The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1899-06-02
the DAY MARKED
,conuausd from rase onej

This gathering ~ one o. the greatest
revelations to me, to think that nearly
5000 miles from the shores OF the
United States the people gather 20 hon
or the dead of that-or | should say,
this-nation, is one of the surest evil
dences of the stability of the Western
Republic. What a thrill of patriotic
pride surges through ones veins when
we sec these graves remembered. OF
all the days that are or have been set
apart by the different nations as hol-
idays. none deserve more than this one
to be supported by all. The observ-
ance Of the day ought not to be lin
led to the New World, but to all corn
ers of the earth. A friend Of mine re-
marked the other day that IL was a
holy and a wholesome thing to honor
the dead" To my mind there is no ac-
ton that shows more refined and
cultivated nature than one that tends
tn show that we still remember the
dead. Any people that can and will
find time to close the Office and shop
to do honor to the fallen soldier-yes,
and the living-will be thrice blessed.
Not to the dead alone, but to those few
that are left to us, we owe a debt OF
gratitude. We have here the repre-
sentative of a union of survivors of
that terrible struggle. No grander or
ganization can exist. The object of
their existence being to perpetuate the
memories of the comrades who have
answered the last roll call. they are
nobly succeeding in their most laud
able object.
No honor in life. nor reverence in
L. 81, L.. I.,
left their homes nearly forty years ago
TO take up arms in a great armed
struggle to preserve inyiolate that
lag that is today the pride and protec-
ton of all lovers of liberty.
One year ago today passed through
one OF the smaller national cemeteries
Ci the United States. Here lie buried
10000 dead whose names were un-
known.
What a prolific cause of regret and
remorsc when we think that 10000
homes waited and wondered at the de-
lay in the home coming of a father,
brother, or perhaps a lover, and who
now lies In an unknown grave. Did
YOU ever think what 1t is to go down
TO posterity without name? Nothing
to distinguish one, save a number.
can imagine no more apt smile
than to liken our national life to- some
great upward incline hecked with the
golden light of heaven, shaded here
and there by clouds of war, these
same dark spots serving but to en-
nance the beauty of the balance of our
pathway. Come with me II you will
and let us walk up this grade. Scarce
~ have we started when. rising below
MS. Is a Flagstaff, upon which floats the
stars at half mast. Here II Is that
patriots OF the new power to be, placed
their lives upon the altar of their
country. Lexington, the gateway OF
Western liberty, And upon it Is
builded mighty monument, whose
foundation Is the blood of the first
pioneers Of liberty and freedom, and
whose top is covered with immortal
ity. As we continue our journey up
ward and onward let us observe that
there has risen PhoeniX-like, a great
new world power. Still passing on
and we reach a cemetery where lie
those of the Mexican war. And in
fancy ! can see the veterans of that
struggle looking with dimmed eyes up
on this old cemetery. II is but short
distance until grand, nay infinite,
yet withal an inspiring picture Is
presented to our gaze. Reaching ont
10 where the sky touches the earth.
is perfect sea of marble slabs
Again, our fancy leads us backward.
until We see vast army gathered. GO
ing out to battle. How strong they
look how invincible they are. backed
up by the right, with Gods support.
For four long, bloody years we can
follow them through campaign after
campaign. Drawing battle and disease
that the Union might survive. Then
came peace, blessed peace. And then,
as time goes on, we see this fighting
army becoming citizens and banding
together to keep alive the Comrade-
ship of the tented field. II is n solemn
thought that year by year this band of
honor becomes smaller and smaller. |
can see in fancy how they are stand
ing today all over the United States
by the side of some comrades grave,
telling how he that lies below was
their best friend. And in passing on
ward through this almost boundess
array we reach those whose names are
unknown on earth. Dying among
strangers unknown, unloved, may
God grant they will be found on
his right hand at the last day. While
that flag floats these memories shall
live, cherished by loving posterity.
All honor to these unknown fallen
heroes, Cover them over with Ma
lures painting -wreaths of flowers,
garlands of roses, And now let us
look TO the living. Grander than the
Greek. nOblcr than the Roman, they
returned to civil life after the war
nobler men than when they entered
the service. II did not demoralze
them nor make them unfit as they re-
turned TO their-in many cases impov-
crished-homes, and with that same
spirit that had won battles, they
srappled with the new difficulties
made friends with toll, and uyercamo
every obstacle. The greatest soldiers
the world ever knew. they easily
transformed themselves into the best
citizens. They We're fierce and rough
In time Of war, but when peace spread
her wings over our land they became
sunshine and flower
Ana as new century ia about tu
dawn. everything We can do should De
done lD make more pleasant the last
days OF those that are lrrt To uH. n
must uy tu them "a source OF ClusuIa.
i.nu FOO realize that their memories tu.