Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-06-06
NUMBER %

to successful termination. He was
the nations strong man in our time of
waiting and war, but methinks if his
assassination could arouse our people
to IA sense of the exceeding value of
principles of truth, to a sense of the.
great danger of error, | could liken
him to that judge of ancient Israel,
!, Who though in life a terror to the
Philistines, yet in his death slew more
than in his life. | believe, | say it
thoughtfully, | believe that the Divine
purpose in permitting the assassination
of our president was TO open our eyes
to the fearful consequences of error
and render US conscious of approach
ing danger.
During the years that are to pass un-
til the mastering out Of the last sol
dier of the rebellion, yours is to be a
condition of greater prominence and
larger influence Yours is to be the
happy privilege Of teaching at the knee
children to the third and fourth gen
erations. 1t will be yours to inspire
their tender minds with loftier zeal,
with more devoted love for home and
country Out of the terrible experiences
Of the past it is yours to know the
price paid for that county. From the
knowledge gained of the great value of
princi piles and the disaster that follows
in the path of error, you can with that
/ influence which will be more and more
your portion, influence the young,
whose influence will in turn be felt
1 through many future generations.
Thus, after the last campfire has been
eXtinguished, and we no more see re-
minders in crippled limbs and pallid
faces, of the conflict long gone by,
your influence will remain lingering
like holy benediction over the land
of your devotion, gathering but re-
newed youthfulness and strength with
times passage, until more and more
we shall feel and appreciate that the
name Grand Army of the Republic
comes not from the excess of numbers,
but the character of its very rank and
file. Then will tradition tell to future
ages of its noble character even to its
last survivors, and through periods
when political life seems sinking low,
and all mems minds are fixed on gain,
the remembrance of what our fathers
we're and what they wrought. will speak
and tell to us that there is more in life
than self and its own interests. The
recollection of names like Grant and
Sherman. Meade and Sheridan and the
t4AS'''''N'H u l'OAi tiANH7tiNto lilCAN1 ~ AiSi
each according to his ability, offered
himself, will prove tit subjects for our
emulation. From the hard fought fields
of Gettysburg, 'Antietam, and the like
we learn the priceless lesson of the in
valuable character of truth. Comrades,
long may you live while life may be
lived in usefulness and honor, but
when its end shall come whether it be
a sacrifice to dutys call or in the nat
RAJ course, may you le Calh!S down
WIN tle urn assurance ol rlslns IN
!hat petter WorIu Wnere truVh uhchang
ing anu eternal lllakes lIs nome ana
"hefe the captain OF our saNatlon VIII
receive you PROUD OF the manner you
nave Acquired yourselves as solalers IN
me ne long nghi Whlch knows no ending
VII t1e eye closes ana the lorlli relaAes
ana the eAulIahl Volce resouhu7 pesloe
the upIurnea sou' On DfaVe' Where
Is Lhy lctory ana even sorrow passes
as the hlourntrS 1hihh 9l Ihe hople IN
nuenGe you Wlelqea ana lhe memories
you lett nehlha. comrades, 1are-
We'll may bou piesslhg rest upon you
as soiolefs OF the MoSt hlgh S'oa ana
VI llle NIduu AGI1N Vi lut Ne