents spread,
And angels guard with solemn round
The bivouack of the dead.''
, How blessed if when we are mustered
out we shall pass to the ''home of the
Conqueror."
Comrades, yet little while and the
bugle shall sound flights out, and we
shall lie down in our long rest: but
again the reveille shall sound, and we
shall fall into line for the roll call of
the grand review
1--WE wait for the bugle; the night dews are cold /:
The I'll limbs Of the soldiers feel !aded and old:
The field of our bivouack is windy and bare,
There is lead in our joints there is frost in our
hair: -
/ The future is yelled and it's fortune unknown.
, AS we lie with hushed breath till the bugie is
blown.
, At the sound of the buge each comrade shall
spring
l Like IAN arrow released from the strain of the
, string;
The courage, the impulse of youth shall come
3 back
To Danish the chill of the dreary bivouack;
. And SORROWS and losses and cares fade away