Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-06
BATTLEFIELD
INDIANA'S MONUMENT DEDICAT-
ED WITH IMPOSING CEREMONIES.
Speeches by Senator Beveridge and As
sistant Secretary Of War Sanger,
Who Accepts It.

SHILOH. Tenn. April 6-The Indiana
monuments on Shiloh battlefield were dedi-
Gated today with interesting ceremonies.
Several hundred Indianians. including Gov
ernor Durbin and his staff, Gen. Lew Wal
lace and many other prominent citizens of
the state. were present. Addresses were
made by United States Senator Beveridge,
Assistant Secretary OF War Sanger. Gov
ernor Durbin and others
Mr.. Sanger said in part: The federal gov
eminent. in accepting these monuments be-
comes charged with the duty of guarding
them and keeping fresh in the memory OF
the people a record Of the deeds which they
commemorate In creating and keeping
these national parks the country Is not
merely perpetuating the fame of brave men,
1t Is not merely recording with landmarks
OF granite and bronze the part which the
gallant soldiers on both sides took in the
awful contests of the civil war. 1t Is not
emphasizing the fact that a united country
thinks with pride of the valor Of all the
heroes who fought in that great struggle,
out 1t is putting into visible form the con-
v1ctfon of the people that examples Of brave
and faithful performance Of duty should be
ever honored throughout our land. We
SHOULD never forget that the lessons of war
are but fmperfectly learned If we think OF
them as only helping us to bear ourselves
bravely in the face Of an armed enemy. In
times of peace there are battles to be
fought and victories to be won, the effect OF
which upon the destinies of mankind are as
far-reaching as the results of an armed
conflict. Honor, courage, integrity. devo-
ton to principle and the faithful perform
ance Of duty are just as essential to the
greatness Of a free people as courage and
self-sacrif1ce are to the success Of fighting
army.
The principles upon which our government
rests do not of themselves insure good gov
eminent; they merely give to the people the
power to have that kind IF
which the people DESIRE and they can make
1t as good or as bad as they wish AS pat
rottc Americans We should not be dis
couraged because there is need in SO many
directions for faithful and effective work in
improving existing conditions. From these
impressive scenes we can draw inspiration
and help for the better performance of the
duties which crowd upon us American
citizens. The memory of the brave soldiers
who fought on this and other battlefields
will never die, for so long as the country
endures their example will help the men
and women In the years yet to come to
strive ceurageously toward that high stand
ard to which every American should aspire.
Plea for Moderation.
Senator Beveridge said in part:
Since all must die, how fortunate to
die for an undying cause and under the
approving eye of history.
so felt those who fell upon this field.
For they gave their lives to save the life
of the nation; and history recites no nobler
story than the story of their sacrifice
Their blood was shed to make the
American people a single nation and not
for any lesser purpose All other results
of the civil war were incident to that.
And so they died no less for the people
of the south than for the people of the
ncrth-for the American people undivided,
indivisible. Their martyrdom was to es-
tablish forever the brotherhood Of the flag
"a relationship so lofty that 1t cannot see
sections within the boundaries of the re-
public.
THAT great purpose they accomplished.
Devotion to the nation is today the first
principle of all Americans 1t is now the
idea and ideal of us all, men and women
Of north and south alike.
How little those words-southern and
northern. Let us forget them. How much
us think of that and only that. It is the
word the spirits Of our heroes whisper
to our souls today. 1t Is the word for
which they gave up their mortality. Let
US who live be worthy of our dead.
"And let US who live be tolerant of the
views of those heroes of the other side
who died before the guns of our heroes
here and elsewhere. Only the years can
tell what minor elements of just opinion
were confused and tangled in that cat
aclysmal conflict. For us it is enough
fullness-to know that our central
thought of nationality was true and that
our brothers Of the other side assert it
now. even we ourselves assert it.
But when men die for ideas, who dare
denounce them all and utterly? The loft
lest quality of human character Is toll
erance-the Hottest but one, and that one,
justice. Tolerance then and loving kind
ness and charitable forgiveness on both
sides and through all the land sweet rea-
sonableness. Nothing but these are impor-
tant, for in these abide truth, and truth
Is the only sovereign"