The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-25

with the heaviest chain of all, when
she attempted to force the colonies to
shelter and to feed their oppressors II
was a step too far, and with one accord
they cast her shackles to the winds,
and raised the cry, give me liberty,
or give me death" Then came the
Declaration of Independence. Open
then was the temple of Janus, unleash
ed were the dogs of war. and for six
long years carnage and pain and horror
reigned supreme.
The news of war like wild hre
spreads; II reaches my hero near the
close of day; the evening sees his SIM
pie preparations. On the morning OF
the morrow he starts for the field. The
morning comes it's the last OF April
and warm sunlight fills the air. All is
green and beautiful, the trees are be-
ginning to blossom and the flowers
raise again their little heads and fill
the air with sweetness. The stir of In
sects. the song of birds and all conspire
to peace and quiet and happiness.
They part almost in silence-twas
not a time for words. The tears the
sorrow; in fact, she cried she knew not
why. She tried not Ito detain him and
like Spartan mother wished him to re-
turn with his shield or on it." The
boy shoulders the family musket,
takes up his little bundle and disap-
pears 'mongst the trees of the forest
The work of the home goes on as usual
The boy joins the army, his regiment
is ordered to the front. Unskilled in
arms, unused TO war. unknown to pain,
they meet the enemy: the air Kisses
with the flying missiles and blood flows
freely. A stray ball, a random shot,
strikes him he falls and the army pass
es over him. Like soldier he fought,
like soldier ne fell. His name ap-
pears among the long list of the dead.
No speeding couriers announces his
death, no nation weeps no lengthy flu
neral accompanies him in state to mas
sive tomb, no monument or brazen
statue marks his grave; but, when the
battle was over by the loving hands of
his comrades he was laid in his shall
low grave. Where kinder or more
sympathetic hands to lay him to rest
than those of his comrades? what filter
shroud than the earth he fought for?
What nobler burial place than the field
where he fell. No acts of special brav-
cry or foolhardiness mark his career;
he Stunned not danger. nor yet courted
II, but like a TRUE soldier kept the or
ders. Did without asking why and
helped to form those solid, unwavering
| lines which are invincible. The hope
OF pelf, power and glory often fires
| men to uncalled for acts of reckless
bravery; but without hope or worldly
most certain death, ITO suffer and to die
| unknown, takes patriotism. The op-
preston and tyranny of England found
no place in his free American heart;
twas wrong and he died to right It,
Who was he? Just a common soldier.
| Any of the thousands of the heroes of
| '76. Let some worthier hand than mine
| proclaim the ability and dexterity of
| our generals and the wisdom and fore
| sight of our statesmen; but for me, let
me sing of the noble soldier who fought
and died that we might live. He is my
hero. That was the spirit of '76.
Theirs was no such passion as that
DER which the Fourth of July orator
rends the air to tatters and calls patri.
otism; no such patriotism as is inspired
by martial music and clank of arms
but a simpler, nobler. holier passion
which burns in the midst of battle, In
the hardship of winter march and
camp, in defeat or triumph, and In
| peace amongst the scenes of everyday
existence; a patriotism of action, not OF
words; of the heart not of the mind.
But, most wonderful of all, when the
surviving soldiers, flushed with Veto
ry, returned from the war, at a time
when conquest might allure them anC
a military government offer them lives
of luxury and idleness, they proclaimed
by their constitution, Peace on earth
good will towards men" They Tough
for liberty, which, attained, they sanl
back to the humble stations from which
they came. The valor with which they
fought was equalled only by the wis
dom with which they made their con
stitution, a document unprecedented IL
history, which, with but few amend
ments, has served this nation from in
fancy to the proud position which w
now hold. Like no reform before, a
one blow they abolished kings. titles
hereditary rule, compulsory religion
and a host of minor evils, and secure,
to us, life, liberty and pursuit of hap
piness."
AS we thus honor the men who CAV
their lives and fortunes for freedom
cause, let us not forget to strew tn
laurels over those noble women VIII
played their less conspicuous, though
most important part in securing tn
| blessings which we now enjoy. Oftei
would we see them when the men ha
gone to war. besides the already heav
burdens of the home, shoulder those O
the farm, and. when the day was owe
we would see them late at night spin
ming or knitting some article for the re
lief and comfort of husband or son o
the field.
And TO those on the battlefield. whe
weary and cold and hungry. the wintr
winds piercing all but their hearts. ho'
welcome were those packages froI
home. and how welcome We're the LEI
tiers which accompanied them. letter
OF cheer and comfort. of patience an
, resignation. How many a heart bes
; faster, how many nerve grew stead
. fer. how many a pain grew lighter b
. remembrances like these from home.
. But these were the least of her dl
| ties. In the long winter evenings whe
! the children would crowd around hi
} knee and beg for story she would tie
them of Columbus. of the hardships
the Pilgrims, and she made their lit
| hearts beat a tattoo in their breast &
I | she told them of Paul Revere's ride,
/ ! the battles of Lexington and Bunk'
| | Hin. and she explained to them in sin
I | pie words the Declaration of Indepen'
ence: how their father was then figh
{ ing. perhaps dying for IL. And then 81
I told them of the Star Spangled Banne
r and how. when they had grown TO
4 men and women. they should protec
| Ao,,- a M defend Tins fpGffll.