The record-union., 1897-06-01

which acted so magnificent part on
the great stage of history, who yet re-
main as a relic of that vast host, who
were most important factors in civiliza-
tion's greatest event, have indeed oc-
casion to be grateful.
1t has been given to but comparative
ly few men in the worlds history to
occupy so high a place on the roll of
honor Armies of men have, in the
past, fought and died for liberty
Armies of men have fought to protect
the weak against the strong. Armies
of men have fought for what they be-
lieved to be the right. But never be-
fore on the pages of history has the
event been recorded where men fought
not alone for the right, not alone for
liberty, but also to protect the weak
against the strong; to strike off the
shackles of the bondsman, to make free
the helpless and defenseless slave.
Never before was all this brought about
in any one contest. Never before were
men permitted to accomplish such far
reaching and heroic results and even
more, permitted to see the fullest fruits
of their achievements.
All history does not furnish the prece-
dent where the veterans of an army
lived to see their country increase in
population from 100000 to more
than 100000; lived to see their coun-
try's wealth increase more than $780,,
coo, 900; lived TO see a gigantic war
debt of three thousand million dollars
greatly diminished; lived to see fabu
lous sums paid in pensions; lived to see
the slaves whom they had aided in
making free take marvellous strides in
the direction Of becoming self-helpful
and self respecting citizens-slaves who
were turned out into the world as poor
as newborn babes but who even as
far back as ten years supported eighty
newspapers and 10000 students in nor
NAL schools and colleges, and Were pos
sessed of taxable wealth said to be
over a billion of dollars.
Never before in the worlds history
were the veterans of an army per-
mitted to see all this; to see so tri-
umphant and prosperous a Republic,
and to feel that they had performed an
heroic part in bringing about such
wondrouS results.
It is true that we are paying fabulous
sums in pensions to you who fought
and suffered for us; it is true that our
land is dotted with magnificent monu-
ments erected in honor of the heroic
dead; but neither mountains of gold
nor acres of monuments can repay the
debt we owe to you and to the noble
departed who preserved for us and for
our children the blessings of peace and
prosperity, the glorious privilege of
| living together as one mighty and
united people, the magnificent heritage
of civil liberty.
Out of every hundred prisoners of
war captured by the enemy and con-
fined in Libby and Andersonville pris-
ons more than ninety eight preferred
to submit to all the tortures of the
damned. preferred to drag out their
days and months in agony, in dreadful
suffering; preferred to submit to the
torments of a lingering death, or to in
vite the frightful horrors of insanity,
cost of honor.
How can mere gold in the form of
pensions, or magnificent columns of
marble in the form of monuments re-
pay a devotion, a sacrifice, a loyalty
such as this?
The patriot in the highest sense, how.
ever, is he who not alone is ready, in
the hour of need. to take uD arms, to
suffer, and, if need be, to die. in de-
fense of the Republic, but is he who
also, in time of peace, seeks the well
fare of the city, the commonwealth and
the Nation: who strives to add to its