The National tribune., 1896-05-21

tractive to him was the pomp and circumstance
of war; how unimportant all of its parade, and
vet how sacred all OF its duties. A child of
plain people, the early impressions that were
made upon his mind were those OF freedom and
the contentment that surrounded his early
home OF its lack OF ostentation. of its simple
iiy Of manners, of the plain beartiness of those
about him; and of these early impressions be
never lost the stamp aud mold.
THE AMERICAN SOLDIER.
He was Liberty's Oh lid born under the tenn
peraie skies Of this beloved Cline amongst the
cool mountains, where the pure springs break
from their messy fonts 10 sparkling be-
tween green banks and under whispering trees.
down through the pleasant valleys where tho
fields spread and the kline Craze, past the old
homestead, gray with age, of generations who
sleep here the white stones sentinel their rest;
or nurtured Oh breezy plains or IN shclteriDg
forests but late redeemed from savage rule,
where heaith-giying winds brought strength on
| their wooing wings; wherever ia this broad
/ land freedom had home; and where every
suggestion WAS OF health and every sentiment
OF peace. From all these he marched away
from the old sheitering roof 10 The tcniless and
! rainy bivOuac; away TO hot plains md tangled
! thickets where fever and 10 iasma abode; along
! dusty and periious roads. where amhushed
/ death or open combat awaited him: away from
every comfort that love offered and affectionate
J
! tions OF camps, sacrificing al.ethe years OF his
hoyish prime and his place in the column of
| life.
The years of strife roll on and the bcardIess
i hoy is the bronZed aud bearded youth, dangers
companion and victory's darling; study him
now not Que man. but the American soldier.
Resoiate ) Grant, wise Sherman, patient
as Ihomas. gallant as Custer, superb az Han-
cock. fiery as Sheridan. sklful as Mcclellan,
Drawing all dangers for his idea of right; starry
ing or stOfniinr, waiting or charging, accepting
I defeat but not overthrow. ougpering but spar
! ing, making death daily com lanion and facing
BIN uHfllnchiug under the dreadful clouds Of
war. seeking not fame or booty, but only that
/ hrs flag should stand alone in his country, that
! the Constitution should live and the laws pre-
! vail. Then, when the very amplitude OF sue
cess was hiss, and fame was lifted TO the heavens
and filing the whole earth melting out OF sight
as the thunder clocd turns its lightning laden
bosom full of destructive fires and the roaring
tempest to the gentle drops OF fruitful rain.
GREAT MEN IN GROUPS.
! Bishop John l.. Newman, Ia 1894 delivered
eulogy on Abraham Lincoln, ia which he said ::
| " Human glory is often tickle as the winds aud
| transient as a Summer day; but Abraham Lin
| coln's place in history is assured. All the
| symbols of this worlds admiration are his
| lie is embalmed in song recorded in history,
! enloglzcd in panegyric. cast in bronze, scuip-
/ tuTed in rHartle, painted on canvas. eHshrined
in the hearts Of his countrymen. and lives in
the memories of mankind.
Great men appear in groups, and in groups
they disappear from the vision of the world I;
bnt we do not love or hate men in Proups.
1 We speak of Gutenberg and his cnadi ntors Of
/ Washington aud his Generals. of Lincoln and
! his Cabinet, but when The day of judgment
1 comes, we crown the inventor Of printing, we
/ place the laurel on the brow of the Father Of
1 his Country, and the chaplet Of renown on tile
( the head OF the savior Of the Reptile"
OUR HEROES.
! John A. Andrew the great war Governor Of
! Massachusetts. in an address commemorative Of
| the achievements of our Union heroes uttered
] these memorable words:
/ The heart swells with unwonted emotion
/ when VIC remember our sons and brothers
whose constant valor has sustained on the field
the cause of our country, Of civilization. and
liberty. On the ocean. the rivers on the
land, on the nights where they thundered down
from the clouds OF Lookout Mountain the
defiance OF the skies, they have given with
their swords a record imperishable.
The Muse herself demands tho lapse of silent
years 10 soften by Ibe influences Of lime, her
1 too keen and poignant realization of the scenes
Of wAT-tbe pathos the heroism, the fierce Joy,
the grief OF battle. But during the ages 70
come she will brood over their memory Into
the hearts Of her consecrated priests she will
breathe the inspiration of lofty and undying
beauty, suolimiIy, and truth, III ali the glowing
forms OF speech. OF literature and plastic art.
BY the honely traditions of the Preside by the
headstones In the church-y yards. consecra;ed 10
those whose forms repose tar off ia rude graves,
or sleep beneath the sea, cmbalmed in the
memories Of succeeding generations of parents
and children, the heroic dead Will live on in
immortal youth"
o, SWALLOW, WHAT SAW YE?
BY Ina Lord McDaUih
O, swallow. swallow, from the South,
What tidings do you bring
I've seen within tie caunon's mouth
The gariands Of the Spring."
''Ire seen the red fields of the siain
Another harvest yield;
I've seen IlIe waving blades of grain,
On many battlefield;
o, swallow. swallow lie wing,
What saw you la your flight,
"Oae standard TO t'ie breczss fling
Her azure ioids Of light"
"l-e seen the old sword rnsted lie
The cBnnon-balis nnspent,
Where amid the batlle-cry
The icaden storm SPENT