The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1898-06-03

fish purpose. scarcely like the shbboleth
Remember the Maine" 1t seems to Inc too
get tie circumstance to Which it owes we it its
origin. The scene OF that awful tragedy ull-
der the shadow Of MORO Castle is yet before
my eyes yes IL can see as close them the
ghastliness of death upon them. But l also
see the myriads of starving men, women and
children, ruthlessly sacrificed to feed the
lust and to fill the pockets Of professional
officers and gentlemen. Behind them l sec
three centuries of wanton pillage, Of fright
ful corruption, Of cruelty unsurpassed i'll
human annals.
The time was long ago, come for some
great power to stretch forth its hand, inter-
pose authority and to say to the world:
=, What power except that Of the United
States was to do this?
Cuba is our next door neighbor. Time ont
Of mi mind ho these atrocities h2ys been perpe
required us to spend millions of money po-
Icing our coasts against the filibusterS, She
has shown herself unable or unwilling in our
protection to police one of her own har-
bOrs.
Was this to 80 on forever? You your
selves are the answer to the question.
Soldiers of the Cross and the Flag.
You are going to fight a battle waged by
man for man. You are going therefore in the
are going to fight a battle for the glory Of
God and your native land You are going,
therefore, under flag which is the symbol
at once Of freedom and humanity, and huv-
Ing Gods blessing upon it, has never yet
known. defeat. Look to it that you carry
yourselves as soldiers equally Of the Cross
and the flag.
at heart good man selfepossession in the
presence of danger is the truest courage and
ne is the bravest soldier who keeps his head,
WHO knows perfectly the right thing to do,
away. 1t is the sense of duty which will
make you men; duty to the flag above you;
duty to constituted authority; duty to coun:
home who: follow you with fearful but
with ever-brightening eyes.
all my mind and with all my soul. # ever
there was justified war it is this. Though
1t should rob me of lives that are dcarer to
me than my own life, shall believe it con-
the enlargement Of benign civilization. ~
In these warlike spectacles everywhere
n %anfeS It has areaX UNITED US nothing
both sections of the Union from the mistaken
impression that we could ever be anything
else else than, than enc people In the brilliant
boy at the other side Of the globe it has
already exploited us as naval power and,
as you yourselves shall show, it will pres.
emily uemOuSlFiIG 10 us no less q military
power, before whose legions the enemies Of
before they leap: Surely these were CON:
snmn 1l,a.} J., deyoutly to be wished. They
are worth all the war has cost us, or will
cost US. l know what war means.
Hardest of Soldiers Duties.
Obedience, submission, is the first and, per.
haps, the hardest of the soldiers first duties.
If officers seem capricious or tyrannical do
y your duty: 1t viii come round all right. If
do your duty. The end will justify YOU
Be sure that, in the long run, the man who
does his duty passes beyond the reach of
wrong; tor as there Is God who saith
there a people whose voice is the voice OF
God. who will visit upon those that would
convert the places of trust which they
chance to nod into PLACES of private or ,po-
as 1t Is certain, as blighting as it is over.
whelming.
In the nature Of the case but few of you
can hope to attain to great commands, or to
acquire exceptional distinction. In the end
most of you must lay aside your uniforms
and ana 1 resume the habilments Of civil life.
his duty ta and; doing his duty. cannot be
to me the other day to ask me to exert my
supposed influence in getting his son COM
fluence. But" said I, II have two sons
carrying muskets in the ranks-sons whom
dearly lOVe-but for whose advancement 7
shall not put forth the slightest effort. II
Is enough for me to know that they are
serving their country and if it pleases God
to bring them back to their mother and me
safe and sound shall bless His name as
In that prayer let me include each and
every one of you; though l would rather
see my boys and each and everyone of
you lying by the side of the brave
and lovely sailor lad whom North Caro-.
lima has just given up as heavens first
sacrifice upon the affairs of the nation and
mankind than that one feather should be
p!ucked from the eagles wing or syllable
OF reproach be justly thrust upon the name
and fame Of our dear Kentucky.