The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1901-06-07
Memorial Day Grafton.
CONTINUED from First Page

our country's history.
1t is the duty of our government
to see to it that none Of its defend
ers want for the necessaries or COM
forts Ct lif. in their declining years.
Every old soldier should have pen
sion sufficient for his living. for this
country owes to each and all OF Its
defenders hundred livings. The
red tape connected with the pen
sioning of our old soldies fatigues
diegust. The only question to be
determined, should be, did the APP
plicant fight for the union in the
war of the rebellion. | have heard
it said the government paid them
for their services. | want to say
to my young friends who have as
sembled here that story is untrue.
The OLD soldier received Just $l3
per month and that in money that
for a greater part OF tie time was
discounted 60 cents on the dollar.
Will any man have the etfrontry to
assert, that to be sufficient compen-
sation for the great services theyren-
dered this country, in maintaining
its integrity and upholding its flag?
No. thousand times no! The
great services can never be compen,
stated in money. The men who
rendered them cared not for the
remuneration they were to receive.
They we're moved by higher consid
erations than gold can buy. The
love of home, the love OF country,
the love OF posterity inspired them
to noble deeds. All that this coun-
try is, all that it hopes to be abides
upon what they achieved for it by
their heroic action.
The pusillanimous soul is heard
sometimes bemoaning the vast
amount Of public treasure expended
in pensions to our old soldiers and
soldiers widows. Let us pause and
reflect but a moment upon our
country. Her productive resources
stagger calculation. The products
of the American farm, factory and
mine are found today in all the marts
and markets OF the world. She has
lately fought to successful issue a
war with Spain, and is still engaged
in suppressing insurl ection in the
far away islands OF the sea. entail
ing an expense of millions upon
millions OF dollars. And yet her
avenues OF revenue are 80 vatiOue,
and her resources 50 great, that the
American citizen has not been con-
scious of any burden whatever.
And in the very midst of all this
enormous expenditure, at this very
moment, the United States holds in
its treasury over hall "a billion dol
lars OF shining gold. More reserve
wealth than was ever possessed, ut
one time, by any nation on this
globe. Ii this overnment should
pay a thousand dollars every
month, to each and every old SOL
disr in the land, no one would feel
any burden and the average citizen
would never know it.
Their work is done, but the mis-
sion Of our country is not ended.
We cannot stop and gaze upon and
live in the glory of the past. We
must turn our eycs toward the SIT
ting sun. The star OF empire con-
tinues in it's course. 10 stand still
is to 60 backward. We must ad
vance or perish. 1t seems to be the
destiny OF this country to direct the
foo steps of the human race onward
and upward, toward better civili-
cation and higher enlightment,
until slavery and serfdom Of every
kind has ceased to Cypress hunani-
ty. Its great mission will never
end until our theory of government
of the people, for the people and by
the people has become the accepted
creed of government of all men
everywhere. And not until govern
ments as well as individuals are
l.