Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-14
REWARD OF The OLD SOLDIER
Judge ~llSbGugh'S Address to the Douglas
County VstsranF Association,
MEN WHO FOUGHT ENTITLED TO CREDIT
saviors of Their Country should NOt
he Neglected at a Time when
Their IncapRcity for
Work Has Come.

month, the members were addressed by a
number Of speakers. among whom was Judge
w. ". slabaugh Of Omaha. The full text
Of the judges remarks, which we're very
we'll received by the old soldiers. follows:
Veterans Of the Civil War: Again you
meet In annual encampment; to renew old
friendships: to talk Of the scenes OF other
days; to tell again the story Of your hard
ships and priyations; to call the roll and
note absentees. those who have fought we'll
life's battle and are promoted to that place
where the tocsin Of war is never sounded,
and where there are no leavings, no part
ings, no hours Of long and weary watching
and waiting; no longing for home, no facing
death. no death far from home and kin
dred, no graves marked unknown"
Those who braved the shot and she'll in
defense Of liberty, home and country"-he
who established In his sacred appointments
liberty, home and country will hold sa-
cred and inviolable and will mark all as
known" And, in fact, to all patriots Of
our common country there are no unknown
heroes OF the war. Deep in the sacred pre-
cincts OF the heart. on memory's tablet Is
inscribed as in letters Of blood the words
which apply to all our soldiers, living or
dead, "our heroes, defenders Of liberty,
home and country"
some may ask why i am mere IOuay 10
participate in this anniversary occasion; to
sit with you around the camp fire In days
Of peace; to hear you relate the scenes
from 1851 to 1866; to catch more and more
OF the inspiration Of loyalty and patriotism;
to observe and mingle with those who did
SO much for my country. My answer-it is
our common country. 1 am a lover Of hui
manity. l am a lover OF the land in which
I live, and of which I am a citizen. Love
Of country is love OF those who saved 1t,
whose blood was offered and which was
freely given to wash away the stain of
slavery.
All Citizens Are Interested.
I. with my fellow countrymen. partlci-
pate in the benehcent results that fol-
lowed your patriotic struggles. My chill
dren and their children. will. like myself,
inherit Of the good of your labors. Then,
why should not I, and all true citizens
Of this republic be interested in what you
have done, and in you, who have so nobly
wrought. And as that flag must be per-
p~etuated and protected, so must the
memory Of those who fought for It and
won, and more firmly fixed the stars upon
Its azure blue and made 1t possible for
others to Join the galaxy in that grand
constellation, The United States"
wv AAAaNA = Nheh Aoa h1l ~ w
all who contend for sacred rights and
principles, and out Of whose effort grows,
and is strengthened by their blood, the
tree of liberty, whose branches, buds and
blossoms bear fruitage, unthought Of, but
adapted to a progressive people and to ma
tions yet unborn. History has immortal
lied the 300 Spartans, who. under the
leadership of Leonldas, at the gates OF
Thermopylae withstood the foe until all
but one had died, and Napoleon's Old
Guard. at Waterloo. embalmed in history,
the verify OF the occasion In THE Old
Guard dies, but never s~urrenders.'' And
the poet Tennyson sang Of that courageous
and indomitable band Of 600 at Balaklava,
who rode into the valley OF death. But
deep enshrined in our hearts, written by
the blood of heroes, and sealed by crystal
ICED tears. are the principles for which
you fought, but they aid not. Liberty,
home and country"
l did not hight with you, but I can fight
for you. / did not experience your suf-
ferings Of camp life and battlefield, but
can tell Of II to my children. did not
participate with you on the battlefield in
the integral maintenance Of our country,
but l can tell to others Of your courage,
fortitude and patriotism and Of our coun-
try's cost. / did not follow that flag into
the valley of death or up the mountain
OF victory, but / can protect It now,
Test OF True Patriotism.
For the courage, fortitude and unselHsh
sacrifice Of those who fought in our coun-
try's wars, for its existence and mAinte-
nance. are examples to future generations
to make them stronger, better and more
patriotic, without the trying ordeal OF blood
and battle. I can Just remember those
days. when fathers with fearful eyes, but
buoyant with courage, prompted by devo-
ton to country. separated from wives to
brave wars dangers and sufferings; when
babes crooned in their mothers arms, while
mothers wept. and later. when that same
mother tainted and swooned at the sight of
her husbands return, wrapped In his coun-
try's nag, but dead. Yes. there was then,
also. courage and tortitude and suffering al
home. The poet then sang:
The wife who sirds her husbands sword,
Mid. little ones who weep and wonder,
And bravely. speaks the cheering VOID,
What though her heart be rent asunderf
Doomed nightly in her dreams to hear
The bolts OF war around him rattle
Was poured upon the neid Of battle.
The. mother who oonceals her grief.
Then breathes a few brave words, and brief,
Kissing the patriot brow she blesses;
WIN. nv OnS ohh. hoI loNlhB Gout
To know the pain that weighs upon her,
Sheds hoy blood as e'sr the sod
Received on Freedoms field OF honor.
And It seems In the Hight Of today that
little was thought Of or studied looking 10
the soldiers ease and safety. Grim visassd
war at home stared US In the face. Our
whole land was convulsed and in it's thross.
All eyes we're turned to the held Of battle,
with hope for victory. No one was left At
home inclined and disciplined to study mill.
tary safeguards and oonvenienoss, and when
the most terrible and sangulnary OF all
wars was over the past was forever In
view. with all ita lose Of blood and treasure,
Our nations gates Of peace wers open With
no dream Of future lntsrneeins strife or
thought OF international war.
watching soldiers Comfort.
But Il was different In our war with
Spain. There we're those at home who
watched and studied while our oouptry'S
sons fought on a foreign soil. without = lull
In our national progress, And the pOssibili-
ties OF combat with say part Of the world
were considered and the best means for Ae-
complaining victory studied. We took in
the world as q possible scene Of conflict.
And today. on the held Of duty. Il Is no
longer the boys in blue" The term u
more especially yours, earned by your serv.