The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-06-03
0 fall and grow deeper and deeper.

pleased him most in the days long
ago ar created the most lasting i'm
preston upon him, and his mind
wandered to the days of his boyhood
and there passed before him in re-
view the old house on the hillside
where he was born, with its vine
covered door and there were seen the
shadowy forms of loved ones long
since gone before and as the shadows
settled upon him these visions grew
brighter and the green fields of his
youth were the passing memories
which accompanied him to the great
beyond
From this / conclude that that
which most impressed us either in
early life or later; that which by force
of the impression itself IL reproduced
later, when we lie down to the last
sleep, comes to us with the keenest
sense, and though IL may not be as
delightful to contemplate nor so
pleasing to remember, yet there will
be genuine pleasure and great sat
detection only measured by the recol-
lection Of a duty done. We may bah
BILE ofwar horse and bayonet, of charge
and repulse, of occasional defeat, but
final victory, of these incidents in our
lives long since passed into history,
and recall them with pleasure and re-
count them to others for inspiration
and admiration, that those hearing
them may go out, if need be, to do
better and greater deeds.
After paying an eloquent tribute
to the great leaders of the war and
remarking upon the high honors that
had been paid them by the people,
the speaker said: Will they or their
defendants ever permit their memory
to fade away and be forgotten In
many of the larger cities monuments
of stone and brass commemorate their
services and as time progresses and
the people are educated to a patriotic
duty these evidences of the apprecia-
ton OF their worth will multiply I'M
til we shall be known as people
who care for and respect those who
saved the life of the nation. And
other tributes have been given to
other heroes who while less renowned
did valiant service for their country,
whose memory will be cherished and
whose services will be enshrined in
the hearts of their countrymen as
long as time shall last. But what of
the private soldier ? He who stood
In the front rank of the battle and
received the full shock of the on
slaught and who yet remains to
tell of heToism and of blood d? Will
the American people ever forget these
services? Will they ever
permit the memory Of these men to
'sde away? Is there a possibility of
succeeding generations failing to APP
oreciate the services of those who
stood like wall to prevent the over
brow of this Government
1t is now 33 years since the war
,losed. During these years congress
las enacted laws for the benefit of
he soldier or his family ut every ses-
sion. This is true. But very many
soldiers participated in framing
his legislation and the soldier vote
10 an element in politics. Is this the
Is there not at present suf-
-iicient patriotism existing among the
people, is there not sufficient graft
Jude prevailing among this genera
ton to promote all Legislation which
has benefited the soldier? believe
there il. / am sure that during the
entire time of the war there was
enough patriotism to place immense
armies in the field. supply them with
all needful material to carry them
through successfully, and l believe
it goes without saying that since the
war patriotism has been taught to
the people as an every day lesson and
that now there is existing in this
a greater spirit of patriotism
and ths love of country than was
ever before known in it's history.
And because of that fact there exists
TO day this organization of the G.. A
R. and many others to perpetuate
the memory of our comrades. And
his leads me to this thought: The
exercises of this day are at the pres
ent controlled almost exclusively by
the old soldiers. A program is pre-
pared. The old soldiers fall in line
and are reinforced by the civic or
CARNATIONS. The ritual of the post
Is read and carried out. The whole
IL impressive and expresses to a GER
ain extent the original design of the
But l have said and |
shown to you in a former part OF this
address that there will soon be no
- 10