Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-05-30
hope of humanity, strong only Ill ''''l
confidence in their cause.

confidence in their cause.
A second, and stronger claim OF our
heroic dead and heroic living upon 'he
honor of American citizens is the sacri-
flee which they made in our behail'
At a recent public gathering III .ie
city of New York it was stated ny .ne
presiding officer that he wished 10 ln' ,'o
duce a man who had lost leg IN 'he
war. The veteran arose from ms sea'
on the platform, and by the aid OF ms
crutch stood before the audience: nu'
his first words were in denial OF ',ie
assertion that he had "lost'' leg IN inc
war. .When l enlisted" ne said' ~
gave myself and all | had to the country
and whatever | brought out was 50
much clear gain. 1hn
When General Garfield asked John
Jordon if he was willing to carry "
message through the enemy's lines the
reply was, 81 made no trade with Goa
for my life when | entered this war
"What do you mean?" said the general
II mean | will carry that message.
When General Pemberton met his OLD
friend, General Grant, at Vicksourg'
face to face in deadly conflict, and re-
qucsted an interview that the terrible
carnage might cease, Grants answer
voiced the sentiment of every true
American soldier. "Upon one condition
will this blood cease to flow" "W hat
is thatp" "An unconditional surrender
upon your part, General" And this
spirit filled the ranks as well as the OF
ficers.
A chaplain of the army Of the Poto-
mac, Mr.. Lyford, while passing among
the sufferers just after the battle of the
Wilderness, found wounded man
making much ago. He had laid on the
field three days and three nights unat-
tended. "My son." said the chaplain,
"many poor boy would have rcjoiced
if he could have come out of the con-
flict as we'll as you.' 80 Chaplain
said the wounded man, 81 am not
mourning on account of my wounds,
but they say my limb must be ampuat-
ed, and then l cannot return to see the
final victory.
A poor drummer boy in the midst of
the CORY field with his head pilowed
on the roots of tree, his comrades wet
ting his lips with canteen. lie revived
enough to say "Mother, Mother, Jesus,
Jesus" but with his last breath he muir
mured, Don't give up the flag"
When Marcus Aurelius was told by
sooth-sayer the chasm of the Forum
must be filled by Romans, most noble,
he mounted his horse and made ready
to die for his country. But Preside Mt
Lincoln said 10000 and then 5000 of
Americas best SONS must be offered to
fill the chasm of rebellion, and as often
as he called they responded to that call
until 500, 900 had marched forward and
offered themselves as q sacrifice
"For the land of the free
And the home Of the brave"
And for this they shall be honored in
the far-off day.
AS the school boy pauses in history
at Pompeii to honor the soldiers buried
in the gates by Vesuvius' mad freak, so
shall our children and our children's
children pause in the gateways of Rich
mond, Vicksburg, Petersburg and Pitts
burg Landing and honor the stately
American soldiers who fell rather than
leave their posts, believing it
"Better, like Hector, on the field to die,
Than like perfumed Paris turn and fly
Said the Master, "Greater love hath
no man than this, that man lay down
his life for his friends" And one of
the strongest claims that Jesus himself
has upon the love and loyalty of human
ity is the noble sacrifice of his own life.
1t is equally that the sarifice of the SOL
diers in the Civil war in behalf of the
nation is claim that should appeal to
the love and honor of every right-mind-
cd citizen.
And still a weightler claim of our
heroic dead and heroic living upon the
honor of American people is what they
actually wrought in behalf of our gov
eminent and sacred institutions.
They demonstrated the capacity of
the people for self government and they
indicated the authority and sacred
meaning of the constitution.
The establishment of republic at
the close OF the Revolution was an ex-
pertinent in government. Never had
government by the people been tried
upon such magnificent scale, never
had it been tried at all with success.
The governing classes of Europe had
come to disbelieve in the capacity of the
people for self government. The es-
tablishment OF a republic was therefore
rldiculed by the statesmen of the old
world. They said that in less than a
decade it would perish. But ten years
passed and it was stronger than ever.
Eighty years passed and the country
had marvelously developed in wealth,
commerce, agriculture, manufactures,
and in all of those things which con-
tribute to make up a great nation.
More and more her IDEAS had begun TO
to affect the policies of other nations.
Hereditary legislation and the thrones
OF despotism began TO tremble at SIGHT
of the marvellous expansion of power
and glory of our democracy. But
when the clouds of war appeared in our
Southern sky the nations watched it
with bated breath. And when it grew
larger and larger and finally burst with
the thunders of Sumpter and Bull Run
they openly declared that republican
government was Il failure. But upon
this fact they had not counted, that de-
votion to an idea may be as powerful
as devotion to % throne. And whom
half million of Americas sons march
GU forward and poured their hearts red
blood upon the fires of rebellion and
inc seetllng flames were extinguishcd.
the enemies of free government were
forever silenced, because the capacitv