The record-union., 1897-05-27

sisters. the sweethearts, who grandly
offered those whom best they loved upon
the Nations altar. What would our
country have done in that terrible cr1-
sis without these patriotic women.
Woman is a great power behind the
man to urge him on to manly deeds and
high endeavor.
"As we review the history of the war,
we are not likely to overeStimate the
consecrated and organized work OF these
women, who strengthened the sineWs OF
the Nation with their unflagging enthu-
siasm, and bridged over the chasm be-
tween civil and military life, infu ling the
same noble spirit into the army and the
people, keeping the men in the field civ
ilians, and making the people at home OF
both sexes half soldiers. Many of them
actually bore arms and served in the
ranks Others followed the army to
nurse the sick on the battlefield and in
the hospital But by far the larger
number, sitting their grief, while the
heart was almost breaking, sent one
boy, and then another, and then
another, and then another, 10
the front, and the only one left, with
his little drum and flag and soldier cap
longed to be big enough to go with his
brothers, and wondered why he so often
found mother and sister bathed in tears
well, the result of it all is glorious.
We are in the midst of its enjoyment.
"A government of the people, by the
people and for the people," a govern
ment in which the rights of man, as
man, are everywhere recognized and
honored; a government preserved in
it's unity by as brave men and women
as ever lived on Gods footstool. The
millions of dollars paid each year to
the soldiers widows and orphans and
to those veterans who came out of that
awful conflict with wounds that dis
abled them, can never offer adequate
compensation for the service rendered.
THE older men are passing from us.
We see it all too clearly with our tear
dimmed eyes. The day is coming, and
it is not so far away, when we. the
children of those heroes, will stand
tearfully gazing into the heavens, each
as he thinks of the one specially dear
to his own heart-stand as stood Elisha
when Elijah was taken from him. And
father, my father, the chariot of Israel
and the horsemen thereof
I'VE of the later generation, whether
children born early enough to have
heard the thunder of the first cannon
that fired on Sumter, or the last rever-
berating echoes of the battle strife. or
grandchildren, whose knowledge of the
war is only by hearsay and history-we
sometimes feel that we can only stand
as did Elisha when his old soldier went
home, crying and rending cur gar
ments in our grief almost feeling that
it is vain for us to hope to be worthy
successors of the grand army of veter-
ans who, out of battle and blood, saved
for us our heritage Of freedom and
truth.
Truly great men they were and are.
For they possessed unwavering and
immovable firmness and courage. They
possessed 9. clear elevation above sell
fishness. They possessed a fiery enthu-
siasm for righteousness. These are
qualities of true greatness. And, bless
ed be God. these qualities are also our
heritage. The lives of our fathers
strengthen the fires of patriotism and
religion in us.
The observance of the annually re-
curing Memorial day brings fresh fuel
to the sacred fire upon the altar of our
hearts. And it is certain that a repe-
tition of such an exceptional condition
as should again call for the devotion of
fife that our glorious stars and stripes
should be preserved, would find us in
possession of a double portion of the
spirit of our ancestors.
That this end may be secured. in
every home, in every school house, un-
der the American flag, let there be
instilled into the hearts Of our boys and
girls, on each anniversary of the birth
of Lincoln, and Of Washington on each
Fourth of July and in connection with
each Memorial Day, such spirit of
lofty patriotism as will bring about
better citizenship, a purer ballot, great
er fidelity in the civil service a more
loyal devotion to the flag, higher re-
gard for our free institutions, broad
er sympathy for universal humanity
and a supreme desire for the soveignty
of Righteousness"
OTHER ADDRESSES.
Rev. A. =. Banks being called upon.
voiced the sentiments of DIR. Buck and
paid a glowing tribute to the Ladies of
the Grand Army of the Republic.
Ex-senator Bart Burke of Santa Cruz
was called for, and in his brusque curt
manner, painted a picture of marches
and battle and life in a rebel prison,
drawn from real life. Senator Burke
is one of the men who marched with
Grant to Vicksburg, and who afterward
ran into a nest of the enemy and spent
many months in a Southern prison,
and he told all about it.
Mrs. George Fl. Herr had few words
to say in defense of her action in sus-
tanning Superintendent of City Schools