The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-05-31
VERY FEW ARE LEFT
But Those Soldiers Who Remain Re-
member the Dead.
REV. RYDER'S WARM WORDS
His Eloquent Address Yesterday
Hundreds of Children Partici-
pate in the Exercises
Slight Rain Fall.

In the army days they would have
styled a "Corporars guard" still re-
main in Anaconda. All of these are
gray-haired, most of them walk by
the aid of STATS, and as they marched
in line yesterday to do honor to their
falling comrades, their steps were
slower and less regular than last year,
there were fewer men in line, and the
time when none shall remain seemed
10 the thoughtful onlooker, sorrowfully
near at hand.
The honor and esteem in which the
veterans are held was well made mani
fest in Anaconda yesterday. The
weather was threatening throughout
the afternoon, but there was a large
audience in the opera house and the
street parade was witnessed by crowds
all along the line of march. The varf-
Gus societies turned out in creditable
numbers to take part in the parade.
The exercises at the opera house were
opened by prayer by Elder George f.
Barnaby. The selections by the Or
pheus Glee club were very appropri-
ate and as a whole were well rendered.
Miss Millie Davidson gave a recitation,
Memorial Day." in very pleasing man
ner.
Mayor Thornton then introduced Rev.
G. M. Ryder of the NJ. e. church, who
delivered a soul-stirring address on
Patriotism" which was frequently in
terrupted by applause, in which the
veterans led. Rev. Mr.. Ryder said:
"Breathes there a man with soul so
dead who never to himself has said:
This is my own, my native land"
I'VE meet to-day, not to exult in and
celebrate bloody victories achieved in
conflict with an alien foe-not to flaunt
In the face of vanquished enemy the
battle-torn, smoke-stained banners to
which they gave their allegiance and
nos ~ n IL.
snatched from them in the hour of tri-
umph-not to parade the streets of our
city, followed by mourning captives or
exiled slaves after the manner of an
ancient triumph; but rather we are
met to mention and exalt that patriot
ism which has always fired the breast
OF every true American-to honor and
emphasize those principles of govern
ment which have made our country
one and inseparable, and to do reVer-
ence to the memory of those illustrious
dead who, in that dark night of con-
fiict when grim-visaged war trod on
the hearts OF brave men and heroic
women and threatened to rend asunder
this noble confederation of states, gave
their lives willing sacrifice at their
country's altar that the union might be
preserved.
Patriots are born, not made. What
university teaching political economics
for thousand years could produce the
Revolutionary fathers? Witness the
truth OF this proposition in the immor-
tai words Of John Adams before the
colonial congress with reference to the
Declaration of Independence. Although
he saw before him probable defeat and
the executioner's block of Charles the
Third, yet he voiced his Unborn patriot
ism: "Sink or swim, live or die sur
vive or perish, am for the resolution"
Patriotism is perhaps the noblest greet
ing and passion that ever found a home
in the human heart. The love of coun-
try is the whole of which other loves
are merely constituent elements. The
love of children and parents is noble;
but the love of country is nobler. for
it includes the former and embraces
vastly more. The love of wife and hus-
band is tender and mighty; the love of
home is passion which cannot find
forgetfulness in distant travel or pass
ing years-but who would not be reck-
oned a coward that would choose to
enjoy these, and shut his ears TO the
cry OF his country's distress? The past
furnishes glorious examples of unset
fish devotion to the state. Kings have
commanded respect and obedience; yet
the people who have felt that to them
selves belonged their country and the
necessity of it's defense have shown
most genuine patriotism and heroic
self-devotion. 1t was not literature and
the works of Homer, Aeschylus, Phi
dias and PraXiteles have never been
equalled and perhaps can never be sur
passed; but her greatness lay in those
noble achievements wrought in defense
or her howery wales and towering
mountains-in the fact that when the
alarm or war sounded, the scholar for
got his manuscript and pupil, the art
list laid aside his brush, the sculptor
dropped his chisel and one and all
flocked to Marathon, to Thermopylae,
10 Salamis and Plataea. Patriotism
made the Greek great. When we think
OF Switzerland and Scotland we think
Of the past. We honor their achieve
ments in letters; we cannot forget Cal
vim, Knox, Burns and Blackie but
most of all we honor their historic pat
riotism. Patriotism is forgetful of self.
1t seeks not the easy places nor the
high salaries as an end, but as a means
to an end. and the means must always
be subordinate. 1t should be q matter
of reproach TO the millionaire poll
tician of to-day to think of the priva-
tons and sufferings of the Pilgrim
fathers and of those who laid the foun-
dations of that colossal structure
which now protects us. These think
of self and self ggrandizment-those
thought of their country's need and
spilled their life's blood rather than
sully her name and principles. These
Duy her offices and prostitute her reve-
nues; those were placed in positions of
trust by natural selection, because of
peculiar fitness to discharge the public
duties which devolved upon them, often
serving without pay, as did Washing
ton during the Revolutionary war;
These make laws in the interest of
trusts, parties and money monopolies:
those made laws as broad as humanity
ana as unselfish as the Declaration Of
independence. Patriotism is not mar
row. II loves all. 1t makes laws for
the good of all, not for the benefit of
any one section or class, for all men.
under the protection of our government
are created free and equal and en-
dowed with certain inalienable rights.
among which are life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness. That spirit which
seeks to enrich or in any way benefit a
section Of country or her people at the
expense Of the rest, even if the portion
benefited be much the greater. is an
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