The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-05-26
The News Of Carbonda1e.

ing as the country did, out of state
of society in which wrong and tyranny
were maintained by force, those evils
had to be overthrown by force. Ma
tions have always been moulded In the
red heat of battle. All honor to the
brave men of war who have done their
strenuous part in strengthening and
preserving the nation. They have Sc
cured to us the liberty and the rights
we now enjoy. we offer no apology
for having this patriotic service in this
house dedicated to the worship of God.
True piety and patriotism are insep-
arable
"Thnk of the great heritage they
have bequeathed us! What responsible
ties go with its privileges! America
stands for Il type of civilization differ
ent from and infinitely higher and bet
ter than the fairest dreams of any 9TH
er nation under the sun. We have set
ourselves the task of teaching man to
govern himself. In European countries
the policy of governments is fixed by
the will and interest of Il power-cra2ed
czar, emperor, king, or naughty aris-
tocracy. Here the government is ma
chine. created by ourselves for our own
l
people. The people may be learning
slowly how to put the great engine of
government to the best use, but they
are learning surely.
"In purpose and intent our govern
ment stands to secure each individual
equally before the law and the greatest
possible liberty to make the most OF his
own existence. Now, no other flag,
than the glorious Stars and Stripes, has
protected rights so valuable and hopes
so dear. Her silver stars shining from
the depth of blue, symbolic our inten-
ton and purpose of infinite and eternal
advancement under the guidance or
Heaven. Her white lines stand for the
immaculate purity in which we pro-
pose to preserve our nation; and her
lines of deep red are the pledge that
the life blood of the nation is ever ready
to flow for her true honor. And the
honored dead, whose devotion to that
Flag has carried them into the thick
of battle, are worthy our veneration.
"The younger people cannot compre-
hend the tension and weight of care
under which our fathers and mothers
lived during the war for the Union;
which is sometimes called the Rebel
lion: | like to call it the War of the
Union. Fresh in the memory of the
older ones present are the thoughts of
those stirring events of nearly forty
years ago The long, patient marches;
the tramp of tens of thousands of the
Sons of Liberty, as they went forth to
resist the blow aimed at the nations
life. The bivouac Of the lesions on the
silent star-lit field; the hardshps, the
sickness, and the death which exposure
brought to the flower of our youth, till
the thinning of the ranks from disease
was even more terrible than the havoc
wrought by the enemies fire. The long
step that went out from
the home, never to be heard again
these are all fresh in the memory OF
many here this evening. And because
of the brave deeds wrought and the
sacrifices made by the noble army of
our dead shall the nations devotion
outlive, not only your memory, but the
memory of many generations yet to
come, and keep green the sod upon our
heroes graves.
These graves in our national come
teries! What Il potent, though silent
testimony, to the magnitude of the
awful sacrifice laid upon our national
altar in the war for the Union! There
are $4,000 graves of those who fell at
$4,000 at Fredericksburg;
10000 at Arlington; 1900 at Vicls-
burg; and at the last named place there
are about 10000 graves marked un-
known. In the national cemeteries,
there lies the sacred dust of more than
100000 men whose lives have been
yielded in war for our nation. Have
we counted the cost too great? No!
We have gloried in the sacrifice. l once
heard my father say lie had seen reSi- |
ments leave on the transports from
New York IL thousand strong and re-
turn but few tattered, worn-out men,
whose comrades had been left on the
fields of battle and death. Yet" said |
my father, II have never yet heard IA |
father or mother say the sacrifice
was too great" 1t was sacrifice |
freely Offered by the patriotic heart of
the nation, because of its awful neces- |
sity. Liberty and patriotism are OF |
greater Importance than mere contin-
uation of individual existence in indif- |
ference to the corruption and selfish |
ness which threaten the life OF ma |
lions. And all Americans are richer |
honor dearer than life. May the nation, |
which, like the mighty oak, has grown
strong through the storms that have |
shaken it-ever guard we'll the graves
of the sacred dead, ana sing over them,
n all the centuries to come, patriotic
songs of devotion to the flag for which
they died.
But | feel that we would be doing |
he heroes, who have died for the high
est life of the nation, a gross injustice,
(, in commemoration of their lives, we
lave nothing to offer but euloSy OF
heir deeds of blood. Many life has
gone out on our nations battletelds
claiming entrance into society, where
here will be no more war. God has i'm
pressed upon the heart of humanity an
lnconquerable longing for peace. Our
leeper sense of right aliirms that war
ought not to be; and under Cod, what
ought not to be will not continue to
pc. War will not always mar the face
IF Gods fair creation. 1t is two hor-
'ibe to be permitted by an enlightened
ace. 1t is impossible in a Christian
state of society, in which men seek not
% win or gain, but to serve. Already,
he worlds strife has shifted from the
army of warriors to the more peaceful
army of industrial workers, When the
Yatchword of industry becomes not
How Much Have | Secured for My
SELF" but How Much and How Well
Have | Served the Best Interests of
then the battle flags shall be
urled and the war drum heard no
onger in the federation of the world.
4 is in the nature of war to be fol-