Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-08-25

of the Union. Mr.. Lincoln always
contended that his presence in the
army was the equal of large con-
tingent of soldiers, and he emerged
from that memorable conflict-after
many reverses and the subject of much
adverse criticism, with the popular
verdict that he had deserved well Of
his country.
Up to 1876 Gen. Sigel belonged to
the Republican party. Thenceforth
he affiliated with the Democrats until
the campaign of 1896. in which he
advocated the election of Mr.. Nc
Kinley.
1t is the silent, If not the avowed
boast of the present time, that the
sentlmentalism which was the i'm
pelling force Of the heroic age Of our
country, is dead, and that the stand
ard Of merit is reduced to the sordid
and calculating level of the dollar
and-cent basis Of commercialism.
All the same it Is at once the duty
and the privilege Of the survivors Of
that day to note with affectionate
remembrance the passing of those lead
ers Of men who made that truly
golden age illustrious, and secured to
their posterity those blessings of
union, Of justice, of defense Of well
fare, and Of liberty, to which our
fathers-through the Constitution,
preserved and perpetuated by their
labors,- devoted this land They be-
long-and Gen. Franz Sigel not the
least among them-to the ages.
CLOSE his eyes, his work is done!
What to him Is friend or foeman,
Rise of moon, or set of sun,
Hand of man, or kiss of woman?
Lay him low. lay him low
In the clover or the snow!
What cares he? he cannot know;
Lay him low!
AS man may, he fought his fight,
Proved his truth by his endeavor;
Let him sleep in solemn night,
Sleep for ever and for ever.
Fold him In his country's stars,
Roll the drum and fire the volley!
What to him are all our wars,
What but death bemocking folly?
Leave him to Gods watching eye,
| Trust him to the hand that made him.
Mortal love weeps idly by;
God alone has power to aid him."
Perhaps that which more than all
else has served to keep Gen. Sigels
name household word throughout
the country, has been the saying;
1--WE fights nit Sigel." Endless ver-
sions have been told OF the origin of
the phrase and 1t has been embalmed
In much verse. Of which the best Is
by Mr.. Grant p. Robinson. 1t is the
following, the word "Blenkered" hav-
ing reference to another Union general
of German extraction ,-Blenker by
name:
FIGHTS NIT SIGEL.
met him again, he was trudging
along,
His knapsack with chickens was
swelling,
He'd "Blenkered" these dainties. and
thought 1t no wrong
From some Secessionist's dwelling.
"What regiments yours? and under
whose flag
Do you flght?" said /. touching his
shoulder;
Turning slowly around, he smiiingly
said,
For the thought made him stronger
and bolder:
II fights init sigel!"
The next time l saw him, his knap.
sack was gone,
His cup and cantccn were a-missing.
Shell, shrapnel and grape, and the
swift rifle ball
Around him and DER him were
kissing.
"How are yon my friend, and where
have you been
And for what and for whom are you
flghting?"
He said, as shell from the enemy's
gun
Sent his arm and his musket a.
kitlng:
II fights NIT Sigelr'
And once more I saw him and knelt
by his side;
His life blood was rapidly flowing.
whispered of home, wife, children
and friends,
The bright land to which he was
going;
"And have you no word for the dear
ones at home?
The wee one, the father or mother?'
"Yaw Yaw." said he "tell them, oh!
tell them fights'-
Poor fellow; he thought of no other
II fights NIT Sigelr'
We scraped ont n grave and he dream-