The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-04-28

sons of Federals and Confederates alike
poured out their hearts blood in the
common cause. None questioned the 10y
atty and patriotism of his comrade in
arms, and Northern boys and Southern
boys marched shoulder to shoulder under
the Stars and Stripes to the mingled
strains of Dixie" and Yankee Doodle !"
Under the tropical sun of Cuba and the
Philippines, they have borne between
them the sacred ark of the nations cove
nant, brave and true and patriots alike,
moved by the common impulse of their
country's love and the eternal glory of it's
mission!
The peace that General Grant COM
manded has come at last, and it is an
abiding peace.
1t is the peace whose sacred benediction
cast the halo of its glory across the con-
tinent, when amid the solemn forest
sentiment of Mt. Gregor, the Angel of
Death gently touched the summons of the
Divine Commander. Blu. it did not come
until the music of a reunited nations
voice, attuned to the melody Of sorrow,
had fallen uuon the eager ears of the
stricken hero.
GEN. GRANTS DEATH.
Picture him as he sat, wan and bag
gard, surrounded by silent nature, ar
rayed in all the glories of summer SPLEEN
dor. waiting-waiting the inevitable. The
winds that had swept the historic battle
fields of the South we're laden with mes
sages of peace and sympathy frcm those
who but a few years before had been
enemies.
What visions must have come to him
then, There, trooping up from the msts
of the valley came the blue legions which
had followed him across the Potomac;
and here. down the hillsides like an
avalanche, swept the grey. There was
Sheridan, and Thomas, and Meade, and
Mcclellan, and yonder-Lee, and Jackson,
and Gordon, and Longstreet. The peal of
musketry and the roar of cannon rever~
berate in the valleys and the mountain
brooks become torrents of blood. The
clash of arms and the fierce shock of the
conflict shakes the world!
But now the smoke of battle lifts, and
the scene changes! There are green
valleys and happy homes where peace
and contentment reign. High above all
floats the Stars and Stripes-the emblem
of united country-stronger now than
ever and more deeply rooted in the af-
fections of her people.
The peace he would have has come,
and resting as quietly as a babe on its
mothers breast. the listless eyes of a
hero in war and patriot in peace are
closed and his soul takes fight to the
great hereafter to Join the united band
of other heroes of both sides as comrades
in everlasting glory and eternal COM
partnership.
And when. few days later, he was
lowered to his last rest by hands which
had been raised against him in war;
when veterans who wore the grey stood
in tears beside those who wore the blue.
ii proved, indeed, that past issues were
but ghosts CT dreams and that
Brave minds, howe'er at war, are secret
friends:
Their generous discord with the battle
ends:
In peace they wonder whence dissersion
And ask how souls so like could e'er be
foes"
The peace Of prosperous people per-
HGdLeS lU9 lduu anu ilSiltS al "SS'ANAAN
of the nation in its holy glow Mason
and Dixon's Line marks no more trace
in the geography of our common coun-
try than does the equator mark the sli-
very surface of our Southern seas.
Let us have peace," happy and
ccntented people repeat the benediction
and cry back to the great heart that
now is still in the peace that passeth
all understanding, THY peace is come!