Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1899-06-03

and half free: it vindicated the the
DRY of republican institutions, that
government of the people els even
stronger than monarchy. No student
of men and events can point out a
government. no matter how Strong.
and say that this kingdom or that
empire could have quelled a rebelIioni
of such enormous proportions. The'
world knows this now, but it didn't
know it forty years ago. The wise
men of Europe, looking over the his
tory of the past, confidently asserted
that ii could not be done. The re-
bellIons of other days that baff1ed the
most powerful kings of the earth.
Gessler had failed. Edward l. had
failed. Philip II. had failed. George
Ill. had failed-they all had failed ON
far less Undertakings than confronted
the American republic in 1861. And
when the union had called into exist
enee larger army than the world
had ever seen and had 1ue1led the re-
bellion, again the wise men said.
now we shall see this republican
government go to pieces. These
successful generals will each have
their following, and their miserable
selfish rivalries will demolish the fed
Grafton of states. Such vast assem-
blies of armed men cannot be peacea
bly, disbanded." The wise men said
this and the experience of the world
was in their favor: it never had been
done. But the wise men forgot one
thing. They forgot that the Ameri-
can volunteer soldier was first of all Il
citizen, and that he had an intelli
gent and definite purpose in view
when first he entered the service.
That purpose was to put down the re-
belIion, and return to his private bus
iness just as soon as that was accom-
pliShed and no sooner. You all know
! l.at
grand parade of the armies of Grant
and Sherman. two hundred thousand
strong. marching through the thor
oughfareS of the capital, and then the
diSbandment began. In a few months
faSide from an occasional empty
sleeve. a crutch or Il sabre scar they
all had returned to their homes, and
there was nothing to tell the soldier
from the citizen except the recollec-
tion of his bravery. The tremendous
energy called into being by the war
was directed into the busy haunts of
industry and pioneer life. Much of it
was expended in building new states
in the west. and star after star was
added to our flag. the desert was made
to blossom like the rose, new cities
were planted in the virgin prairies of
the mighty west, and construction
was the outcome of the great dis
bandment where the wise men had
foretold destruction
Nor shall we forget the Self-Sacriflc-
ing devotion of the women OF Amerl-
ca. / think their affiiction was near
ly as great. The care of the little
ones at home, often the struggle with
poverty. the anxious waiting for the
letters from the front. The soldier
husband, in the full flush of his man
hood, rode down to his death and sank
peacefully into the arms of mother
earth, while wife and children learn
ed it DAYS or weeks after in the col
umns of the press, dead, wounded, or
missing.
The maid who binds her warrior 5 sash;
s With smile that we'll her pain dissembles,
The while beneath her dropping lash
One starry tear-tirop hangs and trembIes-
And fame shall never know the story,
Her heart has shed a drop as dear
As eser bedewed the fields OF glory
The wife who efrSis her husbaud's sword.
Mid little ones who weep and wonder.
And brayeiy speaks the cheering word.
The bolts OF death around him rattle,
Has shed as sacred blood as e'er
Was poured npon the heId OF battle
The mother who conceals her grief
While TO her breast her son she pressed
Then breithes a few brave words and brief
kissing the patriot brow she blesses:
With no one bat her secret God
To knowt!le pain that weighs upon her.
Sheds holy blood as e'er the sod
Received on Freedom field of honor
1t is to recall and profit by these
memories that we strew flowers on
soldiers. graves The nations grave
yards are its gardens of glory Amer
lean soil is consecrated by the blood
of patriots And we learn of suffer
ing and sacrifice in the past. let US
learn also the duty and destiny of the
future. Let US swear by the graves
that we have visited to-day, that
never in the shock of debate. never in
the clash of the political arena, never
even in the mad scramble for the
qualification of our own selfish ambi-
tions. viii he again sow discord and
dissention to imperil the life of the
republic
Great and solemn duties are con-
fronting and will confront this gener-
alton as in the age of our fathers Let
us not seek to evade them but to
discharge them like men, There is
no such thing as rest in national life
u n