The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-31
Special 70 the Indlanapolis Journal.

green above the nodering dust of our dead
din of battle disturbs their silent slumber.
They have crossed the river; the weary
march is ended; they rest in the shade on
the other side.
ON flames eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread,
And glory guards with solemn round
The bivouac of the dead.
"They are gone, but not forgotten. In
their silent graves they speak for freedom
and the flag. To their memory shafts OF
marble point heavenward, attesting the
grateful remembrance of a patriotic people,
Comrades. year by year we journey 10 TINS
Mecca the Nations sacred shrine TO the
graves of our soldier dead, there 70 recon-
secrate our lives to the country they uieu
to save. While time remains, Wnlle the re-
volving seasons come and go, long as au-
tumn follows summer and winter pihoS WITH
icy letters the dying autumn ana IhS re-
turning springtime unbars the prison doors
of winter and the returning south wind
kisses into fragrance and beauty the OPEN
ing buds. so long VIII tne ; drasrai &c the he
memory and garlands of roses and lmmor-
telles fitting symbols of our love and re-
membrance of our patriot dead. As io, Ro< as
n free people, SO long will the memory OF
the patriots who fought in its defense be
preserved. = $1,000.
',rhirty-seven years ago we were in the
midst of a, crisis never to be forgotten.
The impending crisis that had long men
aced the peace of the Nation burst upon US
in all the bitterness of civil war. The ire
pressible conflict was upon us. The house
divided against itself could remain divided
no longer. This Nation was to be all slave
or all free The ominous mutterings of the
gathering storm had long presaged its COM
ing. We were in the midst of a sanguinary
conflict Thousands of brave men were hur-
rVing to the front
'1'nere were comminged cheers and tears.
The words intended to be spoken at PAL PAL
ing remained unuttered, the tongue raining
TO- express the emotions of the heart, and
through tear-dimmed eyes the last vision
of the loved one was but falntiy seen; mus
parted forever on earth many loved ones
Family ties were severed, business inter
ests sacrificed. The heroism of that war VIII
never cease to furnish subjects for romano
ers and themes for the poets. More than
two thousand battles were fought hundreos
of thousands of lives were given and Pill
lions of treasure expended III TINS terflDie
war From Fort Sumter TO AppomattdA
there was an almost unbroken scene of con-
f1ict, of herosm of daring, intrepidity not
to be matched anywhere in the worlds his
tory II was American bravery, American
intelligence and the unconquerable Ameri-
can spirit in mortal combat.
II cannot in this brief address, review
the ntes sfor na mud sn
swamps, or through Sc0rching sun and
binding dust. If / should tell of Gettys-
n,
manga and Mission Ridge. | would still he
at the beginning Of the enumeration of the
great battles of the civil war. Indiana lost
as many men killed and wounded at Chi tx
amauga we now have encamped on That
historic battlefield.
THE suffering in prison pens, the endur-
ance displayed on the weary marches. 1he
heroism in battle OF the boys from 1861 20
and are the glory and the pride of this
Nation. When the war ended this mighty
army of trained warriors returned to Soca-
tons of life of peace and became the best
of citizens. Young men entered college and
demonstrated the brightness OF their intel
lects, while others entered the professions
and proved themselves leaders of thought
Others, by dint of industry and hard work,
won for themselves homes in the govern
ment they helped to save on the field Of
battle.
OUR GOVERNMENT.
Comrades, you have demonstrated that
in this government of ours the safety Of
the Nation is not in a large standing army
but in the patriotism of the people. Our
citizens make the best soldiers, and eur
soldiers make the best citizens. Since the
close of the civil war the progress and de-
velopment. the increase in production and
in the wealth of this Nation are without
parallel among the nations of the earth
While We have been rejoicing in the
BLESSINGS of free government, there have
DScH DIT our very threshold people feol1n2
the pangs OF suffering and the agony of OPP
preston. The south wind has borne to our
ears the groans of the downtrodden. Long
and patiently this Nation bore with Spanish
barbarity, and at great cost and inconveni-
ence, maintained our friendly relationship
and enforced the neutrality laws.
president Mckinley fiji ally notified Spain
that such conditions could no longer exist.
Inns 1rieEdly warming served only to in
lame the bigotry and hate of Spain. She
became more defiant and insulting Our bat
tie ship the Maine, while resting quietly at
anchor in Havana harbor, became a target
FOR Spanish cruelty, treachery and cowar-
dice. Without single chance for defense,
without a note of warning, this magnificent
vessel, with its precious living freight of
brave American sailors, was destroyed. This
evidence of hate and treachery coupled
with the cries and groans of dying Cubans
appealed alike to the god of battles and ia
the sympathy of Iberty-loving people This
war records the first instance in the history
OF civilization where nation has gone Ia
war, not Tor conquest or for glory, not in
DEFENSE OF invaded rights. nor the liberties
of its subjects, but for the love of hui
mainly
The demands of the President of the
!, = hlted states; IN the name of humanity, and
solently and detiantly spurned. Congress au-
thorized the President to use the army and
navy to carry out his demand upon Spain
THE CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS.
The President was further empowered to
call for 125,O0O volunteers. His proclamation
ernor of the State, and in the exercise of the
power vested in me by the Constitution. !
called for four regiments and three batter
les. In twenty-four hours more than four
thousand men were in camp at INDIANAPOLIS
Indiana was first to report her quota in
camp. first to report all mustered into the
federal service, and the first to have march
ing orders issued to all the soldiers The
promptness of this response is the earnest
of the teaching of these memorial services
II is the fruitage of the patriotic spirit that
has been made manifest in this State and by
the national government in honoring the old
soldiers and in the care manifested toward
his widow and orphans.
while we have these inspirations to
patriotism and love of country. still jim
of patriotism found in the lives of some
men. The man who is profuse in his criti-
cism of the army and navy and the
President of the United States is apt to
practical warfare. This class of self-or-
dained statesmen during the civil war Will
lied Lincoln and dema lded that the army
move on TO Richmond.
BY such men Sherman was called crazy
and Grant a drunkard. These fault-finders
planned campaigns and won imaginary vic
torres standing on street corners and in the
village store. or wherever an audience of
There have ever been, and there will con-
tinue to be, men TO criticise and condemn
while patriots do and die
THE men who were most clamoFouS for
war with Spain Will not die for the free
dom OF Cuba. The invincible lingo in peace
will be an invisible quantity in war. The
men who. through denunciation and criti-
cism of Mckinley, inspired a following to
burn the President in effigy will not go
themselves nor inspire others to go TO the
field OF mortal combat, where men die for