Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-06-07
MEMORIAL ADDRESS.
Delivered by Rev. L. G. sehnaOke, Sunday,
MAY 9th, 1894.

"Oher men IabOred; and ye are en-
tered into their Iabors. John f, IS.
This passage of Scripture contains
one of the profoundest truths of Christ
ianity. It may even be said that if this
great and vital truth were left out of it
Christianity would be nothing more
than a philosophy. Vicarious laboring
and suffering for the sake of others, the
giving of energy, the expenditure of life
for the welfare and redemption of others
this is the great law of Christ and of
the New Testament. 1t is the law of
love, the law of self-renunciation and
self-sacrifice.
At this occasion Jesus was earnestly
engaged in winning Samaritan woman
from licentious and degraded life to
life of purity and honor. The disciples
show their utter astonishment over
Christ's attempt to redeem this poor
woman, first perhaps because she was
common prostitute, and second because
she was Samaritan, member of race
which had become very obnoxious to
the Jews. It seemed to them a waste
of energy to approach a class of people
who had not been made ready for the
reception of Christianity. But Jesus
increases their astonishment when He
declares unto them, that right here
among these neglected and preiudiced
Samaritans the field is already white for
| the harvest. He cites history to aid Him
in vindicating His truth: Other men,
the patriarchs and prophets have been
here in Samaria: they labored here; they
| titled the soil and scattered the whole
some seed; they suffered here; they
wept here; they were stoned here; they
were instrumental, through suffering, in
planting the seeds of righteousness, and
ye are to reap the benefit of their tolls
and suffering.
History repeats itself. These ''other
men" who have labored for us, and made
it possible for us younger people to enjoy
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happi-
ness, are the members of the Grand
! Army of the American Republic, frac-
ton of which is still with us, whose
| tramp is still heard, but whose step to
the music of time is growing fainter and
! less firm with every recurring anniver-
sary. The greater portion have passed
| from the scene of action, yet they are
not forgotten. 1t is particularly in mem
ory of this invisible throng that we meet
here to- day to ponder over the stupend-
Gus results that these brave and self
sacrificing men have achieved for US.
Here we are great nation of about
68 100000 people, old and young; men,
women and children; free men and freed
men; natives and foreigners; all enjoy
ing the fruits of their patriotism. Only
a very small percentage of this vast pop
ulation know the dreadful meaning of
war: but the rich blessings which we
all enjoy came to us through the suffer
ings and death of the boys in blue.
You have, in the first place, purchased
for us union and loyalty to the great
government of the United States. When,
in an early day, class of men began to
teach what would eventually bring to
our nation either perpetual conflict OF
IL total wreck of freedom, viz, the right
of single state to secede, you listened
with forbodings while your whole be-
ings repudiated what you believed to be
a nefarious and destructive doctrine.
Yet do not believe that the thought oi
bloodshed, of a desire for vengeance, en-
tered into the thought of the coming
patriot. The attempt was made in divers
, ways, by the ballot, by compromise. by
; legal decisions, to avert cruel war
Notwithstanding all these peaceable
measures, the banner of secession rose
higher and higher, and finally the mis-
led States actually began to secede anc
became bold enough to fire the first gun
1t was then gentlemen, that you real
-, lied that you had cried peace! peace
when there was no peace. You saw a
length the folly of compromising will
pernicious principles. The attempt t.
serve two masters precipitated this ma
ton, as it always will, into the darkness
of hell 1t was then that we wer,
obliged to retrace our steps and do ou
, work over again. Nayi to first und,
what had been done that was eternall,
y; NIOLS, ciA1O LISA W pIONS W Otlc
world that the government of the U. S
: is higher authority than the govern
ment of a state. In undertaking thi
: great work you undertook to subdue re
bellion, to establish peace through
. union, to bring protection to our home
and to centralize authority where
really belongs in true democracy.
And has this work of union reall
been accomplished? 1 answer emphat
ically, Yes! 1t somehow wounds m
national pride, gentlemen of the Grant
Army, to be compelled so frequently t
hear the open declaration by men of tn
= North, that this work of establishin
union and loyalty has not been accom-
plished: that the South is full of rebel
yet. This is virtually saying that yo
= went down into the South to achieve
victory and that you returned with
, lost cause. 1 desire right here to ente
my protest against such treasonabl
r. verdict, and it seems TO me to be tn
duty of every loyal American citizen t