The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-06-06

hIrty-siX years have already passed
since the rebellion closed.
Xerxes sat upon the hill and reviewed
his vast array of a million followers
and wept when he thought that in 100
years not one man before him would
be alive. The great armies OF 1861,
North and South, will soon entirely
disappear. Happy indeed it is for the
following generation that the things
which divided their ancestors no longer
exist. We may have apparent great
bitterness in political contests, but it is
not real and leaves no sting behind.
But the conditions of 1864 engendered
bitter hate and malignity.
The Black Watch Highlanders never
drink the health of their sovereign.
They say it would imply that it was
necessary N order to make some out
ward sign of their loyalty.
The Grand Army needs no voucher
for its loyalty. The little bronze button
is enough. No further prof is need
ed. This day has purpose. All great
national celebrations should mean some
thing. This is day of memory for
the old, an object lesson for the present
and an inspiration for the future.
1t is day of retrospect, it is also
day of preparation. Even now we are
preparing for some contest with I'M
known forces in the great unknown
future.
Boys in this audience will receive in
spiration from the example of the men
of 1861 to lead them to defend the
country's honor at some time and place
yet unsupported and unknown.
Preparation is the fruitful cause of
all success. When Grant wrote his
name on the roll at West Point, he had
only begun that course of preparation
which should at the supreme moment
of opportunity lead him to final victory.
Mexico, the frontier, the tannery, mis-
fortune and hardship led him up to the
stubborn field of Shiloh, the great sue
cess at Vicksburg, the bloody grapple in
the wilderness and at last to the crown
ing glory of Appomattox.F And when
his great soul went out at Mt. Nc
Gregor the soldiers of the Union and
Confederacy alike carried his remains
to the tomb. Buckner who denounced
his demand for immediate and uncon-
stitutional surrender" as harsh and I'M
generous, stood as a mourning pail
bearer at the grave.
Valley Forge led to Yorktown and
Bull Run to Appomattox.
At the dedication of Grants tomb in
1897, were Dewey, Hobson, Sampson
and Schley, but the world knew them
not. Opportunity came and we know
them now.
So to-day there are heroes within the
sound of my voice. Opportunity may
never come, but if it does, the men will
come to seize it.
Gladstone and Lincoln were both
born in 1900. Both proved to be fac
tors in shaping the history of man
kind
Boys and girls will be born in 1901
who will fill places that destiny will
seem to have marked out for them
from the beginning of the world.
But peace hath her victories no less
renowned war;
Cato said that every citizen should do
his part as every bee does for its own
hive. r.. JILL
Opportunity upon the tented field
may not occur God grant that it may
not. But peace has her heroes too.
Grace Darling, Florence Nightingale,
Clara Barton and Anna Wittenmyer,
have honored their sex by their devot
ion to duty for mankind Little Kate
Shelley crawled across the bridge on
her knees amid the storm to save
train load of people from certain death.
One of the finest and most expensive
railway bridges in the world has been
named after her to commemorate her
heroism.
Nose Arquette, an old engineer on
the Iowa Central, climbed out upon the
cowcatcher and reaching out at the i'm
minent risk of his own life caught
little girl upon the track and saved her
from impending death. In the wreck
not long ago at Gainford the gallant
engineer, Grin Allen, stood at his post
and held the throttle while certain
death stared him in the face, and gal
liant old Dave Butterheld, the conductor,
SEEING the peril of unavoidable collision
ran to the front of the train and pulled
the pin to uncouple the cars so that the
rebound might carry the train with its
load OF passengers back out of the
steam and fragments of the wreck.
The passengers were saved but Grin
Allen and Dave Butterfeld lay crushed
beyond recognition among the ruins of
the colliding engines.
No material monument can preserve
the remains of the dead.
Augustus was entombed within
splendid Mansoleum in the Eternal City,
but no one knows where his ashes are
to-day. The monument few years ago
was known as Humberts' Theatre and
the horses of the circus were stabbed in
the vaults that once held the remains
of Caesar and his successors.
There is but one enduring monument
for the dead, and that is in the hearts
of their descendants.
The Scipios tomb contains no ashes
now,
Their very sepulchers are tenantless."
In all lands those who have died for
their country are loved and honored. A
few years ago stood by tn, 'omh of
Benito Juarez, the patriot pr lend of
Mexico, who kept aloft the flag II his
country when Macmillan was held on
the throne by the bayonets of Louis
Napoleon. Near by was the grave of
the traitor Mejia who was shot with
Macmillan. His grave was neglected
but Juarez's monument was crowned to
the top with a mass of flowers piled
high by grateful and loving people.
The recent war with Spain demon
strated that the new generation was
worthy of its ancestry. The call was
sounded and the young men responded
as they did in 1861.
The 4th of July and the goth of May
are days in which the minds Of Ameri-
can youth are prepared for the call OF