The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-04-13
LEST WE FORGET
Congressman Cousins Noble Tribute
to the Heroes of the Maine.


Congressman Cousins Noble Tribute
to the Heroes of the Maine.
The noblest tribute uttered to men
who lost their lives in the service of
their country, of recent years, is that
paid by Congressman Cousins. Itfully
deserves to rank with that classic Of
patriotic oratory, Lincoln's address at
Gettysburg. Mr.. Cousins, by single
speech, has placed himself in the fore
most rank of the country's spokesmen.
The measured force and pathOs Of his
words are not The wild shrek Of the
jingo, nor the trembling, halting hint
Of the craven. Perfectly self-contained
he calmly awaits the outcome of pa
tient inquiry and thoughtful eonsidera-
ton of all the facts that 90 to make up
the step OF historic importance The
address, briefbut nobly sustained, closes
with no less nobly conceived lines from
Kipling's Recessional:
Lord God OF Hosts, be with Us yet,
Lest we forget-iest we forget"
Following is the full text Of Repre-
sentative Cousins tribute:
''The measure now proposed is most
appropriate aud just, but hardly is it
mentioned in contemplation of the
great calamity to which it appertains.
1t will be merely an incidental, legisla-
tive foot-note to a page of history that
will be open to the eyes Of the Repub-
lie and the world for all time to come.
No human speech can add anything to
the silent gratitude, the speechless rev.
erence already given by a great and
grateful nation to its dead defenders
and to their living kin. Noa of Con-
gress providing for their needs can
make restitution for their sacrifice.
Human nature does, in human ways,
its best, and still feels deep in debt.
Expressions of coincidence have come
from every country and from every
cline, and every nerve Of steel and
ocean cable has carried on electric
breath the sweetest, tenderest words of
sympathy for that gallant crew who
manned the Maine. But no human
recompense can reach them. Human
ity and time remain their everlasting
debtors. 1t was brave and strong and
splendid crew. They were part of the
blood and bone and sinew OF our land.
Two were from my native State of
Iowa. Some were only recently at the
naval academy, where they had 50 often
heard the morning and the evening sal
utation TO the iiag-that flag which had
been interviewer with the dearest mem
ories of their lives, and which had col
ored all their friendships with the last
ing blue of true fidelity. But whether
they came from naval school or civil
life, rom one State or from another,
they called each other cOmrade-that
gem of human language which some
times means little less than love and
little more than friendship-thatg gen
tie salutation of the human heart that
speaks in all the language of man, that
winds, turns, and runs through all the
joys and sorrows of the human race
through deed, and thought, aud dres m
through song, and toll, and battlefield
''No foe had ever challenged them
The world will never know how brave
they were. They never knew defeat
never shall. While at their posts o.
duty sleep lured them into the abyss
then death unlocked their slumberinl
eyes for An instant, to behold its dread
ful carnival. To most of them the sum
mons came just when life was full o
hope and all its tides were at thei
highest, grandest flow-just when th'
, early sanbeams were falling on th'
sleeps of fame and flooding all life'
; landscape, far out into the dreamy, dis
tant horizon-just when all the nymphi
were making diadems and gariands
weaving laurel wreaths before the eye
, of young and eager nature-just then
, when death seemed most unnatural.
"Hovering above the dark waters o
T that mysterious harbor of Havana th'
black-winged vulture watches for tn
; belated dead-while over it and eve
/ all there is the eagles piercing eye
| sternly watching for the truth. Wheth
er the appropriation carried by this res
olution shall be ultimately charged T.
fate or to some foe shall soon appear
Meanwhile, a patient and palrioti
r people, enlightened by the lessons o
our history, remembering the woes
war, both to the vanquished and victo
rious, are ready for the truth and 70
their duty.
The tumult and the shouting dies
The captains and the kings depart-
sun stands the ancient steridce,
An humble and contrite heart.
Lord God Of Hosts, be with yet,
Lest we forget-lcst we forget"