The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-06-01

Ot1el men kQuBht-lL - IN hlelt
blood, and they count no sacrifice too
great But their real business N lie Is
peace BY their skin and their IN
dustFy they are repairing all the waste
and building such nation as the
waves Of envy and hatred ahaN peat
against IN vain. To touch that people
in anger e to strike with a palSied arm.
''The world knows of our numbefs;
but other nations oUtnumber Us. The
world knows OF our millions Of square
miles; but other countries have vast e1-
tent OF territory. Any power Of Europe
would look with disdain on our little
standing army. Our navy Is hardly yet
beyond the derision Of the great naval
powers. That which commands the
worlds respect IS not our numbers, our
scope OF territory, our standing army
and our navy. The world gives US re-
spectf1l consideration because the
David In war Is a Tubal Cain In peace;
because the hands that pull the triggers
and WELD the swords can lift the ham
mers and guide the plows and direct the
complicated enginery Of modern Indus
try; because all these millions of men
and women and OF acres, all the re-
sources and all the development that
make US strong In war and great in
peace, stand for one united people
pressing on under Gods providence to
achieve their country's destiny.
There was O day; soon after the din
of battle had been hushed, when foreign
envy consoled itself with the delusion
that our self-inhlcted wounds would
never heal II was believed that the
war had left a line OF cleavage that
never could be wiped out; that what
ever VIC might say or hope, we were
70 be always two distinct and hostile
peoples. Recently there was In this
city an entertainment to raise money
to found a home for dependent West
VirEinians who fought under the stars
and bars. An Ohio veteran who fought
under the stars and stripes sent sword
OF curious Chinese workmanship. hop
ing that It might be sold to help the
cause He had nothing else TO give.
The gift came over the river with kind
words for the old graybacks who now,
need helping hand in their time of
WANT and that Yankee soldier uttered
q prayer that our Heavenly Father
may ever watch over and bless the old
veterans Of both armies. This Is the
national spirit that makes US irwin
clble!
TN vigorous manhood arrayed
against the Union, the men who W re
the gray were your enemies. In old age
and want they are your countrymen
and your brothers They can never be
for as every deserving veteran,
who wore the blue should be provided
for, but as individuals we can help to-
smooth their pathway to the grave.
It is an intolerable thought that any
American soldier worthy of that name
should end his days in an almshouse.
It Is a wanton indignity, barbarous
cruelty, q gross and objectionable
Of authority to strike from
the pension roll the veteran soldier OF
the Union whom the law Of a grateful
han placed there and whose 1T
tie all no law has taken from him. The
country does not mean to be unfair;
and am much mistaken II 1t will suffer
long the brutal unfairness of Its SER
wants.
The other day the distinguished head
of one Of our Oldest and highest insti-
tutions Of learning spoke meanly OF the
Grand Army of the Republic and of our
veterans. That savage thrust
woke up his countrymen, and from
Maine to California the walls OF con-
tempt have been poured out on tho
accomplished offender against patrlot-
ism and decency. The country stands
by the men who stood by It.
To-day you have done duty OF love.
You have climbed the hillsldes and de-
scended into the valleys to lay upon
the resting places Of your comrades the
tender tribute OF springtime flowers.
The garlands you brought them last
year have withered away. So these
shaal 70, but in their passing they
shall MI the air with the fragrance OF
your loving thoughtfulness. Who shall
say when all the beauty and all the
sweet perfume are gone out Of the flow
ers that love lays where Its heart Is?
Perhaps nothing Of 1t all Is ever lost.
"Thls afternoon as looked upon the
living remnant going Its patriotic
round, Icould but be impressed with the
different conceptions of the proper obs
servance OF Memorial Day. To some
minds II brings merely a time of sus-
pended business, to be marked with
snort and revel It is not that dlsre-
spect Is meant. 1t Is that to a large
part Of our people Vlckburg is as re-
mote and as unreal as the Siege of Troy.
The serious, sacred character of the day
is overlooked by the unthinking and the
You thlnk-Rnd what a
flood OF memories comes upon the tide
OF thought! You iceland you feel
that all men and women shpuld feel
with you, or at least bow their heads
in decorous respect as you march 10
the beat Of the mufiled drum.
ut Is not in any proper sense gaia
day that brings back once a year those
angel faces that we have loved
long since and lost while. 1t is day
for quiet communing with the past; for
a new birth of patriotism; for beseech-
ing the God Of our fathers TO stand by
their children and their childrens
to remotest posterlty, to COM
pass with the arms Of His love and HIS
mercy this nation founded by HIS IN
spIration and guided by His hand. SO
may !. ever be.
The selection by quartette made up
of Messrs, Reed, Woodworth, Owens
and Parker, Gently Fall, oh pews of
Heaven,p was well rendered. The
whIstling solo by Master Thomas
Heimbright, Marching Through Geor-
gia. +" was given with spirit ana
dash that made the grizzled and worn
veterans feel young once more. me
Vacant Chair" was sung by trio,
AfessTs. Reed, Parker and Emerson, and
was done we'll. Mr.. G. 7. Reed sang
solo, and was followed by Rev. Or. =.
d. 4. Buckley, OF Thomson NJ. u. church.
pr. Buckley spoke earnestly and fore
ibly In the course OF his short address
he called attention to como Of the dark
clouds TINT menace the continued pnpS-
pcrity OF American institutions The
forOIgnlzlng influence that follows fece
and unrestricted immigration TO our
shores he feared greatly. He favored
fhe anantnent of lnWg TINT would res
strict very considerably the tide Of UNI
desirable humanity that annually drifts
over the sea and Is forming n class w
this country that has not the traits OF
American manhood and womanhood as
we know them. Tho doctor concludedby
appealing to the veterans not to forget
tbeir EnIfitunl commander n-chief, be.