The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-26

up our sacrificeS and ask over ana over
again, Was IL worth the price2 And ever
with increasing emphasis we answer, Yes
To those who passed through the war
ana endured the shock OF battle the day Is
replete with a solemn and literal meaning.
Memories of the old days and all they
tnen endured come up afresh. Comrades
VINO Fought shoulder 10 shoulder with them
ana so lighting fell live again and lie Is
pushed back forty years TO days In camp
ana held, in battles array or in hospital
OF prison pen, TO the detail OF those siren
uous years when men lived lifetime In n
single hour. To those born Immediately
after the war there is the recollection or
stories told at first hand by the paruci-
pants IN the strife and with something OF
the bitterness of the time in them all.
Ihese children were TO grow up as their
Iatners had grown UP. to love the OLD nag
TO De ready 10 sacrifice all for country, &c
preserve all that the great struggle nau
won and to conserve all for which the
fathers had stood. But the years passed
on and new generations have been born
Much or the bitterness has passed away.
The great things accomplished by the ap-
peal 10 arms have taken more definite
shape. Much of undreamed-of good has
come to pass. The country is one in way
which the contestants can hardly realize.
Dispassionately the children read or the
stormiest period of the Nations life. with
growing tenderness the fathers and grand
fathers rehearse the accomplishments;
wrath, hatred. sectionalism have passed
away and they now dwell more and more
on what has been wrought than the in
result So to US. of the first generation
after the war, and 10 our children has
been given the near vision and the outlook
on the future. What wonder then that we
revere the men who preserved the Union
and hold their heritage as a sacred trust.
At time like this, therefore, there comes
to our minds the deeper meaning and scope
OF their gift to US.
LACK OF PoMP. ETC.
II speak first OF the men. The glory of
the panoply of war has passed. There
is little to remind us of it's pomp and cir
cumstances. Long lines of marching men
stepping to drum beat or blare OF band
have forever departed. Only the remnant
remains. But living or dead they are men,
A soldiery whose first duty was that of
citizenship they learned the art OF war as
though they expected to have no other
calling. They endured all that trained
troops could have endured they kept faith
when others less inspired would have failed.
They answered every call made upon them
with al the ardor of their faith, and in
the darkest day shouted back TO the invi-
tation, we coming. Father Abraham,
300, 900 strong
These were the men who fought the
fight. They marched and countermarched,
they advanced and retreated. debating ev-
cry inch of ground. They left their COM
rades from Gettysburg TO the gulf, from
Virginia to vicksburg. For four long years
of the fiercest fighting the world has ever
witnessed they rallied around the flag and
when it was finished they marched in re-
view just as they had come from the
field, the most invincible army the world
has seen. And with the marks or the con-
fiict still upon them they returned to their
homes and took up the arts OF peace no less
honorable than those of war.
II know some will say some have said
These are but men, and II is true, but
to us they are not like other men. They
have proven themselves and the test yet
awaits US We do not expect to be less
worthy than they, but il is certain that we
cannot hope to be more.
1.-The building OF a Nation which had been
begun by the fathers as set forth In the
Declaration was now assured by the agree
ment OF all the members OF the Confed-
erary of the States. and new life. really
one. inaugurated. / do not think the
development of the past few years could
have come about had il not been for this
preparatory struggle. There are differences
of opinion, we all know. on the present
policy of the government, but this much is
true. that this. or any policy which has
really really or ostensloly for it's object the en-
impossible had it not been for this homo
geneity within the Nation itself
RECORD IN CUBA.
81 think we are all proud of our record
in Cuba. Our promises have been kept TO
the letter. We have set the new republic
on its way under the most favorable aus
pices and with the good will of all the
world. We have committed ourselves to
the cause of the oppressed and for good
faith, righteousness and peace among the
nations.
With our good work there ever rises
above it the ideal. 1t is not fixed, but ex-
pansive. 1t grows with the work. 1t is
not clear al the beginning of things always
but II gains In clearness as the first things
are done. Out of the civil war grew issues
undreamed of at the start by most. The
ideals of freedom and unity expanded with
the growing power of the Nations new life.
The men of the war who had now become
the citizens at home proved themselves as
wise in their administration of affairs as
they had proven themselves invincibA in
the field of battle.
80 this day which we shall observe this
week is full of meaning to us. 1t speaks
of people made great by giving much.
In every civilized country there are monu-
ments to the great men Of the nation. But
over our broad land, in villages and ham
lets, there rise shafts modest and more
pretentious, bearing witness to the fidelity
many. Not TO the great man of town or
city or State. but to the rank and file OF
those whose blood cemented a Nation into
one. In our own city there rises one of the
most majestic and suggestive of these mon
uments. Ii has been fttingly dedicated.
1t stands as a memorial TO the citizen sol
diery Of this good State On that eventful
day when the work of the years was
crowned, / stood in the reviewing stand
with those in charge OF the exercises. and
watched the greatest sight on which my
eye had ever rested, the greatest sight that
the G. A. r. Department of Indiana, that
this State Will ever see There were adj
miral and general and colonel and major
and captain and lieutenant. marching with
sergeant and corporal and private, one now
in the memories of the past, the inheritance
of the present and the promise of the fu-
ture. 1t is our country. indeed. The gift
of every soldier TO every soldiers son. to
his children and to his children's children
so long as we shall be true TO righteousness
and TO the Father of the nations of men"