The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1894-06-01

world, IL proclaims To the race the
highest estate To which man can attain.
1t Is the ensign OF that power which
compels respect everywhere and con-
tinually reiteratcs the truth that all
men are indeed created free and equal
Who was IL tina. made this dear old
flag so powerful and so respectableY
Who made il SO exclusive? Who pulled
down the stars and bars which, for a
time, partially usurped its place? Who
gave IL its power To strike terror To the
hearts of traitors and the enemies of
liberty? Who compelled respect for il,
at home and on the high seasy Who
demonstrated the truths il prOclaims?
Who saved the Republics Who restored
To this people that peace SO long en-
joyed and which flows I'm such resistless
and unbroken currentsg There ought
not To be child in the land who can
not answer these questions. 1t was the
veterans of 81 to '65-the Grand Army
of the Republic-whose dead the patri-
otic people of our country this day meet
To honor. There is but fragment of
that magnificent army surviving the
great struggle. The main body has
crossed the dark river and pitched its
tents
"Where glory guards with solemn rounds
The bivouac of the dead"
What remains is but skeleton of its
former self "a skirmish line of that
mighty host beneath whose tread this
continent rocked, and trembled, and
vibrated. The boys Gas they were
Familiarity called in those days, for it
must be remembered that they were
nearly all young) who are still with us
are growing old. The cheek is furrowed,
the eye is dimmed, the hair is silvered,
and the form bowed. More than quar-
ter of century has sped away since
the last shot was fired in that conflict.
To the generation that has come upon
the stage of action since Appomattox
was made historic the sound of those
stirring scenes are lost. Although
their reverberations still ring in the
ears of the generation who participated
in them, they make, | fear, too little
impression upon those to whom the
great boon of a restored Union was be-
queathed. The story of the cold soldier"
has become, to many, a chestnut"
This ought not TO be So 1t should not
be forgotten that behind the waving
banners, behind the inspiring strains of
music, there is a growing chasm into
which this Nation poured billions of its
treasure and, what was inestimably
more valuable, five hundred thousand
lives; young, intelligent, ambitious, as
piring, hopeful, patriotic. Remember,
my fellow citizens, to SO impress upon
the youth the true lessons of these sacri-
fees, that they may not be left to ask
what does all these demonstrations on
Decoration day mean? Soldiers, do not
forget your comrades who are not here
to day to engage with you in the observ-
ance of these beautiful and impressive
ceremonies; who are not here, in visible
presence, to touch elbows and clasp
hands in fraternal greeting; who will
never wake again to an earthly reveille.
They have preceded you to their re-
ward. The scythe Of time will soon cut
the brittle thread that binds you To
these earthly scenes and your spirits
will join theirs on the other shore,
where wars alarms will not disturb the
felicitous communion of heroes, lepos-
ing in the consciousness of duty well
performed and of having done their full
share in opening the way to the poor,
the lowly and the oppressed to gain the
highest estate in Gods economy attain
able i'm "A free government under the