The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-05-31

AiOna OF thanko, nut nOtbink 80 plea1o
him as when he passed in review 800
school children in Los Angeles, St whicl
time they sang America with sucI
enthusiasm and such earnest expression
that he said he knew the country wa
sale while the children we're taugh
such lessons Of loyalty. Train the chill
dren OF our schools in the precepts o
patriotism and love Of country, anC
there IL no question about the safety o
our Republic. While you are instilIini
love Of country into their young hearts
you are teaching them the military
step. Our little grandchildren try, will
their short limbs, to keep step with Us
20 il is with all these children, they wan
to move in military style with thei
papas and manmas.
When they grow TO manhood, they
will not need TO waste time ia drilling in
the steps as they have already had the
practice. Why are We here today on
this platform with so many old grey
headed veterans?
What is there 10 interest and lead &c
many TO come out here today?
These old men, grizzed and grey,
limping aud bowed down, we're young
men 40 years ago, when our country
called US TO aid her in overthrowing a
rebellion in 1851 to 1865, which threat
ened it's destruction. They took an
active part in putting down that rebel.
lion, we're as vigorous, active and strong
then as the young men which you saw
leave here three years ago to help free
the Cubsns and Fillipnos from the op
preston Of Spain.
The day will come when the young
men Of the Spanish war will be meeting
with you. when the old veterans Of 1861
1865 haye passed away, to tell you their
experiences and urge the young school
children Of that day 10 be loyal and
true to their country, as we are teach.
ing you today.
Thank God the bitterness manifested
by the different sections OF the country
during,an for many years after the war,
have passed away, and the north and
south now clasp hands over the graves OF
the Federal and Confederate, and cover
their graves alike with the sweetest Of
roses.
The young men Of both sections shoul.
der muekets, and march side by side i'm
the armiesoi our common country, under
the same flag, and the blood OF either
will be shed freely in it's support neither
will permit il 10 be trailed in the dust.
II might be we'll to note the fearful
price paid for the unity Of our beloved
country. IL is said the war was fought
through mostly by young men, and that
from the casualties Of war aud disease
there were over one million men sacrilic-
ed their lives on both sides. On the
union side alone, over one half million
lives were lost
There were two and one half million
men enlisted in the north, of this mum.
ber y were under 10 years, $40 were
under "a, = were under "a, "a under 80.
You see that the war was fought
through in great measure, by young
men, while there were many between 80
and 40 years.
You see at what fearful price the in
tegrity Of our country was maintained,
yet General Grant wrote shortly before
his death TO Gen. Beauregard a couied.
crate officer, that "the war was worth all
II cost" In men and money TO the coun-
try. All honor 10 the memory OF those
who fell ON the field Of battle, or have
passed miserable lives, from loss Of limbs,
or multilsted bodies, frcm wounds re-
ceiyed by gunshot,o broken health from
exposures incident to camp life in the
field.
Thess men were not hirelings, who en-
listed for the money they could make
out Of il, they left better salaries when
they enlisted than they received in the
army.
They were heroic men, who offered
their lives freely II neoessary,to preserve
this beautiful land from the turmoils Of
continuous strife, n result that would
have surely followed il the south had
succeeded in dissolving the union. They
went out as volunteers, and while refuG-
ing 10 20 home as long as their help was
required, they insisted on immediate dis.
charge as soon AS the war was over, and
we're none the less good citizens for hay-
ing been soldiers.
When discharged they stepped right
into such opportunities a. were open
10 them, aud Soldiers.like whore there
were no opportunities left for them,
they made them for themselves. The
broad prairies of the west gave many Of
them am opportunity, and Kansas alone
had at one time $1,000 old veterans
within her borders.
The sacrifices these volunteers made
were beyond computations. Think of
The homes they left, with every comfort
Of life, and the happy associations with
fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers and
friends, aud the cherished objects with
which one surrounds himself ON the
farm, in the shop, or store, and all the
bright anticipations of future business,
comforts aud enjoyment, which were
mapped out by the.n.
An these bright anticipations werc
cast aside at the call of their country,