The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-06-28


to them as though God had put upon their
faces the color of the Anglo-Saxon race. They
| fought for the flag in the war, and that flag,
with all it represents and stands for. must pro-
cure them every constitutional right and
| blessing At Baton Rouge the first regiment
| OF the black brigade. before starting for Port
Hudson. received at the hands OF its white
/ colonel - Col. Sta1ord-its regimental col
ors, in a speech from the colonel, which ended
/ with this Injunction
Color bearer, guard. defend. protect, die
for. but never surrender these colors." To
which the sergeant replled-and he was as
black as my coat-"Colonel. will return that
flag to you in honor, or will report to God the
reason why
The Glorious Old Flag.
He fell mortally wounded in one OF those des-
| perate charges in front OF Port Hudson. with
/ his face to the enemy. and with those cOlOrs in
his clenched fist. pressed upon his breast He
did not return the colors, but the God above
| him knew the reason why.
| Is It any wonder that the old soldier loved
| the flag under whose folds he fought, and for
which his comrades shed so much blood? He
loves it, both for what IL is and for what it rep
resents It embodies, the purposes and history
| OF the government itself. It records the
| achievements OF it's defenders upon land and
| sea 1t heralds the heroism and sacrifices of
our revolutionary fathers. who planted free
| government on this continent and dedicated it
| to liberty forever. 1t attests the struggle of
| our army and the valor OF our citizens in all
| the wars OF the republic. 1t has been sancti-
! fled by the blood of our best and our bravest
It records the achievements OF Washington
and the martyrdom OF Lincoln. 1t has been
| glorhed in the hearts OF freedom-loving
| people, not only at home, but in
| every part OF the world. Our flag ex-
presses more to humanity everywhere
| than any other flag. II means
no.
national emblem. 1t expresses the will Of a
free and independent people. 1t proclaims
| that the people are supreme, and that they ac-
knowledge no other earthly sovereign than
| themselves. It never was assaulted that thou
sands did not rise up to smite the assailant
Glorious old banner, long may it wavel
When the old flag was hauled down at
| Sumter. stars and stripes without number
were raised above every loyal ireside in the
land. AL the glorious achievements which
the flag represents and all its hallOwed memo
ries glowed with burning feryor in the heart Of
every lover of liberty and the union. The
mad assault that was made upon the flag at
| the time aroused its defenders and kindled q
deep and fervent patriotism, which could not
be Quenched until it had extinguished the IN
holy cause which had aSsailed our precious
banner
What more beautiful conception than that
which prompted Abra Kohn, OF Chicago, in
|
| OF his starting to Washington to assume the
office of president, flag of our country, lear
| ing upon its siIken folds these words from she
ninth and fifth verses OF the first chapter Of
Joshua:
Have not commanded thee: be strong and
of good courage. Be not afraid. neither be
thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with
thee, whithersoever thou goest There shall
not any man be able to stand before thee all
the days of thy life. AS was with Moses so
shall be with thee. will not fail thee, nor
| fOrsake thee"
Could anything have given Mr.. Lincoln more
cheer, or been better calculated to sustain his
courage or strengthen his faith in the mighty
work before him? Thus commanded, thus
assured. Mr.. Lincoln Journeyed to the capital,
! where he took the oath OF office and registered
in Heaven an oath TO save the union. And
| THE Lord our God was with him, and did not
fail or tOrsake him until every obligation Of
oath and duty was sacredly kept and honored
mot any man was able to stand before him !"
Liberty was the more firmly enthroned the
union was saved, the flag which he carried
fioated in triumph and glory from every flag
staff OF the republic.
Burying the Past.
But. my friends, let us speak with no resent
ment and in terms OF no bitterness, of the past
Its wrongs may have been great and its suffer-
! ings terrible, but its results rewards and les
people, all they cost: aye. far more than they
cost, both in life and treasure. For those who
fought on the other side in that great conflict
| we bear no hatred: toward them we cherish no
animosity. We would impose upon them no
punishment; we would inflct upon them no in
| dignity. They are our brothers, and our attach
mentS for them strengthen and increase as the
years advance. We saved them from them
selves, and w1uld gladly spare them even the
humiliation OF their own rash acts But will
tell you what we do insist upon, and what We
will ever insist upon until it is finally and firm
ly secured-that the settlement made between
| Grant and Lee at AppomattOX, which was
afterwards embodied in the constitution
OF the United States. shall be fully
| obeyed and respected in every part OF
| this union. More we have never asked.
less we will not have. Beyond that step we
never advanced, short OF it we cannot stop
Justice and righteousness plant us there, and
right is might and truth is God" We might
just as well remember now, my friends, that
| God puts no nation in supreme place that will
not do supreme work, and God keeps no nation
IN supreme place that will not meet the SUI
preme duty of the hour
From the wars dread fiery ordeal
No bitter hates we bring,
No threats OF wild revenges,
No cruel taunts to fling;
But we must not prove faithless
To the gallant blood they shed;
| Our foes are all forgiven.
But ne'er forget our dead.
80, boys, who fell at Shiloh,
At Richmond and Bull Run,
The work your brave hands finished
| Shall never be undone.
| Sleep sweetly through the ages,
o, dear and gallant Dust
The men who guard your victories
Stand faithful TO your trust"
Did Not Die in Vain.
| Fellow-citzens and comrades Of the Grand
Army OF the Republic. the braFe men whose
memory we cherish so tenderly die not die in
vain. We may say OF all of them. as was said
| OF the Knights OF St John, in the holy wars:
In the forefront of every battle was seen their
Furnished mail. and in the gloomy rear Of
every retreat was heard their voice Of con-
| Stancy and courage.
1T is not" said Mr.. Lincoln. what we say
! Of them. but what they did. which will live"
| They have written their own histories; they
have builded their own monuments. No poor
words of mine can enhance the glory Of their
deeds, or add laurel to their fame. Liberty
| owes them a debt which words or songs of
| praise, and piles Of granite or bronze, however
richly adorned by the mister hands OF art, can
never repay. And so long as liberty survives,
and the love of liberty has place in the
hearts OF men, they will be safe against the
| truth of time. and the fate of oblivion The
| nation is full OF the graves or those dead,
| but We must not suffer one such grave
| to remain unmarked unhonored.
OF our nameless heroic dead we
cannot hope to supply the complete record.
We know OF them that fighting for freedom and
the union they fell. and that the place where
they fell is their sepulcher. The Omniscient
| One alone knows who they are and whence
they came. But when their immortal souls are
| called from their silent muster, when their
| names are Onra more SDOken. the answer will
| come back-aS il was the custom for many
! The