The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-31

BY fairy hands their kneH is rung
BY forms unseen their dsrge is sung.
blessed are the dead whose memory
IL perpetuated by the flower service Of
grateful people. and how sruiy immortal
are those who give Their lives for liberty.
To have lived long. purposeiess. neutral
years Is nothing; 10 have lived few gior-
.ous hours. to have brayeiy faced the in
finite, 10 have calmly met the master in
humanity's cause is sublime. Why mourn
for those who sIumber acre? Their cpl
taphs are written in the grandest history
OF the ages Before them will reverenfly
pass the procession Of the centuries: and
every headgtone round about even those
without a name. will be given honorable.
place in the mighty monument that Is 10
commemorate the ennobling and uplifting
OF the human race.
Ny countrymen. these men who died
may not have known. but you and know
now that the roar OF their battles was
Dat the echo of Gods footstep. moving on.
am believer In overruling providence
~ me Infinite wisdom that guides the
oessinies OF nations and of men I am
deeply impressed with the thought that
y . teop.e are struggling onward
ana upward TO the sulfiiment of a supreme
ufpoSe 1t was Gods providence that KEEP,
the new world I'm all Its virgin strength
ana wealth until the resistless strength
VI men mad realized civilization fl TO
De painted here. Ii was Gods providence
'hat gave strength and courage and victory
10 the little band of sturdy patriots who
wrought the mighty destiny OF American
independence. II inspired the nen of
emancipation and the sword Of annor,.,-
tox. II inspired Washington. Lincoln and
,'falf- III selected each for mis- glorious
work, so gioriously performed.
He"ven's Hand Against spatn.
Let the fool answer as he will. I prefer
10 see the finger OF supreme design Tha+
""ssT' may De. even now Is moving to
""f" hho'her man, a man who shall lead
oHr triumphant hosts TO A glorious vjntorv
1.' .'"T's ana humanity. who shall wreak
'oo vengeance on wicked, cruel. mercj-
iess spain and drive from this hemisphere
me last ves'ige of tyranny and onnres
SION ana IL may Well be that some sword
sheathed In defeat by the Judgment AZ
TOO tnat liberty might be the heritage Of
every american child. will now, by com
mand OF Jehovah himself. leap from Its
scaonard 10 give liberty and seif-goyern-
ment TO the oppressed and down.roddan
people OF the beautiful island of Cuba.
nat al Inspiring sight to see those
VINO once fought against each other now
raiiting under the one flag, exultinz and
! rejoicing that the azure fed Of the Union
banner holds in equal honor every star OF
ranged music Of the Union Yankee Doo-
de and Dixie the favorite airs
Under normal conditions I am opposed
10 ssrmonizing, To tho reading OF homi-
Hes, and TO the discussion of public cues
lions on Decoration day. / believe our serv-
Ices should be love service of prayer.
and praise. and song that out OF the mem
cries OF the past we should draw new in
sp!fation Of patriotism. and find new
ardor for the preservation of the free in
stitu'ions which came to US through the
baptism of fire and blood.
But, my countrymen. for the first tirae
in the history Of Decoration day we are
ut war. Once more upon the soil of old
Virginia the Federal bayonats are agleam
From day TO day the boys in blue pass by:
the reveille of the bugle call Is heard even
in this city Of the silent dead. This time.
thank God. the war is not sectional. There
are no brothers arrayed against brothers;
no Americans against Americans Theirs
is only one uniform in all the land. one
flag In all the sky, one sentiment In the
breasts Of ali the heroes of the republic
Justification of Wnr.
War IL a terrible thing. to be Stunned
and avoided whenever and as far as pos
slble. But have no sympathy with those
who believe that war should be avoided at
the sacrifice OF national honor. at the
expense OF humanity or the loss OF lib
erty. ] cannot love those who turn deaf
ears TO the unceasng cries of the victims
OF tyranny. inhumanity and barbarity, be-
cause liberty and relief can only come
through the shedding OF blood.
IF / read Gods history Alright. civiiiza-
ton and Christianity have not come from
the survival of the fittest. but by the sac
rifice OF the best. What human inteIli-
gence dares to lnsinuate that the blood
Of Lexington was not a sacrifice even rs
the blood of Warren at Bunker Hin Ra-
ker at Balls Bluff Bagiey at Cardenss,
who ali gloriously died 70 hasten the COM
ing uf Gods kingdom on earth. Yes. and
Dewey, in the harbor Of Manila. was the
blessed messenger Of Gods Just wrath.
II do not know when this war with
Suain will cease / do not know what sac
fliices we may Vet be called upon TO make.
do not know how many headstones may
vet be added to this city of the dead do
not know how many mothers hearts may
mourn. I do not know how many affairs
may he desolated: but I do know that,
.yha.aver the cost. the delivering OF the
now world from the barbarity and !nhu-
mainly Of SPANS mcrcileSs desponsm VII
he worth IL all ! do know that the ce-
,,,e,tlnr of the hearts OF al the people in
enduring friendship and abiding love; do
know that the conservation OF American
energies the uplifting OF American sent-
nsnt in 50 holy cause. ! Ito KNOW that
this touching OF elbows under the one flag
by the men and the sons or the men who
faced each other on our batte-neids IN
aer f,yo tags. I 10 know tina. this accom-
pllshmcnt % Gods grea purpose VIII bring
"a tire American people Gods choicest
blessing ard reward And have
faith - believe that from above
the opened heavens the sreat
war president Abraham J@nee'n. locks
down ap9rovireiy upon cur great MAJ
president. William Mckinley. while Grant
aud lee. could they but speak 10 Us 70
dsv would give their hearts 10 their Oh
lfe.,tenan'S now IN command Of the ar
mics o, the United States with the iHSp-r-
ing cry ON 80 Cuba
REST in peace. o mighty dead ne
cause for which you fought can never Ne
axxs3lga again. Rest in peace. The race
Who's, freedom YOU achieved VIII bless you
u{,h ,hcir hates, breath. Rest in peace
the Union you preserved remains forever
acs liberty equal rights and justice IL the
heritage OF your descendants 20 the juds-
r,eut saw God bless the men who foi-
lowed the flag"
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