Evening star., 1898-05-30

gray-haired generals of the Union and con-
federate armies, and the grandson of the
immortal Grant on the staff of the gallant
Lee, all, now, wearing the loyal blue and
all soldiers in the cause of liberty
All honor to them from the highest Off
Ger down to the humblest private in the
ranks. who, on land or sea-far away from
home and loved oneS-are brayely serving
their country and defending the flag. Oh!
Let us hope they may soon return, wear
ing the laurel of victory, to hear the rap
turous plaudits of a grateful people. They
have gone forth in most holy war; not
war of conquest: not for the acqui-
sition of territory; not war for plumber:
but war cf mercy-a war for the deliver
ance of a. starving people at the hands of
selfish. cruel and barbarous nation-a ma
ton whose pathway through the centuries
has been marked by rapine, treachery,
cruelty and murder war impelled by
= civilization and humanity higher grounds
for war could not be conceived If by it
the world is persuaded that human justice
sweet liberty and eternal right are more
sacred than empire or sovereignty, the pre-
cious lives lost, the bitter tears shed, the
loving hearts broken, the youthful careers
blasted, the fruitful commerce DESTROYED
ard the untold millions expended will not
have been in vain.
Victory Will BE Ours.
The Christian nations of the old world
lost the great and golden opportunity of
the century when they turned deaf ear
to the pleadings of the down-trodden and
oppressed people of Greece and Armenia.
But the young republic of the new world
has heard the cry from the suffering and
oppressed people of an island at its very
ccor, and has FASTENED to their relief And
our reunited people are standing by our
ncbie President in his brilliant efforts to
uphold the dignity and glory of our coun-
try. His superb courage, profound WISDOM
rare d plf macy and peer. .ess patriotism have
proven him the master spirit of the time,
and have welded his name to glory and
undying fame. For victory will be ours. I
hear its slogan.
We are told that in the disastrous siege
OF India Scotch girl raised her head from
the cot in the hospital and said to the sick
ening hearts of the English: Il hear the
bagpipes, the Campbels are coming" They
said: Jessie, it is delirium.'' NO" she re-
Piled, .! know it; heard it afar off, And
glad ears, and the banner of England float
ed in triumph over their heads.
So, In the dim distance 1 hear the
first notes of the jubilee rising from the
hearts of a starving and oppressed people
as they hear the welcome music of the
Star Spansled Banner and Dixie" and
see our brave boys proudly marching un-
der the starry banner guaranteeing liberty
forever and that Cuba shall be free.
Then the future historian will record that
as tempest-toSsed mariners when lost on |
the sea often obtain their bearings by aid
of the north star Ga glimpse of which they
and by 1t are guided to a haven of safety |
SO twice during the last half of the nine
teenth century the clouds of war hung like
pail over fair Columbia with unrest and |
confusion, sadness and tears everywhere, !
but amid the darkness and gloom Of each |
of these storms the eyes of American pa
triots pierced the murky atmosphere to the
silver lining of those clouds above and be- |
held a glorious star beckoning them on, fol- |
lowing which they anchored, by and by
In blessed harbor of prosperity and peace.
They were the patriotic. the liberty-loving
the God-given, the American stars-Abra-
ham Lincoln and William Mckinley
1t is a great thing to die for ones coun-
try, and there is nothing SO dear to our ma
ton as the loyalty and heroism of our
country's defenders in all our wars Their
deeds of valor on and land fill every
loyal heart with thrilling emotion and ev-
cry eye with patriotic fire.
Tribute to the Patriot Dead.
Today, out of the mystic veil we can al
most see the faces of that patriot band
looking down upon us from the camps on
the green fields of everlasting peace
Among them are those who fell at Lexing-
ton and Concord. at Saratoga Bunker Hill
and Brandywine; some who at New Or
leans. in the war of 1912, proved to the
world that easier were it to hurl the rooted
mountain from it's base than to force the
yoke or slavery on men determined to be
free; some who bore aloft their country's
flag at Chepultepec. Palo Alto, Cerro Gordo
and Buena Vista. And then there are
those who poured out the crimson tide of
their lives at Bull Run and Antietam. at
Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Shiloh,
Gettsburg and on many other battlefields.
And there are those noble young Amer-
cans who, wrapping themselves in liberty's
winding sheet laid their lives on freedom
altar, that the brave-hearted Cubans shall
be free.
Love. gratitude and tears we owe them
all. Their deeds can never die! Future
nations will read them, deep-cut, defying
the tooth of time, on the marble of our
greatness. They will blaze on the pillars of
our Union. And in the springtime of each
year a grateful people, bearing choicest
fiowers-nature's sweetest emblems Of love
and affection-will come to decorate their
graves; for those graves will be known as
shrineS foreVermore; shrineS SO long as
chivalry girds sword; Shrines so long
as the republic shall endure: shrines where
patriot knees will bend and patriot eyes
will weep long as freedom has a wor-
shipper and equality of rights devotee.
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