The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-06-04

lsued his first proclamation, calling for
Is, 600 troops it was to suppress the re-
bellion. When few months later he
called for 100000 more it was to save
the union. When later on, call upon
call was made for as many more, it was
not to suppress the rebellion, nor even
to save the union, but to redeem the
| republic and make men free.
How could we have stood the ordeal
had we not been animated by the lof-
test principles, and impelled by the
highest call of duty. The plaintive cry
OF the oppressed, weighted with the
wrongs of centuries, drowned out the
voices that talked OF compromise, and
made peace conventions impossible,
Think of the sacrifice demanded.
First thousand, then ten thousand
victims, then one hundred thousand,
but that was not enough. The whole
nation beheld the fearful slaughter
with bated breath. And then one hun
dred thousand more. We grew sick at
heart. Every household was in mourn
ing. And then one hundred thousand
more. Three hundred thousand VIC
tins, three hundred thousand martyrs
for liberty, with that glorious man, the
wise, the gentle, the good and the true,
Abraham Lincolp, the martyed presi-
dent, among them. Then and not till
then, was the sacrifice complete. Then
did the nation, under God, have a new
birth Of freedom, and a government of
the people, by the people and for the
people, was at last established on the
earth. Then you could see armless
and legless heroes all over the land,
but the limbs of the slaves were free.
Then sorrow in every household, but
the oppressed of the earth rejoiced.
Then vacant chairs at every fireside,
but liberty forever enthroned in the
chair of state.
OF all the national holidays, I think
this is the best. The time of the year
is propitious. It is the season of flow
ers. A time when children are hap
piest, and their laughter most musical
1t is the season Of hope and promise.
How delightful and assuring it is to
see a nation at the shrine of patriot
ism and see the old and young, the rich
and poor in grateful and loving remem-
brance, bend over the graves of the
patriot dead. On Washington's birth
day we read his farewell address. On
the Fourth of Jnly we read the declar-
alton OF independence, but on this day
we open a larger volume and contem-
plate, not what men said, nor what
they wrote, but what they did, and as
deeds are greater than words, so is this
day, greater than any that proceed it.
Therefore, SO long as we keep and
honor this day in the spirit in which it
was established by the brave, beloved
and patriotic Logan, we need fear no
evil from future conspirtors, or from
foreign foes. Let this day be kept as a
Memorial Day rather than a holiday; a
day given to serious reflection, rather
than to boisterous sport and riotous
living. And here, let me urge upon
the children, the boys and the girls,
who know nothing about the war, ex-
cept what they have read and heard,
to honor the memory Of those whose
service and death this day was in
tended to commemorate and perpetuate.
On each recurring Decoration Day new
graves can be found for you to deck.
Many of those who helped to strew
flowers on the graves of their comrades
year ago, are now dead. The surviv-
ors are too few and too feeble to per-
form this loving Office much longer,
and the children and youth must do it,
or it will remain undone. A few years
ago we were not only strong in limb,
but strong in number. It is not so now.
The ranks are thinned, the step is fee
BILE. We saved q nation, but we can
not save ourselves The great captains
who commanded those mighty armies
are gone, Grant, Sherman, Sheridan,
Logan, Thomas, Mead. Reynolds, Nc
Pherson, Hancock, Sedgwick, Warren.
are dead, and will never again mar
shall their armies on the fields of Get
tysburg, Vicksburg, or Appomattox.
Farragut, Foote, Dahlgren, Dupont
and Porter, the great admirals, have
crossed the flood, and the waters Of our
globe will never again be vexed by the
broadsides from their ships. The great
commanders have led the way, and the
men are fast following in their foot
steps, SO ere long all that will be left
you will be the graves Of the dead.
Here and there you will find one,
who lifts up his voice in complaining
Impotence because the old soldier is
becoming a burden on the great bosom
OF his country, who inquiries, why this
waste? Why should SO much money
L