The herald., 1898-05-11
rHE FOUR NEW MAJOR GENERALS

1t was crucial test of popular liberty
that made despots scoff, who tremble on
their tottering thrones tonight, as they
behold in awe sectional and party Xwrangles
rolled in one masterful tidal wave of patri-
otism, bearing aloft banner, whose in
sigma glows in burning letters, 'INvINC-
IBLE."
Such is the matured fruit of our dread
civil war, though but now a tiny seed GER
minating the inevitable doom of all the
slavery of earth. England is becoming I'M
pregnated with the spirit of her potent
though never submissive child.
All this made and helped along events
that have led up to the farewell to the
first of CALIFORNIA; devoted sons, who have
gone to foreign shore to offer up they fair
young lives on Freedoms shrine.
In this solemn midnight hour the tear.
drops glisten in the pale moonbeams on the
pallid cheek of California's beautiful
daughter, as. with quivering lips she bids
her lover farewell for the last time. If his
eye is moist and his voice husky, such ten
derness is the first attribute of a hero. But
such scenes are too sacred for vulgar eyes
Yet it is not the farewell, but the reflec-
ton when the next meeting may be, that
makes one inexpressibly sad. There are
vacant places at the fireside and empty
chairs at the table in the abodes of those
we have bade farewell, and for how long !?
Who knows? Some of them till dry sorrow
will drink the blood of the weary watchers,
while the resignation Of settled melan-
choly will come in lieu of the absent ones
Such is the hard and cruel fate of war,
Let us not delude ourselves with the
spectral hope that the conflict will be short
and bloodless and all on the ocean wave"
We know the beginning. The end is cur
tanned by the veil of futurity Spain poor
and impotent, may stand and fall alone.
and she may have help that will tax our
resources to the utmost. For this apparent
ly improbable contingency we should be
prepared and look for it to transpire Six
ty to ninety days was the limit most people
placed as the time for the civil war to end
Had any one ventured to predict that it
might rage furiously for four years he
would have been regarded as a madman.
1t all may end without any more of the
sons of California being called to the tent
ed field; and those who have gone may
never hear the sound Of hostile shot; yet.
again. hundred thousand of her sons may
farewell to battle In a foreign land.
We of the other war. worn and wasted
by exposure and wounds and now untimely
bent by the weight of years. look on and
feel anew the spirit that actuates the boys
of today and yearn to go with them. But
we should be content to let them have she
glory and the name of heroes for did not
our young heads grow frosted in the lead
eE hail storm? And have we not stood be-
meath the brooding, flapless wing of the
death angel as often as men should pass
that experience and live? Should the
country really need us we would not prove
laggards But till then we should not seek
to crowd the boys out, since the value OF
our experience is neutralized by physical
incapacity. Though veterans by name
we could never discount the American boys
of today in fight. The lads of California
who responded so promptly to the call OF
their country will shoot to hurt and stand
as long as any men would stay. We could
do no more and might not equal the young
men In doing quick. effective work.