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

I
history of their country. let us not for
get that he who reveres the hero of the
| storm should never become a coward in
the calm routine of life q,
ITO laud the Pilgrim Fathers. who
breasted the dangers of an unknown
| land and planted the seeds of liberty on
| new continent: to praise the heroism
that withstood the sufferings of Valley
Forge to reap the victories of independ-
ence; to memorabilia the acts and crown
| with honor the names of those who
fought and died for the union of the
states and the glory of the flag. and
| prove ourselves unequal TO the RESPONSE
biities of peace. is to publish to the
world that the lessons of the past have
| fallen upon unworthy pupils This day is
an admonition. bidding us appreciate the
| virtue of patience in the accomplishment
| of the ends of civilization.
To become retrospective-to review
again the problems that have been solved
by the sword-to tenderly dwell upon the
| memory of those who fell in defense of
their country and its institutions. is to
| awaken in the breast the spirit of graft
| tude and love. To-day we feel that as
those who died. died not in vain, we owe
to the living heroes who with them
shared the hardships of war, the hand of
hopefulness and the heart of praise.
Those who escaped the fatal shot and
shell, weathered the miasms of the south
land or survived the horrors of the prison
dens, are to-day bowling before the rest
less onslaughts of Time. The memory of
the hardships undergone grows into the
experiences of real life as time silvers
the brow and dsplaces the soldierly bear
ing of the hero of many battles with the
bent form and the faltering footsteps of
age. Yet a few more decades and the
magnificent army that burned away the
barriers to-universal liberty, that planted
U he, a. -
of slavery, that made possible the grand
republic and the Union of the states, will
have SURRENDERED to the generalship of
Father Time. Swiftly his scythe is deci-
mating their ranks and battalion after
battalion goes marching on to the bvouac
of the dead When all are dead and their
deeds speak to our childrens children
from the pages of a prosperous country's
history. that gratitude so often withheld
in life will find expression I'm marble and
In art. Future generations will wonder at
the chivalry of our civil life wrapped in
the drapery of art and expressed in song
as the heroes of the past climb higher
and higher up the pedestal of popular
love and honor.
THE farther we get away from the
stirring scenes and horrors of that war
the more we learn to appreciate the fruits
of that great contest for freedom, the
larger will grow the appreciation of
American soldiery. In the years that
come no monument will point it's spire
heavenward so impressively, no painting
will portray so wildly to the eye and no
patriotic song appeal to the ear like the
then vacant buildings preserved in rever-
ence by the people, that once did duty as
the soldiers home.
Gratitude to the living soldier is far
more important in this practical world of
ours than showing respect for the men,
DRY of those who have gone before. The
nation owes to the survivors of the war
its warmest affection and it's most tender
care. A false economy, growing out of
sentiments unworthy of any citizen of
the republic. has attempted to take from
the solder boys the pitiful pensions that
have been bestowed upon those wounded
In war. Thank heaven, the spirit of graft
tude still lives and the great throbbing
heart of the American public is still
loyal to the interests of those who de-
Tended the flag. The pension system, in
adequate as 1t may be to pay the debt ]
that we owe to the brave boys who placed
their health and energy their manhood
and their lives upon the altar of their
country, will be maintained as the partial
expression of a grateful people. But while
those wounded in the war may receive
from the government the slight recon-
pense for services rendered represented
by a pension, there are thousands of old
bureau and who under it's restrictions
could receive no aid, yet who are swiftly
drifting into the helplessness and hope
lessness of old age unprovided with the
resources necessary to their health and
comfort. The best years of their lives.
speaking from business standpoint,
were exhausted in the vocation OF arms.
and when peace dawned upon the country
and they returned to their homes IL was
to meet new conditions in the struggle
for the necessaries of life. Time and OPP
portunity for financial advancement had
been lost, as 1t were. and while many re-
gained lost ground in the business world |
others through lack or opportunity or
lack of that energy so vital to success, |
after the exposure and hardships inciden- |
tai to army life, failed to achieve sue |
cess in the battle for bread. Old age and |
sickness finds many of our noble soldier |
boys helpless and in want. To meet
these conditions homes have been built |
and equipped for their support and com |
fort To-day we meet TO lay the corner |
stone of such an institution. that will, |
when completed, be dedicated to the pa
triotism of our grand treasure state No |
greater monument has been, or will be |
erected upon the soil of this state than |
this tribute to the patriotic sentiment of |
Montana
'In selecting a location for the Soldiers |
home the board of managers made no |
mistake. So far as 1 know no one has |
ever accused any member OF that board |
of being a poet. yet they have located |
this home where IL will be surrounded |
with one of the most beautiful poems ever |
written upon the scroll of nature by the |
infinite God. The rythm of this magnif- |
cent river is an echo from fairyland, and |
your splendid lakes, skirted by the rich |
verdure of your productive valley. is a |
dream of loneliness. In no other portion
of this great state are the elements of /
beauty and grandeur so finely blended |
into one until their inspiration kindles the /
fires of admiration upon the altar of the /
most unappreciative heart. Living within /
such environments as these. where "a
thing of beauty is a joy forever the old /
soldier will patiently await the call that /
will muster him out of the service for a /
greater and grander campaign of eternal