Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-30

who fought with you did the greatest work
| which has ever been wrought for the ma
| ton No tribute can exceed the measure OF
your service. You shed your blood and Of
fered your lives that your country might
live. In the hour of her greatest peril you
proffered and took the risk of the greatest
sacrifice on her behalf that men can make.
This was the supreme duty of American
loyalty and the supreme expression OF
American patriotism.
Measured by the magnitude of the task
or the necessity of the work or the value OF
the result. there is no other achievement In
our history which can be compared with 1t.
We have seen our country grow to mag
nificent proportions. We have seen 1t ex-
pand with an unparalleled industrial de-
velopment. We have seen our flag gain
new lustre on remote seas and in distant
lands. But beneath and behind and above
all these triumphS was the mighty work
which made and kept us one nation
Unity Forever Established.
''If we have advanced to foremost place
among the nations of the world 1t Is be-
cause the indissoluble unity of the repub-
lie was finally and forever established If
our country has risen to unrivaled mate
ial power and strength. 1T is because it's
uneuualed resources and energies were
preserved for undivided and unfettered en-
ployment.
"If our flag has been carried to new
heights of glory and influence. 1t is be-
cause it came undimmed and undimin-
ished. with fresh inspiration and meaning,
through the greatest peril 1t ever faced.
Honor to the worthy leaders and faithful
followers who have wisely and gallantly
harvested these later fruits.
But let the first place and the higher
honor be given to the brave men who
wrought the greater work without which
these fruits would not have been possible.
Our policy has been different from that
of any other nation. We have remembered
and recognized our defenders as no other
nation ever has. In other lands a few
conspicuous individual chiefs have been
loaded with honorS and rewards. Here
alone the nations gratitude has taken the
form of comprehensive care of all who
have suffered in her defense and of their
families. The whole roll of the army and
navy is an honor roll. The republic. blessed
beyond all other governments, has been
generous beyond all others. She has be-
lieved that this impulse of generosity is
the trueSt spirit of justice and the Sufest
bulwark of defense.
Eve are nation of citizens and not sub
jects, people of equality Of rights and
responsibilities. and when In war Tor the
nations life or the nations honor por-
ton of the citizens take upon themselves
the high duty which is equally the obliga-
ton of all, then a special distinction and
consideration belong to those who volunteer
to become the nations arm.
A Proud Distinction.
you and your comrades have this proud
distinction. You fought for the Union In
the greatest of wars and won the greatest
of victories. You know that you were
eternally right. You know that your cause
was the cause of liberty and progress and
nationality. Yet today you who wore the
blue have only sentiments of respect and
honor and fraternity for those who wore
the gray
I'm recognizing their bravery you attest
your own. You rejoice that they were
foemen worthy of your steel, for they are
your countrymen. You are proud that the
splendid valor of both sides, which GRIM
soned many fields and left so many bat.
ties in doubt was the common Valor OF
the American blood.
And as you clasp hands at the reminis-
cent camp fire or strew flowers on the
graves Of those who died for the south
as well on the grves OF those who died
for the Union, you realize that the sturdiest
and braYest foes in war may be the truest
friends lin peace.
"The issues which bred the strife of sec
tions have been settled Whatever the con-
yiction of right in conflict of theory car
ried into struggle of passion, we are all
united today under the one peerless flag OF
one beloved country. The reunion or the
sections has been sealed in common sacrl-
flee.
1.-The sons of those who wore the blue and
the sons of those who wore the gray fought
side by side in the dashing charge of San
Juan, and together stamped the 1nvlnc1bie
heroisn of the American character In the
hot fire beyond the fortress of Santiago
and in the rain of shot and shell under the
shadow of Manila.
'In the crucible of common struggle
the lines of sections should be melted and
in the new destiny the map of the Union
should no longer be divided into north and
south
Old Issres Have Passed Away.
1.-THE old Issues have passed away There
are new questions of deep import-ques-
lions which come in part as legacies of the
old and which may tend in some measure
to excite the old feeling. There is the prob
lem of dealing with race which has been
emancipated from slavery and yet not adj
| mitted to the privileges of freedom. The
educational. the industrial and. in some
degree. the political aspects of this sub
ject demand the most serious consideration.
'"rhe burdens and the responsibilities do
not belong to either of the old sections We
may not all agree on the elements of the
problem or on the true solution.
But may we not approach the question
In the spirit of mutual forbearance? May
we not discuss it in a temperate and ra-
tional frame of mind? May we not seek
to understand each others point Of view
and each others relation to the subject
with fair and reasonable consideration Of
the various aspects which are entitled to
weight? We have outgrown the old condi-
tons and the old animosties. Why should
we not outgrow the old narrowness and
the old onesidedness?
Reunion does not mean the suppression
of individual conviction or the sitting Of
frank expression: but why should it not
mean larger liberality Of spirit greater
breadth of understanding and higher effort
for just. enlightened and patriotic action?
The War Had to Come.
The war for the Union had to come be-
fore we could enter upon our great nation
al development. Slavery was an alien and
homogeneous element in our system; like
the grain Of sand in Coleridge's effective
simile. between the flesh and the shell
OF the tortoise. 1t was a source OF perpet-
ual irritation. The conflict was irresponsi-
BILE until the cause was eliminated. The
war was necessary to make us a true ma
ton.
Our subsequent history. with all its re-
srnendent advancement. has been a natural
evolution. We had to have the war OF
sections before we could wipe out sectional
!-ism and enter upon real nationality. We
had to have real nationality before we
could become real world power,
I'VE had to have broad world interests
before we could sit At the worlds council