The National tribune., 1898-02-03
SONS OF VETERANS.
Loyal Young Men and Their Great
Order.

An early perazat.on is being made by
the Camps o the Sons of Veterans for the
proper observance of Union Defenders
Day, Feb. f2. The National Officers are
not behind in tbs work, and already Chap
lain-in Chief Harry Lawrence Neazey has
issued n circular letter to b-otHcrs. which
has been approved by Commanderin Chief
Charles Is. Darling. The Chaplain-in-
Chief saws in part
y testing me of patriotism is near at
hand. BY the earneStneSs and enthu siaSm
of our obSerS an G of mon Defende : Fay
the real strength of the Order to- which we
have sworn allegiance is gael. Fo- the
birthday oil the greatest American makes
tire rongest possible appeal to ali that Is
noblest IN the Amer can heart Tie very
atmosphere of the 18th of February is cleo
trio with forces which inspire to the deep
est devotion To duty to the compile. est
consecrat on to patriotic principles, to the
most potent passion for the maintenance
OF the National honor. and TO the most
Jealous and untiring etio-tS for the inculc5t-
on of the doctrine of equal rights, uni
yersal liberty and Justice To all.
1t also Offers us the best opportunity OF
all the year for holding up before every
soul in Am ;rica the ideal of American
citizenship ard manhood. In Abraham
Lincoln exists the best EXPRESSION of hr.w
the Possibilities which America affords to
all her children may Ec realized. Lincoln
b rthday Is the cay of DAYS iii which to
demonstrate tie eternal righteousness OF
Amer cas- IDEAL for human soc ETY., and the
supreme wisdom of her pol.tca philosophy.
In the Railsplitter we have our best
example of q sane and sober life, and Of Il
fearless champ OnShip of ghteous princ;-
pies. In him VIC behold charity for all ,
as sweet and sc as his firmness in the
right was straightforward and outspo,.en
In him dweit the wisdom of Scion, Il c
no nF a6h ard bG IA a. of
the tender love ard forgiveness OF "a Christ.
His nelly GONNA o1ate and encourage
ing appeal to the South, when it was lying
PROSTATE beneath the black and bitter
shadow of defeat, was made In these words,
which are both a portrayal OF his soul nd
prophecy of the coming peace: We are
not enemies, bat friends. Though passion
may have strained, it must not break, the
bond of our affection. The mystic chord
of memory, stretch ng fro=l every patr.O
grave to every heart and hear, hStone all
over this broad Ind, will yet swell the
chorus OF the Union, when touched again,
as it surely will be, by the better angels of
cur nature
Brothers, let us commemorate most
sacredly, on Feb. IL, the services and
sac-ifices Of this man. Let US keep holy
the day n that same Sp rit by which his
whole life was Sanctified. Let us not only
cali to IN nd what he did and said, but let
us TemcIEcT tiic men VINO fdlileO ID Ills
call by the hundredthousand, Our fathers,
who stayed the gray waves of secession.
Let us remember, too, that with our
heritage of honor and noble blood we are
endowed with corresponding obligations.
America expects her veterans sons to guard
well the pcket-line even in these days OF
peace. Our fathers have saved the Nation.
We must Keep it safe. We must, by the
heartincss of our observance of this day,
keep the great army of Americas citizens
awake TO the responsibility and sanclty OF
citizenship. For the great danger which
threatens commonwealth in peaceful days
is n lack of moral earneStnesS in the dis
barge OF civic duties.
The Sons OF Veterans can be, ought TO
be and must be the salt OF the earth for
America. To this end let Union Defenders
Day bc celebrated with stirring song and
ms Dirins Grafton.
'Let every Camp arrHnre program at
once. Let us, by the quality of our excr
cises, prove orr fitness for the name VIII ch
the valor of our sires permits us To hear.
! he Chaplain in { hief takes tn s Oppo--
tune occasion to indOrse and recommend
the suggestion maze by Commander La
pO Mt, OF the Vermont Division, that. in
.lddit on to the exercises of Tn on Defend
s Day on the 70 lowing Sunday a patri-
otto religious service be he'd. in which
every patriotic clergyman and layman
o. ganizat on and individual, may be in
vited to participate.
CONNECTICUT DIVISION.