The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-06-04
THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1896.


get their benefactors. Another OBJ
stacle stands in the way ola proper
appreciation of the services of the SOL
diers of the civil war. OF the people
living in the United States to-day
only one in about sixty-five saw service
in the Union army. Four out of every
five of them have been born or emf
grated into the country since the war.
They can hardly be expected to have
proper conception of the magnitude
of the war and the mighty issues in
volved We shudder to-day at the
report of half dozen men killed in q
mine, or score lost in storm on the
great lakes, but forget that ten thous-
and men went down in less than an
hour before the merciless storm OF
death at Cold Harbor. We can best
honor the character and memory of
our comrades dead, by earnestly advo-
eating and Loyalty defending the
principles for which they fought when
living. The underlying principles OF
Justice and truth are eternal. If pat
riotism and loyalty were right thirty
years ago they are right to-day. l do
not wish to dwell upon, or emphasize
unreasonably the shattered homes, the
blighted hearts, the shortened lives,
the bitter disappointments, the de-
ferred hopes, the sickness and the
suffering, caused by the war. We
may use these in measuring or weigh
ing the cost of that struggle and the
value of the sacrifices made in defense
of the flag. Dollars and cents should
never enter into the computation.
They are too insignificant for a mo-
ment's consideration.
1t has been we'll said that the life of
man is not measured by years but by
acts. 1t is not the swiftly passing
seasons, but entries by the Recording
Angel of great and heoric deeds; not
the daily returning sun but the repeti-
ton of those loving ministrstions
which bring life and hope to saddened
hearts, that truly measure the life of a
man.
We had weighty and responsible
duties to perform as soldiers. We have
duties no less important and RESPONSE
BILE to perform as citizens. We made
sacrifices to save the nation. We
must also make sacrifices to preserve
the government and perpetuate its in
stitutions. Selfishness and avarice
and corruption must be fought wheth-
or found in the consuls of the State or
Nation. Let us keep this government
for the people. Declare eternal en-
nifty against the growing power of
moDoplies, trusts, corporations and
the moneyed power of this land in the
politics and legislation of the govern
ment. Espouse the cause of the
lowly, defend the great producing
classes Of the land and fight as of old
for an honest, untrammelled ballot
In this way we may contribute
something toward transmitting to our
children unimpaired the blessings Of
a free government in which the poor
est and humblest of it's citizens shall
have an equal voice with the most
rich and powerful
Comrades, our battle flags are furled
our bugles are silent, our camp-fires
are out. The flowers scattered upon
the graves of our comrades to-day
bring no response from them to us.
They have passed beyond the reach
of our loving ministrations. The
lesson of this day is for the rising
generation. We are passing down the
western declivity of life. Our shad-
ows are lengthening behind us. In
the natural order of events we shall
soon be mustered out here, and mus
tered into the larger army on the
other side. While we remain we have
duties as important, if not as arduous,
as in the days long gone. The rights
and immunities of citizenship in this
land we helped to save, involve great
responsibilities. The stars and stripes
are the emblem of our National great
ness. AS we conquered the stars and
bars of treason in the war of the re-
bellion, so let us discountenance the
red flag of Anarchism and Riot to-day.
Liberty is found neither in the rule of
few aristocrats nor in extreme dem
ocracy. We can all participate in our
government and in the glory of our
Aoo Of o,,r IN H,,opoo c<onJ e.. -.