The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-06-01

feel indignant that they should furnis
our enemies such an occasion for IN:
scoTn And PARTICULARLY at this tim
when ~ ose who are near and dear
us ar, in the field and on the sea, an
anxious hearts are watching with bate
breath for the report of the killed an
| wounded in battle, In what wretche
and degraded taste is IL 10 institut
| public frolics! Let us set this day u
| by the side Of the holy Sabbath as
| white angel guarding our quiet media
| tion and worshipful ceremony.
Another reason we have for the oh
servance Of this day is that ii is neede'
| to continually remind us of the lesson
Of the war. No man is more averse t
stirring up old feuds than l. When tn,
dead Grant was carried to his grave
with johnson and Buckner on one sid,
of the bier and Sherman and Sheridan
on the other, we beheld i'm that scene
the vision Of reunited brotherhood, OF
buried hate. Cursed be the hand that
shall aid its resurrection. In the kind
est charity we should view the van
quished foe. The green mound where
lies the gray should blush as sweetly
with our votive roses as that which
holds the blue. L would as tenderly deck
the southern grave with the lilies of
hope as / would plant at the northern
tomb the evergreen of fame. But it is
not inconsistent with this righteous
sentiment of humane forgiveness to re-
member that the war was fought for a
purpose. Both sides were equally sin
cere. But one was eternally right and
the other eternally wrong. There have
always been a swarm of croakers who
have cried that the war was a failure,
that ii was a gigantic mistake, a need
less expenditure of life and treasure. l
tell you no more righteous conflict was
ever waged by the armies of God on the
plains of Canaan than this war to crush
the rebellion, TO uphold the grandest
government of history, and to strike the
shackles from 100000 slaves. The eX-
piation was terrible, but the crime was
worse. For four years blood flowed in
torrents and money was spent in untold
sums, but think you this any more than
repaid the avenging God of justice for
the blood that for generations had
trickled from beneath the lash Of the
slave-driver, or the wealth of centuries
usurping masters?
This day. too, should teach us to value
our institutions by recalling what it
cost to preserve them. Who can count
the cost? Think of it! Though the veil
OF intervening years the jangling MEM
cries Of that horrid nightmare come
floating down. | hear the distant re-
verberation Of the cannon firing on Fort
Sumter and the responsive cry Of
avenging fury that ran through the
north. From farm and field and coun-
ter men hasten TO defend an insulted
flag. The sad-hearted wife stands at
the cottage door, the white, scared
faces Of the children clustering about
her as she looks with shaded eyes down
the lane after him, who goes never to
return. ] smell the fetid stencil Of An
and Libby, the foul masms
u the southern swamp. l catch the
ainting footsteps Of the bounded fugi-
i've / hear the means of the dying
rom the CORY windows on the battle
ield and the answering cry of stricken
and the wall Of orphans.
feel breath Of that spirit of cruelty,
Despair, misery and woe. And over the
Whole vision lowers the thick sulphur
'us cloud Of hate, hanging. like a sus-
'ended curse
History can never tell you, by it's rows
If figures, the cost Of the war. If
'ou would know its awful meaning, go
athom the depth Of a broken heart.
alculate the degrees Of misery in the
lopeless watcher who listens for the
ootstep that shall never come, measure
he length and breadth Of the young
yife's agony whose wealth of love is
despoiled and she forsaken.
cunt all the hopes that lie broken and
'uried beneath the waving mounds be-
ide the Rappahannock, enumerate the
ouls that the roar Of musketry has
Grried into the presence Of God, un-
repaired and unforgiven.
Shallwe not value what was bought at
UGH price? Shall not each recurring
pring as ii brings us to the graves of
hose who paid ii for us impress upon
IS the Importance of guarding what
ost so much? An undivided flag, a
overeign people, a land whose every
nch Is clear Of the red stain Of human
lavery.
But while we honor the soldier let us
ot forget our other dead, who fell be-
ide US In the peaceful battle Of life. Go.
Mother, and lay the lilac and the daisy
n that spot In Gods acre" where YOU
tainted the little curly headed treasure
hat shall come up and bloom in the
pring time Of eternity Go, widow, and
ang the green garland of ivy on the |
old tablet that like a pale specter |
eckons you to follow your beloved |
top, child, amid your play, gather a |
andful Of blue-eyed violets and LET |
heir modest lips kiss the noddine |
raises that cover her whose bitterest |
ang at death was the thought of leav- |
ne you. Go, lover, let the red tulin |
lush above the upturned face of her |
those budding beauty was chilled un-
lmely by the frosts Of death. Pause
II humanity, amid your ambition and |
reed and rivalry and strife, and on this
ay at least bedew the fast-witherinp
memories Of the departed loved ones
nth refreshing tears. And when 7 die
ask no more from this world than that
ONE friends, blind to my faults and |
mindful only Of my good purposes. NAV
teal at twilight to my quiet grave and |
fer there sacrifice Of simple nowers
hat they have sanctihed by the chrisu,
I honest tears.