The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-06-06
selfish devotion gives the American the
nlAa SING aSs1aronaa tbatall bic :. -.

pleasing assurance that all his country
are not merceneries. 1t proves to
us that everything is not done for
money, consideration, that patriotism
is a divine attribute. So, today we
come to render tribute of flowers
and gather to gain new inspiration at
the shrine of liberty. we come to gar.
land the mounds which mark the heroes
resting place and to bless his memory.
We come to thank the Lord of Hosts
that the valor of there men has made
this one, mighty nation; that they did
not allow the house to be divided a.
gainst itself.
Great indeed is the obligation and
though u u people with increasing
thousands observe this anniversary each
year from now until the end of time; and
great University be dictated to the prin
ciples for which the Union army con
tended and a laggard congress be arous-
ed to a sense of its simple duty and pass
a liberal service pension bill-still the
interest on the debt of gratitude due our
soldiersires, would not be paid.
The smallest part of that record of he
roism has never been w%ritten-the names
o. the thousands who sleep IN unmarked
graves, have not been revealed to us but
the lesson of the conflict will endure for
ever, and on the resurrection morn the
the sacrifice made in the Civil War will
be rewarded.
This does not liquidate our indebted
ness.
The dead are beyond material reach
though we can profit by their noble ex
ample and keep green their memory,
bat 90 we show proper respect for the
survivors. Do we salute the Veteran
whom we meet every day upon the
strest? Do we realize the significance
of the little bronze button upon tae
lapel of his coat, or realizing its signifi
canoe, does it fail to arouse the latent
patriotism which is a part of our being?
Does Familiarity breed contempt?'
God forbid. Oh, my wealthy country
man, does a needy veteran live within
a stones throw of your palatial home
and suffer for the necessities OF life2 Ii
so, you are guilty of a grave otfense.
Is he an old drunkard and worthy Of
your consideration and charity. Go
with me my wealthy friend to the RE
cruiting Officer" He may remember a
boy who sought to serve his country in
her hour of peril. He may tell US that
this boy of 81 was as fair and pure as
you would have your youngest son.
The boy was frail anu succeeded in en-
listing only with great difficulty. Then
follow him to the front, upon long
and tedious marches that caused stout
CT men that he to become weary and
foot sore Follow him into. desolate
camps, bleak and dreary with winters
slush and sleet. reeking with the pasti-
%lential vapors OF a Southern swamp in
summer. Devoid of the accustomed
comforts of a home and the tender re-
ining influence of a mother. See him,
alone at night on sentry duty, in the
enemies country, his post a perilous one
and upon him grave responsibilities are
resting. Upon his vigilance depends
the safety of a sleeping army. An
army must have Generals, but
without the faithful performance of the
sentries duty, there would be neither
army or Generals. And on pay day
when he receives his miserable p%ittance
in a deprecated currency not good
enough for the foreign bond holder who
seeks to prolong the war for personal
gain, see him send it ali home to the
widowed mother in the North. Then.
by the misfortunes of war, his regi-
ment is called into action. The strip.
Il IL VI lito GllSNlsa AS LIE GULL.
rades-they say that she fought
valiently that day" The patriotism Of
the true soldier was aroused and the
excitement of battle nerved him to
deeds worthy of the most valient
knight in the days of chivalry. He
seemed a stranger to fear and where
the clash of arms was the fiercest, there
he was. At last the tide of battle
turned and he was among the wound
ed. Comrades learned to love the boy
ish hero and bleeding and unconscious
they tenderly bore him. to the rear
Spirits were administered to bring
back and reinforce the life which hung
by a slender thread. Weary days and
nights of suffering followed. Toe
weak to take solid nourisbment the
soul was kept in the emaciated body
only by the use of gruels and stimu
Tents. All too SOC he was released
from the crowded hospit i and reioined
his regiment. Staggering under the
load of knapsack and rife, he often
tainted upon the forced ma Oh and was
only able to keep his place in the ranks
by a continued and increasing use OF
s%t1mulents Surprised upon the march
aud not strong enough to keep up with
sHS - ~ DCSolhC q
prisoner of wal and soon witnessed the
the horrors of that, earthly hell. Ander.
so vile. When released from that ter
rible place, health and strength Were
gone and liquor seemed a constant
necessity to the soldier who had sacri
feed health and happiness on the altel
of country. At last the wal was owe
and when the troops marched dow1
Pennsylvania Avenue in grand review
the boy whose blood had helped to bu,
FIRE dom for the black slaves, was him
self a slave to disease and alcohol
i, The bullet OF the enemy We're no
; the only destroyers present in this year
You-mv wealthy friend-call this MAJ
; Il d%runkard, but there are pages in hi
'ife's history which tell of a service t,
his country more valuable than the
!, crown of jewels of all the monarchie
, on earth
Imperfect and fallen though this com
rade is, look upon his record of valo
and think, that to have it transferred t.
their life's book many of the so calle'
+, American gentry" would. if the.
could give more wealth than the com