The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-31

OF M8y-0My snOWtfS. Ine4e un-
marked graves. These unsung soldiers.
1t must be that God hath given his
angels charge concerning them. May
We not believe that avsiling tears have
blotted out the transgressions of those
who atoned for so much when they
give their lives for their country?
The hearty celebration OF this ami
versary is made possible by the fact
that in respect to causes. the struggle
that has its sequel in Memorial day
was unlike any other war that was
ever fought. The mission OF the
civil war was to write the def
milton of a word That word is
Sovereignty. The meaning Of the
word perplexed the members of the
convention in which our constitution
was framed. II disturbed our fathers.
the citizens of the young states. at the
time when the constitution was before
them awaiting their approval. 1t
evolved a ricn literature. 1t was the
theme of the first inquiry made by the
nations highest court. II brought into
being two schools of American states
men and turists. These men were un-
selfish lovers of their country. yet IL
must be said hat history has not
stamped the seal of its approval upon
that which some of them taught. For
more han eighty years this word was
the theme of dispute. There entered
into the controversy the opinions and
preferences and prejudices Of the peo-
pie respecting the subject OF slavery,
anger took at length the place of calm
ness; n when the memorable shot
sped across the waters of Charleston
harbor, the issue was removed from
forum to field. from the arena of de-
bate to the arbitrament Of the sword.
and the question which the jurists and
statesmen could not answer, became a
problem which the common people
solved. They defined the w~ord-they
wrote the definition in blood.
For most of us the war that was thus
made inevitable lives only in its tradi-
lions. Not so with these veterans. To
them these recurring anniversaries
bring back memories of amp and field.
OF march and oun and battle. of dis
heartening repulse. sometimes. as well
as of inspiring triumph. of requiem as
we'll as of anthem-memories of Big
Bethel and Balls Bluff. of Donelson
and Shiloh, of Fair Oaks and Cedar
Mountain, OF Malvern Hill and Chan
cellorsville. Of Gettysburg and Win
chester; enduring privations i'm arduous
western campaigns. suffering on the
Peninsula: following where Meade or
Logan or Mcdowell led: with Thomas
at Chickamaugao or with Sedgw.ck in the
Wilderness: fighting above the clouds
with Hooker at Lookou Mountain:
sweeping across Georgia with Sherman:
~ III VIII vi
dan-how grandly the list lengthens
of intrepid commanders, the luster OF
whose fame is dimmed only by the over
s~hadowing glory of those whose names
war made immortal.
Out of the hosts that made up the
armies of the civil war. you. comrades.
have been spared. Length of day and
long life have been added unto you.
that you might know how lasting the
peace that was achieved. how complete
the reconciliation how ample the vindi-
cation of the Union: that you might see
how patriotism has deepened. how the
flag has become a hallowed emblem and
American citizenship a coveted posses
sion. Rejoice that it was your lot TO
have shared In the Observance OF his
Memorial day, which has its distinction
in the splendid fact hat the uprising of
the North and South in defense
of your country against a for
eign foe has made perfect the blending
of the blue and gray. Read the
browning triumph of the war you helped
to fight on the page of history that
presently will tell how Dewey. under
whose feet a Union ship once went
down in the waters OF the Mississippi.
carried the flag safe to the gates of Ma
Mia n gave II glory there, and how,
less than a lifetime after Appomattox,
a confederate general. Fftzhugh Lee.
who had landed over his sword in sur
render to Meade at Farmville, ranked
high among the Union soldiers who put
the ill-used island of the Antilles under
the shelter of the stars and stripes and
babe downtrodden Cuba stand up and
be free,
II is not for you to bear arms in the
war upon which we now hav entered
many Of you are approaching venerable
years Yet permit this anniversary to
nj aFANa of nADY al rAaaA
new times bring. You have not for
gotten that when you were soldiers the
fear found lodgment in the minds of
some of your countrymen that the spir-
ii of imperialism, which the founders of
our government so much dreaded.
would make it's baneful influence felt.
Nor have you forgotten that. even while
hills and valleys were echoing the shouts
of the victors. the soldier, as IL to re-
sent the suspicion. FASTENED home to
field or forge. TO shop or store-to the
peaceful pursuits of civil life. The
dread some of your countrymen
had harbored proved idle. 1t may
be. again to-day. that forebodings
respecting the future are likewise
vain. Yet We have cache the am
bilious point where. unless wise coun-
sells prevail. we shall be hurried on to-
ward schemes of ACKNOWLEDGMENT and
of colonies ton which are unamerican.
even II they are not perilous. Lift up
your voice against the sophistry which
aims to persuade us that IT Is well for
this country TO add TO its population
millions Of beings who must be subjects.
but who cannot be citizens. so manifest
their unftness. Make vigorous you pro-
test against the proposition that We have
need of trade at marts whose highways
must be held open with battleships. Ex-
hort your neighbors, your townsmen,
your fellow citizens that they spend
their energies in the effort to make
fruitful our OWL unmatched domain,
which want only the touch OF intelli-
gent humsn effort. and hat we leave
the lands. from which wide seas sepa-
rate us. 10 those In overcrowded Europe
who have lack OF standing room. and
who are compelled to go away from
home TO find IL.
immigration wisely regulated. In as
sociation with an enlightened policy re-
specting irrigation in the Northwest. is
worth immensely more To our country