The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-31

hearts and strong hands have planted
the flag. It shall remain and wave for
ever"
This bit of expansion sentiment was
greeted by storm of cheers. In con-
clusion Mr.. Bradley alluded with much
pathos to the first reunion of the old and
young veterans on the occasion of the
public funeral of the deceased members
of the Washington volunteers, held in
the Armory a few months ago.
Another selection by Wagner's band and
a vocal solo by w. T. Elwell followed
Mr.. Elwell sang THE Bugler" Then
Judge Osborn read Lincolns famous
speech at Gettysburg, the stirring words
of which reused the audience to a high
pitch of enthusiasm. The reading of this
speech will hereafter be a part of the
regular G.. A. II. Memorial day ritual.
The school children sang 1.-The Red.
White and Blue" then Commander Brad
ley introduced as the orator of the occa-
sion. Rev. William Day Simonds. pastor
of the First Unitarian church. That Mr..
Simonds spoke all too briefly the
unanimous verdict of all who heard him.
His subject was 1.-The Heroism of the
Common People In the civil War In
substance he said:
MIR. simond's Grafton.
az should wrong my conscience. and Of
fend your consciences as well. were | at
this hour to engage in any false fulsome
euloey OF war. War Is always a crime or
a calamity. Said the first Napoleon War
ia the trade OF harbarians' Yes, as trade
1t is indeed barbarous, savage, dcvilsh
Waged for conquest or for glory war Is
the negatiun OF civilization ard the leni 81
of Christianity In an ideal society. the
conflict of arms would be impossible and
we may all long for that day when ~
| can proudly say The age Of bullets is over.
| the age of reoson has come
but so far in mans pathetic struggle
| to secure for himself the blessings of lib-
\. hon - h.
| oppressed, When the wrong can no longer
| be borne. when scrvitude has become a
| slavery worse than death. when man :
honor and woman's virtue ia at stake. then
| men grow heroic In battle. and the soldier
| becomes the frieAd of progress, the de
| fender Of liberty and law.
| And thus Il Is that war has It's noblcr
| side, IT is an era OF action. Professions
| pale Talk Is cheap. War IS a kind %
| general Judgment in whose fierce light
| men and nations are Judged by the deeds
| they do In times Of war men are un-
| masked The sChemer AMI the scoandrel
| stand revealed, the summer so.dt.r and
| sunshine patriot. whose boasts or loyalty
| have filled the air. are STRANGELY missing
| when the drum beats FOR battle.
! ."Ineompctencc armed with diploma
and gavly uniformed becomes a spectacle
| for gods and men War Is reality, ard
| amid its pcrils tine heaNeu-ordl aimed lcat-
| ers appear. while amid It's suffovings the
| people the patient hurdCnei people grow
| great and grand II is " these woul
| speak upon this day W tc0derly ccN1e-
| crate In memory Of our heroic lead Tho
| unexpected and Won inrfl devotion e our
| people 10 the PRINCIPLES % union and lib
| erty this l make the burden OF my sorry
| TO- the hour and choose aS my theme The
| Herol4m ~ the Common People in the
! Ciyil War
| Dark Period of History.
I'm order that vou may obtain a true
| appreciation Of how great tina; heroism
| really was | must sketch tee history 4
| what have ottcr termed tho MOST shame
| ful periOi 81 our nation eXi~tcnre'- he
| quarter Or a century Immediately p-ecrdir =
| the great war OF she TFl alhon when tha
| whole land crinsed in submission before
| the slave oliE lrchy ~ the South
| Nothing Is further frsD Wy intention
| than hy these wOriS to cast any reflection
upon the people ~ the South The srat
| majority ~ those who Wore the rebel gray
| were as innocent As are YOU here today u
| bringing about that terrible conflict II
| Was politicians war and Il has been 81 4
| bv one az the greatest statesmen Of this
| na.,ou that & was prccipitated by less tran
| twenty men in an attempt 20 force the a..
| ton 10 bow before the scepter Of King
| Cotton.
EVERY energy OF that remorseless dig
archv was bcnt to the acquisition Of ter
ritory for the extension OF the horrible
curse of human slavery. To that end was
waged shameful war Of conquest against
Mexico to the prosecution of which Daniel
] Webster declined to lend the assistance OF