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

ed, that We burn the whole ,ot B,
Durn Inc flag Of your regiment. nv
lcomrades2 Burn the flag that the old
Color sergeant died to sayeo Bnrn tho
nag mat waved in triumph at Gettys-
pufg ana sent thrill Of Joy through
me heart OF a nation? Burn the fac
4 that led the way up the sides Of Mis-
son lid &c and swept a boasting foe
llke chaH before the wind? Not while
we live. Not while the memory sof
Lexington and Bunker Hill endures
/ MOI until the deeds Of Washington.
|sPresc OFT, Putnam, Stark, Wayne and
the heroes Of the Revolution are. for
/ gotten. Not until the names of. Lin
coin, Grant and Sherman are blotted
. rom the worlds history. Not until
pssCrlotlsm is dead, and the love Of
liberty has turned to ashes on the
hearth. Burn the flag? Who would
dare or be SO base as to apply the
torch? No! They will never. be de-
s1t5royed by fire. They have passed
through their baptism of fire, and are
lnl'destruetible. (Terrifc Applause.
And now a few words with nv com
rades OF the Grand Army Of the Repub-
llc. During the war most of us were
Estrangers to each other, and but few
touched elbows as we marched in the
magnificent armies OF the Union. Yet
! we passed through common perils and
Iexperlences, made the same sacrifices.
followed the same flag, aud to-day are
bound together by ties of comradeship
bhat no power on earth can sever.
Our friendship was forged and &C.
mented in the furnace of fire. The
furnace has long since gone out, but its
product remains, and grows richer and
more valuable as time passes.
Great changes have taken place
since IS years ago we marched out
with elastic step from village, hamlet
and home. We have grown old since
then, and are but a handful compared
with the mighty host that responded
to the call of duty, but our love for
each other and our country has not
changed, except to grow stronger.
How full of precious memories is the
past! AS we look back over the inter-
vening years, it seems but yesterday
since we parted company with com
rades who, on the field of battle. paid
the full measure of their devotion to
their country with their lives. Their
graves are, scattered over more than
two thousand battle-felds, and manv
OF them sleep in unknown graves, but
they are not forgotten. Their faces
and forms are familiar to us still. We
cherish their memory.
True men they fell; and faithful to the last,
Though overpowered by death, yet still in death
unconquered. .s =, #. -. .-.,- ..
Forever sacred be their memories, III
And imperishable their heroic deeds.''
| AS we look forward we are filled
with hope. We can foretell the
power, honor, and usefulness to which
This country may attain. In the
providence of God she is destined to
occupy a dominant place among the
nations of the earth. We are amazed
when we contemplate the rapidity
and solidity of the growth of this Re
public. There is no haltin in her on
ward march. Each generation pushes
steadily forward and takes higher
place than the one occupied by it's
predecessor. AS we were inspired by
the example of our liberty-loving and
selt-sacrifcing forefathers, and we're
able in the hour Of trial to stand the
supreme test of loyalty to our country,
SO Will the generations that come after
US take new inspiration from the
voices that come in one mighty chorus
from the countless graves of the loyal
dead, imploring them to be true to the
trust committed to their keeping.
History records no sacrifice more
sublime than that of the volunteer
armies OF the Union, and we may rest
assured that long after we have passed
away these sacrifices will speak with a
living and persuasive tongue to future
generations, educating them in all
that which pertains to the safety,
prosperity and perpetuity of our be-
loved country, and inspiring them
with an exalted patriotism and un-
fllnching courage in the defense of her
institutions. Those of us who still
survive enjoy the consciousness of duty
done. lt.was a humble place that we
filed in the long line of our country's
defenders, but twas an honorable one.
Soon our day shall end, and we will be
mustered out and join the mighty host
that has preceded US. Soon we shall
sleep in the majesty of eternal repose,
but our latest hours will be sustained
by an unfaltering trust in the con-
tinued prosperity and welfare of our
beloved country, and in the stability