Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-05-28

Az the two stones upon the ephod Of
the high priest Of the Jews were a
memorial Of the mercy and the ever
lasting care Of Jehovah, 70 Decoration
day has been fixed in the hearts Of the
American people as an eternal memo
rial of the heroic self-sacritlce of those
who more than generation ago lay
down their lives for the cause of free
dom. The oft-repeated implication
Of the ingratitude of nations and kings
does not rest in any sense with this
free people, who, enjoying as no other
nation that has been, or is. the price
less boon of liberty. are properly able
to estimate as well as to appreciate the
price Of freedom. Time has subdued,
II not altogether removed, the pas
sions and the prejudices evoked by the
demon of war, so that former foemen
gladly gather to pay homage to the
heroes who fell that the union might
live. The minor causes are forgotten
in the glory of the achievements Of
those who fought and died, as well as
those who fought and survived.
America needs no triumphal arch or
towering monument as perpetual me-
mortal Of the heroism Of her sons: for
deeper than the mark of the chisel in
the obelisks Of Egyptare set the records
Of their doings in the hearts Of those
who enjoy the benefits Of union and
liberty. Just SO long as this people is
free just SO long as admiration is had
for courage and devotion, every recur-
ring Memorial day will be set apart as
one of cherished and grateful recol-
lection for the heroes of Bull Run, Get
tysburg, Chattanooga, the Wilderness
and Petersburg all the hundreds Of
battles that made up the sum Of the
late civil war.
Day that comes at the full maturity
Of the springtime, when nature has as
sumed her richest robes; day Of blue
sky and warm soft air; day suggestive
Of all that may be glad and bright-iit-
ting is it that such time shall be the
este perpetuo Of this free people. flt
True, there are hearts that yet mourn
the loved and the lost, Rachels weeping
for their children that are not but above
all,with all, is the sublime thought that
in the death of these soldiers came
Heterogeneous, new birth OF the ma
ton in peace, amty and bonds Of union
that are indissoluble. They who came
not with their shields were borne upon
them. The children Of those who died
take their own children by the hand
and lead them to the grassy mounds Of
the soldier dead and say with pride,
these died for their affairs and their
fres.' So being dead they yet speak
to the living, keeping alive those Goals
of patriotism which, upon occasion,
shall spring into full flame.
So let the flowers I've strewn, the
banners wave, hymns be sung and
be rendered; thus let the
living pay homage to the dead; for that
nation is always safe which places its
heroes above the price of gold and of
silver. AS the blood of the martyrs
became the seed of the church. so the
blood of our soldier dead has become
the life of the union that is-one and
now and always.
Time goes by with ceaseless tread.
The living heroes Of the war have sill
yer mingled with the gray OF their hair.
Only too soon shall they join their
sleeping comrades. While they live let
it not be forgotten that equally with
the dead they share the honor and the
glory of the struggle. When they are
gone let their memory be as precious as
that of those who yielded up their
lives on the fields of battle.
WILLIAM RossEE CoBBE.