The National tribune., 1899-06-08

ASSlSlANl ANA Va
Davis, Assistant Secretary of Interior.
The reasons for this departure from our
rule are that the orator-a Son of Veteran,
and a firm friend of the veterans-occu-
pies a peculiar position toward them, and
has diligently striven to ameliorate the
harsh conditions of the Evans regime
His Grafton said very many truths IN
regard to the veterans that need proclama-
tion at this day from so prominent roS-
trum as Arlington, and the immediate
presence of the President OF the United
States.
COMMANDER AND VETERANS:
You were called upon to take part In the
most terrible war of the nineteenth century.
There have been wars of longer duration,
but none more terrible than that war Of
neighbors against neIghboTs, brother
against brother, and father against son.
For four long years the echo OF the picket's
rife did not cease.
The total number of men comprising the
Union forces, in Army and Navy, during
the civil war, aggregated about 2,GO0, 900.
There were over 100 land battles III which
one sid or the other lost more than 500
men. At Gettysburg, alone, more than
sc, 900 Americans were ioSt-nearly half
of them being defenders OF the Union. On
both sides which participated in that con-
fiict more than half million lives were lost
before its end. Counting those who re-
ceived wounds not considered mortal, but
who have been dying since from their
effects, nearly 700,O 900 soldiers who wore
the blue have died. How appalling this is
when you contemplate its magnitude! If
the graves of those Union soldiers were
placed side by side they would extend
almost distance of 500 miles. Stepping
from one to the other
YOU MIGHT WALK FROM WASHINGTON
TO PHILADELPHIA,
thence to New York, thence TO point 20
miles beyond Boston, and still be on the
graves distance almost as great as that
from Washington to Cincinnati; almost
one-sixth of the distance across the contl-
nent, from Washington TO San Francisco.
These men, together with their comrades,
sacrificed everything-the comforts OF
home and the happiness and hopes OF the
future; they offered their services and their
lives for the service OF their country. They
turned their backs Oh fortune Some
turned away from Young wives with prat-
Ting babe at the breast; some from the dear
old mother whose face was wet with tears
as she kissed her son last farewell. And
they made all this sacrifice for principle.
These men were hardened and finely tenn
pered like Damascus steel by heroic labors
and hardships for their country. The
world has never seen
GRANDER, BRAYER, OR BETTER MEN
They marched, camped, fought, bled anC
died together. Doubtless many of them
as they closed their eyes in death, gazeo
down the vista OF the future, and saw il
part the realization of the hopes anC
dreams Of their vanished youth, and wer,
content with the work assigned them
that OF aiding in saving the imperishabl'
solidity and glory Of the Union. And as
see their surviving comrades marching
along the streets on Decoration Day, bear
ing the flowers of Spring time TO the GENE
tary to place them on the graves Of thei
comrades who have gone before, / motto
their tottering steps, their feeble forms
bending under the weight of years, som