The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1901-06-07

Grant.
Time will not permit further reci-
tation from the long list of soldiers
who have become conspicuous in
civil affairs. Thousands upon thou
sands were as capable as any | have
mentioned, to fill the highest posi-
tons in the land. But enough has
been said to demonstrate that the
best citizenship of America were
enrolled as soldiers in the union
army. The great strength OF that
army consisted not more in num-
bers than in the quality Of it's men.
The same might as truly be said
of the confederate army. The tri-
umph of the federal army was all
the more brilliant by reason of the
character of the foe. No Drawer
men ever marched to battle than
the heroes who followed the rebel
flag. Their commanders rank with
the great military leaders of the
world. Robert e. Lee was a Ma
poleon and Stonewall Jackson was
a Marshal Ney. The brilliant
charge of the Gallant Pickett at
Gettysburg, will live in story as a
superb illustration Of American
valor. Wherever the Blue and the
Grey met in battle, carnage reigned
and thousands upon. thousands
bled. But when the cannon hush
ed those heroes were foemen no
longer.
1t will rebound to the ever
lasting glory of our country,
that before the generation of men,
that had struggled against each
other, with such determination on
the battlefelds of the rebellion, had
passed away, an opportunity was
afforded for the verification OF their
friendship.
The wall of downtrodden peo-
pie came up from the sea. From
it's unifcation by war, the Ameri-
can nation had graWn great in
humane and Christian sentiment.
The heart and conscience Of it's peo-
pie were touched by the cry of the
oppressed. Our nation demanded
that the oppression cease. But the
despet never yields to reason or en-
treaty. In the face of defiance, cur
great country, like the old Cardinal
in story, drew around that feeble
people the magic circle of its power,
and called upon its citizens TO exc
cute its decree. The sons of heroes
who had worn the blue and the sons
Of heroes who had worn the grey,
We'd with each other in their haste
to answer to that call. Among the
leaders of this new army, were grey
haired veterans who had fought for
the rebel cause. That army marh-
ed down to the sea. They embark
ed on transports and vessels of
war. They crossed the briny deep,
and under the command of Shafter
and under the command of
Lee; under Roosevelt and under
Wheeler they carried their Aaunt-
ing flag over Cuba's soil to Santa
go's purple heights of victory. The
hand of the oppressor was stricken
down and the cruel flag of Spain
vanished forever from the western
sky. What another eloquent Illus
tration of the unificatioE and
strength of our republic, to astonish
and enlighten the world! Our coun-
try is today more, indeed, than a
union OF the states as separate po-
litical com munities. 1t is a great
union of the hearts Of all the peo-
pie of all the states, in love and
veneration for their flag.
And now as | look upon the gray
heads and bending forms of the old
soldiers who have assembled here
and note the absence of familiar
faces who were ever wont to meet
with them in times gone bye, | am
admonished that ere long they will
gather here no more. They will
soon have to answer to roll call on
the other side. A few more years