The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-31

was q small affair In comparison But careful
study of the facts will show them their mistake.
In the first place ve must remember that We
were meeting our kin. II was Greek meeting
Greek. During the war when the late Henry
Ward Beecher YVES speaking In crowded hall
In London TO q company who sympsthzed with
the south, one man called out: "Mr. Beecher,
you said you would put down the rebellion in
three month"; Why didn't you do itF' ''Be.
cause" replied Mr. Beecher, I'VE wers hghting
Americans instead Of Englishmen"
NUMBER ENLISTED.
Official returns show that there were $685. 900
soldiers enlisted on the side OF the north in an
swer to the different calls OF the president
These armies met the enemy in over two thousand
battles and skirmishes and In some Of these en-
gagcments the loss was simply awful The loss
OF the Union and Confederate armies Of killed
and wounded at tho battle oi Shiloh was $4,000
at Antietam, 5000; Stone river, $4,000; Chick.
smauga, SS, 900; NcClelland's Peninsula campaign
$4,000; Grants Peninsula campaign, 10000
Shermsn's, $1,000 ofncial statistics show that
of the northern soldiers there were killed In bat
tie, died Of wounds and disease, so3,o But
t-s included only those whose deaths were
proven. To this number We must add 5000 who
died in southern prisons, and many others who
died while on furlough. and many put down Us
deserters must also be added II Is safe to say
that at least 10000 men died and were killed
from the ranks Of the northern army.
What an army, what sacrifice and what an
Offering to place on tho altar OF our country
What country ever lost such a host9 What
blessings wero ever purchased at 80 great
costY Our nations dead lie buried in seventy.
three national cemeteries, besides In the thous.
ands OF small cemeteries were the boys died and
were buried at homo Two hundred and seventy
five thousand OF our dead lie buried in southern
soil, and $4,000 are marked unknown. The total
Confederate loss will never be known. but the
estimates place It at 10000 out OF 1000 900 men
enlisted. They fought during the war principally
under the cover OF breastworks, OF some kind
from rihe.plts to regular fortincstions, which
gave them the advantage.
Again, we would say to the young men that
but few great battles OF history compare In
magnitude, in earnest heroism, and In loss OF
life, In proportion TO the number Of men en-
gagged, with the great battles Of the Civil war.
Waterloo was one Of the most desperate and
bloody battles chronicled in European history.
Yet Wellington's loss was said to have been
but 1914 per cent, while at the battle OF Shiloh
the loss both sides was more than 80 per
cent At the great battle Of Wagram. Napo-
Icons loss was but per cent, and at Wurtz
burg but per cent and yet he gave up the
field and retreated to the Rhine. At the battles
OF Narengo and Austeritz where Napoleon was
reported to have been cut TO pieces, his loss was
14h per cent, while st Perryville, hurfresboro,
Chickamauga, Atlanta, Gettysburg, Missionary
Ridge, Wilderness and spottsylvania the loss In
killed and wounded frequently reached 10 per
cent, and the averages in all those battles on
one side or the other was 80 per cent II cost
something in human lives to perpetuste the
Union
A LOVING SERVICE
The work we do today should be loving
grateful service for the men who so freely shed
their life's blood for us, deserve our eternal
gratitude. Our debt to them remains uDcan-
celled. We lay upon their graves the tribute OF
our respect and esteem.
"For they who for their country die,
Shall ill an honored grave,
For glory guilds the soldiers tomb,
And beauty weeps the brave"
ON pleased to see the members OF tho
Womans Relief corps hero How much we owe
to the Christian women of our country. They
have been first In every good work and always
ready to suffer and sacrifice for their country
Many Of them endured hardships heroically dur.
ing the war How ready they were TO give their
sons and husbands and sweethearts for the sal
vation OF the nation. What great sorrow came
to their homes as husband son brought
home cold in death Many possessed the spirit
OF Mrs Elliott OF Philadelphia, the mother OF
Colonel and General Elliott. She gave her two
boys and six grandsons to her country. When
one OF the grandsons returned to her upon
a bier, friend said mrs. Elliott are you not
sorry to urge your sons to enlstT' To which
she repisd 'Sorryl II had twenty sons I
would give them all to my country, and II I
were twenty years younger | would go myself" I"
Many were seen in the hospitals scting as
nurses, carrying Joy and comfort 20 the wounded
and dying soldiers The Christian and sanitary
commissions very largely their birth and
success to them And II It were possible to
forget the fields OF battle Of the war, 1t will
not be possible to forget the philanthropy which
was displayed during that period These twin
sisters OF mercy and humanity will live and bo
fragrant In the memory Of the world forever.
We welcome also the Sons OF Veterans in our
gathering today. Young men, we are sure that
while you live the spirit Of patriotism will bo
kept alive. The veterans will soon be gone. May
their mantlcs fall on you. Prove yourselves
noble sons OF worthy sires. Be ready at any
and all times to defend the old flag at any
cost Standing as we do, IN the sacred presence
of those fallen heroes, let all promise to stand
by the principles for which they fought and
died. And let US pledge anew our fidelity and
allegiance to the Stars and Stripes. This grand
ensign now waves not only over this country,
but 1t has been planted by our boys In Cuba,
Porto Rica and the Philippine Islands. We are
glad to welcome them today. May It never be
pulled down in either country We believe that
the people OF all those countries will be much
happier and better of under its protection.
Long may Il wavv.
''It waved DER our fathers,
In years long gone by,
When for home and for country
They went forth to die
Our beautiful flag,
With Its stripes and It's stars
Its gleamings Of blue
And 1t brave crimson bara
II led on our dear ones.
Who marched forth to beas
To down.trodden millions
Sweet freedom so fair
Our glorious flag,
With Its stripes and its stars
Its Gleamings Of blvo
And Its brave crimson bars
CATHEDRAL CEMETERY.
There was a large throng in attend
ance at the Cathedral cemetery. The
exercises were conducted by Comrada
Henry w. LOTUS. At 10 o'clock the
assembly was sounded, and following
this was the roll-call OF the dead, the
Grand Army of the Republic memorial
service, an address by Attorney w. F.
Shean, the singing OF appropriate
hymns, and the firing OF salute by
the Sons OF Veterans detail, afte,
which the graves were decorated with
flowers and flags.
Mr. Shean made a stirring and eIo.
quent address. He said, in part:
To the "A agldiara md al, D..