The record-union., 1896-05-31
A TRIBUTE TO VETERANS.
Eloquent Address Delivered by Hon
K. T. DeVlin.

Every nation sets apart certain days
or the year when, laying aside all other
duties, 1t honors the memory of some
hero or celebrates some event in nation
al life. To-day, when spring is dressed in
her lovelest robe, when the song of birds
mingles with the fragrance Of beauti-
full flowers to make all nature glad, a
mighty people turn away from their
pursuits to deck with the offerings of
love and generation thousands of graves
where lie the mortal remains of those
who persisted in the sacred cause of
liberty
We of the present day, many Of whom
have arrived at manhood since the
events of our terrible civil conflict have
passed into history, can scarcely real
lie the magnitude of that war, the
slaughter of men, and the pouring out
OF treasure that 1t cost or the burning
questions that it settled for all time.
We read Of the immense armies COM
manded in early times when it seemed
as If the whole world was engaged in
continuous battle. But it is computed
by historians that Napoleon never COM
manded more than GO0,0O0 men, while
cur armies numbered the almost in
credible figure of 100000. These men
came from all ranks of life From the
workshop, the farm and the office in an
swer to the call for soldiers to defend
the Union came the best flower of
American manhood, and so long as this
country occupies its proud place among
the nations, their valor and patriotic
devotion to their country will be told
in song and story, and held enduring
and indelible in the grateful memory of
their countrymen.
The causes that led to this great con-
test must be found in events that oc-
CURED long before those who took part
in it were born. For many years the
extension or limitation of slavery was
question that divided our people. Be
fore we had acquired new territory, and
before territory that we possessed had
become ,Or was becoming rapidly peO-
pied by the increased facilities afforded
by new means of transportation, this
question, while slumbering, had not
burst forth into the burning flame that
preceded the war. Owing, perhaps as
much to climatic causes as any other,
slavery had become a fixed institu-
ton in the Southern States, and was
there honestly believed to be an essen
tial part of the social system. But
Abraham Lincoln said: "A house di-
vided against itself cannot stand" and
what Seward aptly termed the lire
pressible conflict" had to come and had
tc be settled by the terrible arbitrament
Of the sword
nrio al hod i'm
creased in population and wealth, and
the Union had spread from ocean to
ocean, comprising a mighty empire Of
prosperous and contented people. 1t
was thought by many that all differ
ences Of opinion would be happily ad-
justed, but when the flag was attacked
all such thoughts vanished. The fir
ing on Fort Sumter on April IL, 1861,
was a roll call to arms and loyal States
resolved that cost what it might the
authority Of the nation should be up
held. At that time our standing army
was comparatively insignificant, num-
bening less than 10000 men, a force
manifestly inadequate to perform the
work that lay before them. Besides it
must be remembered that many of the
officers Of the regular army were born
in the seeding States, and when the
hour for decision arrived they cast their
lot with their State against the Union.
On April 10, 1861, imediately after
the firing on Fort Sumter, the Presi-
dent issued his call for troops, and
from that time until Lee surrendered
at Appomattox, on April 8, 1865, was
waged struggle unparalleled in the
history of the world.
How our hearts throb as we follow
those brave men who left their peace
full homes to suffer untold privations
in camp and field and prison and to
offer up their all, their lives, on the
altar of country. Compare the march
of Sherman in a hostile territory, cut
off from communication, with the feat
of any other soldier of ancient or mod
ern times. 1t was believed by many
that he had been surrounded by Con-
federate troops; that he had been de-
prived of supplies and that his scat
tered forces had been routed by sue
cessful attacks. His brother, Senator
John Sherman, says that such rumors
became SO numerous and apparently so
well founded that he called on Presi-
dent Lincoln for consolation and for
such news as he could properly give
him. The President said, ''Oh. no; we
have no news from General Sherman.
We know what hole he went in at, but
we do not know what hole he will come
ont Of" But perhaps there is some
tattle-scarred veteran before me now
who served with Sherman, and who
can bear personal evidence if anybody
should wish to know, that Sherman did
not come out of the hole at which he
went in.
Sheridan's intrepid bravery, snatch
ing victory from the jaws Of defeat;
the gallant deeds OF Thomas and Han
cock; of Pope and Sedgwick; of Nc
Clellan, Kearney and Meade; Of Scott
and Taylor. and of all that noble band
of officers and their faithful soldiers,
who. in the regions where the dreaded
fever held sway, or in the deadly en-
brace of Libby or AnderSonville, or in
the fierce glare of battle, where the
kissing bullets were Fastening on their
mission of destruction, struggled brave
" that this nation might be preserved,
are known to you all. Wherever duty
called they courted death, and through
all the generations to come we will pay
a tribute TO their names and garland
their graves that their memory may
ever be kept green in our hearts.
The war not only showed US the
| highest type of courage, but 1t demon
strated that while we have no stand
ing army, our strength lies in our pa
triotism. Our heroes are not decorated
with titles or wearing empty honors.
but are found in the ordinary walks
- 10 OF nc
| take the greatest of them all. the inn
mortal Grant. When the war COM
menced, living in a small village en-