The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-31
stration of feeling as has not before
been shown in St. Paul.


Past COMMUNICATIVE Chief I. N. Wal
ker was introduced by Capt. Mahau,
and the ovation accorded him on en-
tering the hall was repeated. He was
In good voice, and his address was
listened to with great interest, even
by the children, to whom he particular
~ pleaded, as the future defenders Of
the flag. Gen. Walker said, in part:
IL. 1t is beautiful fact that the record and
fo ne memories shn Of our revolutionary strife
stir the blood and brain. They thrill the
senses and satisfy the imagination. They
principle, in the influence of heroic selt-sec r,-
hce and the power of ideas. For that stri Q
liberated from the shock of steel and the
Changed the destiny e Of the s World. A'' Eli
And on this day, as we revert to another
and greater struggle, our patriotism must
fields from inslgnihcance and pledge us to
establish and unfold them in our country ac-
cording to the new deeds and invitations OF
the age.
Every mention of the ideas to which our
land is consecreated and the importance of it's
mission, calls up the crisis through VIII CHI we
then passed and the dangers with which our
institutions were confronted. They revive a
new interest in what may be called the
heroic period in our national life. They bring
before US period of revolution when cur
our political prospects We're overcast, torn
with doubts and fears, or smitten with b. GIT
and ruin. They also show us the newness
and the magnitude of the events; the vas.-
ness and the unexpectedress of the changes
the splendor, and yet the peril, Of the oppor-
tunities which have opened upon this era.
From TIE survivors OF this magnifcen. and
matches army the Grand Army Of the Re-
public was organized. 1t has been described
as an organization Unique -, IN h,ss, p
triotism and the color-g guard of liberty. 1t
is the organized love of the men who marched
together and who fought together in the army
of the Union.
TO INSPIRE THE YOUNG.
We believe in liberty and we believe In
progress; but we believe also in the rights Of
property and in the supremacy OF the law.
The Union soldier stands for law, and order,
and justice. 1t Is the mission Of the G. and
Army to inspire the young, both by p:ecept
and example, with the true spirit of patriot
tender memories of tie war; to see that me.
mortal flowers are planted upon the graves OF
our dead: to shield that roll of honor, the
pension register, not, like Iago, rousing the
passions of othelo, by the tongue of sus-
picion, but openly, and with a sold e-'s hon
or to purge the roll from the undeserving:
for our comrades that just treatment that ire
country gladly comedies, and we protest
against the niggardly policy of reducing pei
sions that have been regularly granted upon
acceptable and accepted evidence under the
guise of reissues, unless fraud can be proven.
Is the republic getting tired of us? Do We
live too long? Alas! Let not the pension TO
trouble any soul: Those rolls have row
practically reached their zenith, and are trav-
cling with arithmetical progression to the SCI
ting sun. Death stands at the capitol and
with merciless hand sponges off whole regi-
ments from the register daily. The prec mt
age of mortality pursues them with de lth-
too soon, the story will be tod: Where new
are Grant and Sherman and Sheridan; ard
Thomas and Hancock, and Logan; and Fa:ra-
gut and Porter? AS with officers, SO wi h
of the dead. At roll calls they are not p es.
ent, but, with sorrow, are accounted ftr"
The bugles of God sounded their "Tecell.
They marched out of the darkness CT he light
into the brightness of eternal day.
The men who in the hour of the nation s
extremity placed their bodies as LIVING
wall in its defense should not be forgotten
in the day of the nations prosperity. Let
these in authority remember that in recogai-
ton of their services, sacrifices and suHer-
ings, the veterans have the praomlse OF .ns
nation of preference for appointment to civil
offices, a prmise that was crystallized into a
| law when Farragut was dashed to the mast
| Hood back from Nashville, when Sherman
was marching from Atlanta to the sea, when
| Sheridan was laundering down the, Shenan-
! doah, when Grant was cutting his way
through the wilderness. The performance OF
! the nation in peace towards its defenders
should be equal to its promise to them in
! war.
| ANOTHER WAR ON.
What many of us never expected to see,
what we all hoped never to see-war with a
! foreign nation-has come to pass. Some of
us phrophesed that a better temper and a
| truer patriotism would rule, and arbitration
instead of carnage would settle the differ
ences. But our prophecies proved untrue.
Now that war is declared, and its hot
breath is blown into our very faces, its hor-
rors felt, and deteriorating influence begun,
we may well ask the question: Why are We
having this war?
1t is not to acquire territory. We are not
taking up arms to enlarge our national bor-
ders The day for conquest is past; as a na-
ton it has never been our policy. The an
cient and medieval wars were fought that the
strong might devour the weak. This is the
principle of the highwayman.
We have not entered this conflict for the
selfish purpose of acquiring territory; nor in
the spirit of revenge; nor prompted by a sell
nor from sudden outburst of anger; nor to
redress an insult or personal wrong. But
| we have taken up arms in the name of hui
manity; in behalf of down-trodden and wo-
fully oppressed people; in the name of justice;
in behalf of the principle enunciated by Pat
! rick Henry, Adams, Washington and Monroe
| in the name of starving children and abused
womanhood; in the name of liberty; in the
name of God! We have taken the position OF
| the good Samaritan, giving aid to an unfortu-
nate people which has fallen among thieves
|
by the sweat of the brow, but of life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness
Spanish civilization stands for oppression
bigotry, persecution; our civilization is the
very reverse of these. This conflict is the
beginning of the end, which end will be thu
supremacy Of American political, social aid
religious ideas in the Western hemisphere.
Our government is acting as humane So
| c1ety. She has looked on this tyranny fol
years, until she is unable to restrain longer
her righteous indignation. She has triei
dtn1OmanV. lac qt,r1o tod. h.
seeched. All her efforts were met with scorn
her good offices were repudiated her good III.
tentions misunderstood. The government was
patient, and looked with pity upon this Ions
suffering isle. But there is a time in the
affairs of men and nations when patience
ceases to be virtue and that time has
come. AS long as this lamentable condition
exists and this fair world has such vile spots
| on it as this pearl of the South has, it be-
hooves us, whatever our name. condition, pol
tues or religion; to take cognizance of it and
| throw our weight of influence into the scales
| of opposition to this misery. History repea s
itself over and over again men have arisen
VINO ceased TO have patience. and behold
are recorded.
SOME WARS NEEDFUL.
I realize the demoralizing effect Of war
But some wars are needful; some are right
| eous. The tyranny and brutality Of th.
| strong must be stopped. Who will not sa,
that the Revolutionary war was justifable
that it was better to suffer seven wears
conflict than to endure injustice and oppres
sion? Are not the ultimate results of tn,
Civil war justifying the conflict, awful as i
was? Better the four years carnage than t,
have AZ. the curse of slavery forever.
Inere are two ways for civilization to maxi
progress, evolution and revolution. One II
peaceful, the other tumultuous. When tw,
conflicting currents of thought meet there i
teVo.usloni: AT such time as much progress
be accomplished in as many centuries.
sometimes revolution is necessity. Wheth
er or no u was a necessity In this presen