Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-10-07
COL. HENRY wATTERsoN.

them; that we are equal to the emer-
gency, and if single one Of them
evades the big guns on the outer walls
it shall go hard if he escapes the small
arms glassware and cutlery
for his metaphorical humiliation inside
the breaStWOrkS!
From far and near these men come to
us wearing a badge that will be found
an open sesame to all doors, a ready
passport to every heart Kentucky sent
about an equal quota to both armies,
and we know precisely how it is our
selves. We make no distinctions here,
and So when one Of these peaceful in
vaders has run the gantlet Of a few Of
the boys in gray he will have still to
stand up and face the music against
detail of the boys in blue, and so on
until he won't know which side he
fought on, and won't care. What mat
ter? When everybody is singing
''Rally round the flag, boysr'
All colors are blue and all seasons the
Fourth of July!
The changes which thirty years have
wrought are marvellous indeed. They
mark the transition from war to peace.
from war with it's horrid passions and
desolate homes to peace all smiling
eyes and daffodils! The soldier, were
he dark and stern, with only the drum
taps Of duty sounding in his ear, or ar
dent and buoyant songs Of love and
glory ringing N his heart, found here
little to light his pathway to battle
Here, indeed, was civil strife, with
beetle brow and sullen glare, brother
against brother; neighbor against neigh
Dor; the ties Of generation broken by
the bubble OF a word, the hazard Of Il
die Whilst brave men fought mothers
and sisters and wives and sWeethearts
hung upon the balance, and it was joy
or sorrow, whichever way the god of
battle winged his shaft; mostly sorrow,
for into what close guarded revel might
not some pallid specter stalk to lay its
hand upon the triumph and to chill all
hearts.
-Four cruel, weary years, and yet how
lightly they have left their mark
Blessed are they who died in battle;
thrice blessed they who died for their
faith! The grave makes no dfscrimina-
lions Manhood is manhood the wide
world over and, dire as war is, it may
be doubted whether its elimination
upon an emasculated species greater
evils still Be this as it may, there is
no discount upon the worth and cour-
age of the sturdy veterans who are our
guests to-day. They at least are living
illustrations Of the excellence of the
school where logic was taught out OF
the mouths of cannon and where, by
the light Of musketry, the rockets red
glare and bombs bursting in the air.
one could easily learn how to read be-
fore he knew how to spell!
Welcome, gallants, all! The war is
over. The terms which Grant gave to
Lee, which Sherman gave to Johnston.
confirmed by those later constitutional
amendments which stand as al ever
lasting treaty of peace between the
North and the South, have been fully
justified by the experience Of every
Northern soldier, have been fully vindi-
Gated by the observance of every South,
ern soldier. With simple faith each
joins in this days festival, asking of
the other only that his heart be warm.
Up with the ensign of the republic!
Down with him who would lower it
Though hell stood at the door!'
The use of poison in war was once
considered not only permissible, but
commendabIe, and was defended by no
less an authority than Wolff. There
are reported instances of wells, springs,
ponds and streams being poisoned as
military measure. Even in our own
time instances are numerous of the in