Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-14

ANFAfaHARhu " ~ 80 ~ nv hARea W AA
martyrs, Can you say, at our country's
call. our beloved soldiers have fought In
vain? Tear the leaf Of war from our mar
tisl history rather than append the words
at It's close, "all in vain" No. rather place
instead the words, For Liberty, Home and
Country and wipe the tear Of regret from
the wife and mothers eye. and smooth her
wrinkled brow. Her husband and son did
not die in vain. Her travail. her care, her
tears at parting. her hours Of watching and
waiting, his death, her sorrow. were not In
vain. Tell to the nations Of the earth
among which the sacrifices and blood Of her
boy gave our country its proud and exalted
position. and which view us as mighty men
OF valor. marvelously victorious for right.
as II God himself was our leader. Tell them
it was for Liberty, Home and Country.
It was not in vain" For Of the men of 81
the poet sang:
| They mustered at their country's call,
The nation and the flag to save;
When leagued rebellion marshaled tortn
Its serried squadrons, fierce and brave;
True hearts, they fought TO rescue both
The land and hsg. from treeson's STAIN;
Self-martyrs, have they died In vain?
They left the home and social hearth,
Forsook the peaceful paths of life,
Each human tie. asunder rent,
To mingle in the sanguine strife
They barred their breasts to wars dread
storm,
And fell like swaths Of ripened grain;
For human rights their lives were given.
True heroes, have they died In vain?
For freedom and free land they fought;
Their sturdy blows for both. we're given;
And every hero in their ranks
Would risk his right to enter heaven,
One toot of ali our broad domain.
For freedom and free lane they died,
True patriots, have they died In vain?
For Justice. priceless, unalloyed,
Impartial, meted out to all,
That guards alike the poor mans cot,
The rich mans house or hall.
Justice, that rishteth every wrong,
Untrammeled, speedy, simple. plain.
For this they fought, for this they died.
Just warriors, have they died in vain?
For peace they fought and hop'd and
Peace that would bless the tortured land,
That every citizen might rest
Safe from the spoilers ruthless hand;
Peace that would spread its fair white
From Texas (south) to northern Maine,
And heal the gangrene wounds OF war.
Peace conq'rors. have they died In vain?
They died for Union, that the States
Should be answered through all time;
Should be redeemed from slavery's, crime;
For home, that every man his hearth
AND dwell beneath his own free roof
Forever. Have they died in vain7
Time Heals the Wound.
But time obliterates unjust criticism and
memory of those who made II, and fills and
covers the wounds made by the shafts
thereof, as vegetation covers the holes in
mother earth and hides her defects. And
In the bright sun of the future the deeds
of our soldier yeomen will stand forth and
shine with dazzling glory before the dark
background Of selfish opposition and
censured or forgotten calumny. God will
drop the curtain of peace and justice be-
tween the soldier ana mis- defamer. That
the deeds and words OF the defenders Of
liberty, home and country, at home and
abroad, may stand forth, examples worthy
Of emulation, praised by patriots every
where, sanctioned by years OF experience,
sanctihed by humanity's cause, sealed by
the blood of its defenders. exalted by God
Almighty. who through another declared:
80 speak and so do, as they who should
be judged by the law OF liberty, for ne shall
have judgment without mercy who has
shown no mercy"
But when will war cease and It's dread
ravages be no more? Not until civilization
covers the earth, and the people thereof
In ties Of b%rotherly love hold each other
by the hand. Then will swords be turned
to plowshares and bugles to Inner horns.
The speedy and decisive blow Of modern
warfare in civilized lands by the govern
mental power, prevents successful insur-
r%ection, but Will not prevent International
wars, where each combatant prepares and
feels best equipped for the fray. An armed
cruiser at a nations gates demanding repa-
ration, will continue until the captains Of
our consciences practicing the golden rule,
in the realms of civilization, will with I'M
selhshness, verify the words Of the greatest
commander OF the greatest age, Abraham
Lincoln, under whom you fought, who said:
with malice towards none, with charity
for all, with irmness in the right as God
gives US to see the right, let us do all
which may achieve and cherish a just and
lasting peace among ourselves and with all
nations" Then will war cease and arbitra-
ton rule, II there be need Of it at all.
Mingled Joy and sorrow.
Your meeting here is surely one Of
mingled Joy and sorrow. Joy in your re-
union and memory's happy review.
Sorrow in separations that have come and
shall come. The trembling voice, the
feeble step. the bowed figures, the dimmed
eye, are the warnings and pTemonitions that
precede the final order OF the great com
mander. perhaps FASTENED by hardships in
camp or on battlefield, and foretold like
wise by the lingering messenger of dis
ease throughout these many years, as II
to beg you quit, your cycle OF years hav-
ing run. your duty to humanity done!
You. who on southern CORY field, in health
and vigor, have routed the enemy, should be
encouraged by the fact that you are spared
and still live. and that the weakening effect
Of age, the struggle in lifes battles, the
wasting to which all flesh is heir. is neces-
sary, that you be overcome in the struggle
with the angel OF death.
What countless thousands have lived and
died since you answered your couptry's
call. What mighty changes have come that
have helped TO place our country in the
forefront Of the nations OF the earth! These
you have seen and God grant many more
may see.
And you, too, must pass away, until. like
the sole survivor at Thermoypiae, or the
lone veteran Of the Mexican war, In Paris,
ILL.,, who each year on the county fair
grounds holds reunion with the spirits Of
departed comrades. but one survives,
staunch old soul OF a generation. almost
gone. He still fights death with broken
gurord apIy a. as.reUn,h - Iaat H 2aNekaa