The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-31
Anaconda NetDs.

united country and their loved ones
once more. The battle not always was
theirs; some exhausted their strength
in the struggle and were buried when
the brothers returned; some, struck
down by bullets that killed the dear
ones in battle, died in their sorrow;
others fought on, writing the boys at
the front letters of patriotism, urging
US and encouraging as on, whhe AT
home they fought battles that were
harder than ours. Woman made but
little less than the angels; her wartime
sacrifices were the grandest in history.
We may wander from a mothers teach-
ings in prosperity, but in adversely we
cleave to her. We may forsake those we
love when all is well, but when storms
surround us how sweet is their comfort
and love. To them we give honor ana
may their memories be cherished forever.
No greater patriotism can be known than
that of which we are witnesses. that or
those mothers who taught us to love our
country, and who said My boy, your first
duty is to God, your next to your coun-
try. Go, and may the God of battles go
with you" When we see to-day msthers
like those who said such parting words
to us, teaching their children those prin-
ciples with such motherhood, loyal and
true as then, we have no fear of standing
armies or of battleships but put our trust
in the American Volunteer Army.
These short addresses by the veterans.
Comrades Edwards and Davidson. were
the gems of the day. The earnestness OF
them, the sentiments theys spoke coming
from the depths of their hearts caused
throats to swell and eyes to dim that sell
dom know emotion. 1t was like the bless
ing of the patriarch, the tribute to past,
the forecast of the future.
Miss Isabel Tracy then recited that
plaintive story, Searching for the
Slain," with excellent Evolutionary effect.
The glee club. under the direction of j.
H. Thomas, sang a solo and chorus that
was appreciated.
Master John III. Curtis spoke the beau
tiful poem, 1.-THE Blue and the Gray,
with extraordinary ability and clever UNI
Outstanding of the mood of 1t. He re-
ceived hearty encore which called for
his second appearance.
The orator of the day, Rev. e. c. Avis.
was then introduced and made a 30-min-
ute address He referred to the origin of
the day, which, though of recent obser-
vance in modern times, was ancient in its
inception. He who has fought for his own
liberty or his brothers liberty has ever
been the subject of the truest admiration.
The speaker then described the ceremo-
MES of the Greeks, how they sacrificed
and poured libations to their heroes, with
lost their lives for Greece" Those cere-
monies, more formal than ours. were In
spired by the same reverence of the sim
pie service of the day.
The order of General Logan establish
ing Memorial day and the decoration OF
graves with flowers is one of the sweetest
conceptions of the human soul. and to-
day the grave of the hero of Atlanta is
buried in flowers.
Rev. Mr.. Avis then reviewed the history
of American soldiery to the present time.
We are children and heirs TO the past he
said, and the past belongs to us. We feel
a sympathy for the earliest colonists and
all our ancestors. That was our age OF
romancy, when the bravest men and the
noblest women dwelt in the forests with
foes without and within.
The review of the causes which led tc
the several wars and the tributes to the
achievements of American arms was most
complete.
The rise of the rebellion was pictured
and the throes OF the war, from dissensior
TO actual conflict.
No mans name, said he, will shine in
history like that of Abraham Lincoln, the
man of many virtues and few frailties.
To you who passed through these Grim
soned struggles 1t is needless TO paint
them again. You cannot forget them and
you know them better than we. Though
you cannot forget, you have been brave
enough to forgive, and now the darksome
cloud has passed away, the slave is free
and our country is a union, one and in
seperable. The banner still waves in the
land of the free and home OF the brave
Your work was done, and well done, and
cannot be forgotten while time endures
For the future we must be true to the
principles and the ideas you fought fol
and established; stand by the union and
stand for right. The time is coming wher
the courts of arbitration shall decide oul
troubles. and in the golden gate of the
future that is open we may see our be-
loved country standing as queen. the
chief arbiter of the courts of arbitration
of the world.
He closed with a quotation. from the IA
nous poem, 1.-THE Ship of State"