The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1895-05-31
SERVICES.

MEMORIAL SERVICES.
On last Sabbath evening the Rev. r.
d. Haner preached a very able memoir
ial sermon at the Presbyterian church
in this city, ON the subject, "The Sold
iers Reward" The church was filled to
Overlooking, the old veterans were out
in a body as was also Company NJ, OF
the state militia. The sermon was elo-
quent and full Of good thoughts, and the
whole service vas impressive,
All of this is right and proper and is
as 1T should be. No greater sacrifice
can be made than was made by those
who took up arms at the call OF Abra-
ham Lincoln to assist in maintaining a
position that should free three million
slaves, Thirty years have elapsed since
the cannons mouth was hushed, the
sword sheathed and the war cloud
rolled by, but many vet living still fee
the keen pangs Of sorrow, from the loss
OF those who were near and lear to
them and will IN Decoration day. renew
their demonstration OF affection by
strewing flowers upon the sunken graves
and moss grown tombs-the only visi-
BILE remains OF departed loved ones.
When in sober and unimpassioned
thought, we mediate upon the cruelty
and barbarity oil war. Of the pain and
sorrow it brings, and the manv young
men cut down IN the morning of life, we
are seized with a feeling Of disgust for
humanity. boasting of intelligence as
it does, for resorting to a as a meas
ure for the settlement OF difficulties.
While it may be impossible to change
the dispositions Of men, it is possible to
prevent conditions arising, which make
wars possible. II one half OF the energy
was displayed by the ruling classes, to
prevent war, that we see displayed l n
maintaining it, and showing our feelings
for or against it on one side or the
other, war would be known only IN his
tory. 1t seems to us at this very NOM
emit, this republic is passing through q
period OF great danger, a period that re-
quires the best thought of our time, and
not only thought but action, to prevent
internal discord and hatred among the
classes-the very seed that breeds the
cruelest kind Of vars. sIt5seems that all
the tendencies OF the times are towards
dlscord-in the direction of widening the
gulf between the rich and the poor-that
the government is on the side of the rich
which the poor laboring and producing
classes see with IN eye OF disgust, and
are storeing up feelings that mustsooner
or later be given vent.
To one familiar with the history OF
national life, and all those who are
students OF political economy, it is plain
that much thought, activity and care
will have to be used at the helm or the
old ship Of state will be dashed against
the rocks and sunk beneath the waves
OF anarchy and dlscord, to he rebuilt
out of the broken fragments that re-
main.
We do not desire to be looked upon as
an alarmist; we only wish to call at
tention to the drift OF our times and
hope by SO doing to enlist a greater
number OF the good people-those who
love their homes and c%ountry-in the
work OF putting down war breaders, and
thereby save the coming generation, the
necessity for setting apart another day
for decorating the graves of those who
lost their lives fighting for something
that we, by our Indifference, gave away.
.#H&#H3TE a&E@M