Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-05-30


would ensue. To avoid these sup
posed inevitable results. from their
standpoint. only one thing was left.
namely, TO secede and form o nation
of their own. If hindered in this
they had determined upon an appeal
TO arms and had so stated.
"The leaders of the north on the
other hand were dazed by these bold
statements. but they still had an
abiding faith that something would
occur which would avoid the neces-
sity of an appeal to arms. They did
not desire to interfere with their do
nestle affairs. but if worst came to
worst they would not permit seces-
sion and thereby division of the
union,
State AFTER state retired from
the union. and through their repre-
sentatives. in the house and senate,
with due deiib"ration and deter
mined iirmness. expressed their be-
lief in the business of their cause.
As the time neared for the Inaugural
ton everything assumed more war
like attitude" Then said he:
The First Gun.
"April IA, 1861, over "a years ago,
the first shot was fired. The times
Immediately following were filled
with the greatest excitement. The
respective portions of the country
united at once. Party lines ceased
to exist. Men who bat short time
before had been contending with each
other in the political arena. united
and marched forth to battle. The
call for men on both sides was
promptly met, and in q short time
citizens were transformed into sol
diers. and two great armies made up
of kindred, we're contending with
each other. Memory, that God given
power that permits us in the present
to hold converse with the past. re-
minds You, nv older friends.
more wildly than it does us of a
younger generation, Of those exciting
and thrilling times. You can see. in
memory. through dimmed eyes and
falling tears. the young men as they
were then, "a years ago, when they
proudly answered to their country e
call and enrolled their names as vol
unteers. How grandly they marched
to the music of the soul-stirring fife
and drum as to the depot they wen,
preparatory to going to the scenes OF
carnage and of death. In memory
you go back to the days before the
war and think of your loved dead a:
they then were. You see them work.
Jag on the farm, in the store, in the
shop, in the mill, in the various VEGA.
tions of life. You see them as they
aided you in changing the rude
aud uncultiyated condition OIL
our country, causing it to he
come beautiful and produc
tive land. You see them as you me,
them in the social circle, you see
them in the public meeting town and
country In short, their respective
lives from the time YOU first saw
them up to the time they went forth
from you, with the many and varied
incidents connected Herewith,
wildly return again.
with these recollections crowdins
in upon you and upon US. and we
ourselves growing old, standing as
we do in the presence Of the abode OF
death, we naturally and must Of
necessity grow sadder and more sol
emn as the years come and 60
Many, very many of the boys who
were born and raised in this imme
date vicinity went away never to re-
turn again. There in the grave yard
near by sleep some of them. Some
of them sleep in nameless graves in
the south. And others sleep in those
long narrow rows in national GENE
teries north and south with only 9
single little head mark to indicate
Their last resting place, and over
their graves keeps vigil, which nc
hand dares to haul down, the flag
they loved and for which they died
Many of you recall the feelings tina,
came over you when you heard that
a battle was on, or that one had beer
fought, and you had received no It'd
ings from the loved ones there.
Mothers, Wives and Daughters.
at seems to me also that it would
not be out of place on this occasion
: to speak a kind word in favor Of the
mothers, wives, sistess and daught
ers who were left home while the
soldiers were away fighting for thei'
country. They, too. did their part
in this great struggle. Many oil
them went forth into the fields and
did the work which, under ordinary
} circumstances, is done by men.
: They acted in the dual capacity OF
a father and a mother to the chill.
dren. They sent to those at the
front clothing and food and delica
cies OF various kinds. which you SOL
diers alone could and did appreciate
They also had to endure and beal
the terrible suspense and anguish
waiting. for news from theil
D loved ones at the front. Some o.
l them, white-souled and pure like
angels from above, ministered to the
sick and the dying On the field o.
} battle and in the crowded hospital
What they did there for you, my
! soldier friends. you know full we'll
for you were the recipients of theil