, 1902-05-31
LOWER
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ing generations may know from the
lips of the men of the Grand Army OF
the Republic the story Of the baptism
through which this nation passed be-
fore the question Of national unity was
settled.
The printing press, through it's man
has removed to a great extent the n Q
cessity for traditional history aud leg
endary lore. 1t seem a part of the
irony of fate thai no step in progress
can be taken without carrying with it
something that sentiment and our bet.
ter nature clings to from long inheri-
lance. 1t would be re~trograding to the
race II the day ever comes that PAT.
ents cease to transmit to their children
orally the stories that awalses thought,
inspire lofty sentiments. and arouse
patriotism.
Prentiss said that he would gather
all the choice words OF the language
into bouquets and lay them at the feet
Of the ladies. In what | now have to
say am glad that the noble word wo-
man Is used. Pericles said that words
fail In telling the story Of the brave.
Of the brave are not the result OF bu-
gle calls, nor are they always mingled
with the sound OF fife and drum, the
rattle of muskets or the roar OF canon.
Suspense is harder to endure than re-
ality. It ought to be remembered that
the anxiety and the intense mental suf-
fering from the time a son, a husband
or father enlists in the army, during
active hostilities is not exclusively
with the soldier III the field, surround
ed by all the dangers incident to mod
ern warfare. In 81 far as I have OBJ
served, the mothers. the wives and the
children who watch each mail or Gag
erly catch at any word from the front.
where danger turks every hour, are the
greatest sufferers during the service
Of the soldier in time Of war. The
courage born OF a sense OF duty to
country that prompts a mother to offer
her SONS. her richest jewels. on the
altar Of her country in time of wal is
Of as high an order as is ever witness
ed on a battlefield.
From a eulogy on Lafayette that in
my school days was a lesson in one of
the school readers ! remember the fol-
lowing words: He came when dark
ness curtained the hills and the tenn
pest was abroad in it's anger. when
the pillow stood still in the field of prom
Use and briars numbered the garden OF
beauty, when the wife was binding the
gashed bosom of her husband and the
maiden was wiping the death damp
from the brow of her lover" Thus wo-
man has suffered in consequence of the
strife between armies. thus she will
ever suffer In time Of war SO long as
questions OF national unity or ques-
lions between nations must be settled
by the gruesome arbitrament of the
sword.
The story Of the Woman's Relief
Corps will be written only in the hearts
Of the many who have witnessed or
been the recipients of their gentle
charity. I have been told by those
who come In contact with work of the
Woman's Relief Corps in the homes
where fortune has not smiled that few
know the noble work that this organ
lied body Of women do in relieving dis.
tress n m%inistering to the wants Of
suffering fellow beings. When the in
scription on monuments to the heroes
Of the civil war is finally written 1t will
Lot be complete il 1t does not place the
noble charity of woman and the offer.
ing of their ons by mothers in Ameri.
ca above the deeds OF valor by men ON
sea or on land.
Probably no var since time began
was ever waged for a nobler purpose
and certainly the results of no war
that we have any history Of meant 30
much for liberty. humanity and civili-
cation as the success of the union
forces during the cyclone or warlike
passion that prevailed in all the states
and territories Of the United States
from April. 1861. to April. 1865. It is
more Of the results and duties that l
would speak today than Of the valor
Of companies. regiments. brigades or
army corps. that is now forever incor.
porated In American history and will
always be studied with deep interest
BY citizens Of this country and students
of government and military science In
all parts Of the world where statesmen
formulate policies and the military arm
is ready for defence. The army and
the navy Of the United States. from
Washington to Grant aud from Paul
Jones to Admiral Dewey have been i'm.
portant factors for foreign countries tn
with in their diplomacy with
this republic. The principles in gov-
srnnent centsndsd for BY the CONT
mental army froa Banksr Hill to
the rights 4 Ansrican citi-
sens. o. those under the protection Of
he American nag On the high SEAS,
'ettled BY the war Of 1873, on down to
- close u the laAs VA With Spain,
. train Il giory FOR liberty