The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-02-23

There is more glory and prestige
around the name. In the darkened
ages many a poet strung his Tyre and
sang of liberty, and it never came.
The tread of our armies was like the
smoking footprints Of the Son of God
on the mountains Of Judea- If there
is anything that viii rise undimmed
upon the ocean of time 1t will not be
some mound of crumbling brickw ork,
some monument or mausoleum dedl-
Gated to the memory of an Alexander,
a Caesar, or Napoleon, but it will be
cenotaph, or shaft, consecrated to a
Washington, to him who seeks the
elevation OF his race and the aGgran-
dizement of humanity. But we are
facing dangers that are initiating ser
iously against us. This is the dump
ing ground for the criminals and paup
ers of Europe. Eternal vigilance is
the price of liberty" This should be
written upon our hearts, upon our flag,
upon the walls of our school houses
and upon the rocks of our mountains.
And "by the virtue and intelligence of
the people we are sustained" and when
we lose sight of this we are no longer
Republic.
Comrades, there was time VIXEN
we were of some Importance. 1t was
when we went to defend the wives
families and property of those who
staid at home, as far from danger as
they were from Heaven, and who
couldn't to day tell bombshell from
pumpkin, Think of it, we are ask
ing for pensions J.! What a crime !
1t will not be long till we will not have
standing room in the middle of full
sized river, or could warm our feet at
the mouth of volcano. The "foxes
have holes, the birds of the air have
nests" but veterans have not where to
lay their heads.
Comrades, save the old canteen, the
old haversack, the old musket, place
them away in safety and when you
come to die hand them to your child
rem as mementoes Of your services for
your country's welfare. Soon the last
comrade will stand alone upon the
earth amidst the graveyardg and ceme-
teries Of his comrades. Soon he will
take the last look upon the blushing
battle fields of Chattanooga, Lookout
Mountain and Gettysburg, then pass
| away forever.
Sons of Veterans, remember your
fathers who served and perlshed for
Liberty, Heavens choicest gift to man
and for the Union of these States,
Heavens choicest gift to man as its
treasure house.
The school children of Greece were
taught to name over for 500 years
daily the names of the valiant 800
that perished IN the defles of Thermo-
pylae. Would we could mention
those who climbed the heights of Pea
Ridge, Ft. Fisher, Lookout Mountain
and never came back. The num-
mics of Egypt were preserved In the
sunless pyramids along the Nile for
resurrection morn. But our heroes
are embalmed in the throbbing, loving
hearts of the present generation and
will be IN the generations yet to come.
How precious our flag having pass
ed through the sulphur and smoke of
thousand battles ! What brave men
carried it through the storms of iron
hail Its stars are from Heaven ; its
stripes from the golden sunrise of
morning. 1t does not resemble any
thing on earth. 1t has no earthly
model. Its model is the cerulean skies,
gemmed with the stars that sang in
harmony at creations birth. 1t is
like that great mantle of stars that
hangs from the Throne of the Eternal.
Forty-four unsullied stars, the refec-
ton of the planets that gleam around
the midnight Throne.
Stars of our flag shine on through
ages yet to come shine on to light the
pathway of liberty, shine on till you
reach the darkened labyrinths of every
human heart.
Our country; still may her flowers un-
tampled spring,
Her harvests wave, her cities rise
And yet till time shall fold her wing,
Remain earth's loveliest paradise"