The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-14

winch she gave up her blood and treasure
more splendid than that displayed by any
other State-and still what a glorious his
tory would remain to her! The world might
sublime fortitude with which it met the
issue squarely raised with the assault on
sumter, and still the name American
woulo finger In the world as an inspiration
10 those who love liberty and admire hero
ism, until the end of time.
War is hell said Sherman, and those
VINO have moved into battle have sub
scribed with unanimity to that definition,
and never with more certainty of its &C
curacy than in the moment when the order
to form In line OF battle has gone forth. And
YET now many OF those who have won the
right TO wear that greatest badge of honor
that can be conferred upon an American
citizen-the bronze button OF the Grand
Army OF the Republic-would, IL they could.
blot out of their lives the years during
which they followed the flag? Could we
call those to life who. forty years ago. were
buried in trenches on the battlefield, who
lie In forgotten graves scattered throughout
the South. or under the blessed shelter of
the flag in national cemeteries, how many
OF them would exchange the immortal glory
or their death for the years of existence
winch failure to do their whole duty would
have given TO them?
struggle worth while! Yes-worth all it cost
If out of 1t all had come only freedom TO
three million men in chains, the destruction
or an institution which made mOckery of
the very charter of our liberties, wherein
1T was declared that all men created
equal But beyond this even was the in
bravely to such a great occasion and being
hired thereby TO higher plane of civiliZa-
ton. klpling writes of the ship that found
herself The Republic found itself in the
civil war 1t awoke to a giant strength hith-
erto unrealAed and went forward to assume
new place in the affairs of the world. 1t
was In large part an army of boys that
rushed to the defense OF the flag during the
four years beginning with 1861. The govern
ment mustered out an army of men, ma
tured quickly by the responsibilities laid
upon them and entering upon the duties of
citizenship when the musket was laid down
with loftier sense of duty, with a deeper
conception OF patriotism, stronger devo-
ton to the flag, and better equipment for
the callings of peace than had been given to
any preceding generation of Americans. Be-
cause of this, for a third Of a century sue
ceeding the close of the civil war ii was the
soldier of the sixties who dominated nation
al affairs, and in pursuits of peace he has
written chapter in American history little
less glorious than that which chronicles the
achievements crowding the quadrennium be-
ginning with 1860. If because of decreasing
members the American volunteer soldier is
no longer so potent factor in American
civil life, his impress is indellibly fixed on
the civilization which surrounds u.s. and he
has transmitted firmness to the fiber of a
new generator. If the American people have
been generous beyond all precedent to the
soldier of the sixties, they have only paid
interest on the debt they owe him-thcy
nave not begun to discharge the principal
and they never CAM
And yet in their proper persons the civil
war soldiers are not ready for consignment
to a back seat. We may have to go back a
down. Let us go on holding these reunions
year after year so long as there Is a cor
porals guard left to keep UP with the pro-
cession. II for no other reason than to let it
be known that there are few of us left.
propose TO continue my attendance at these
reunions Tor a quarter of a century yet
until / get an Invitation to that great camp
nre where million Of our comrades, the
dead of the battlefelds-and the dead Of the
long stretch of years that lies after them
are gathered in eternal reunion, gathered
with Lincoln and Morton, Grant and Sher-
man, Sheridan, Thomas, Hancock and
Logan. Harrison and Hayes. and Garfield
and Mcknley-all that glorious galaxy Of
greatness that first shone I'm the armament
when the clouds of battle enyeloped the
land, and which. while 1t has now in large
part dropped below the horizon. still leaves
Senator Fairbanks caught the audience
by his apt reference to the living flag and
It's meaning to the young. middle-aged and
OLD citizens. He reviewed some of the
closed with tributes to Lincoln and Nc
kinley that moved the vast audience to
tears.
and quite little changed from the printed
programme. There were several special
R1r S nasf and tableaS1 MIS-
w. r. c., sang my Own United States"
and was encored The exercises did not
close till after IL o'clock, ending in a trans
formation scene entitled, Liberty"
Hon. James s. Dodge presided at the Au-
dtorium campfire. Lieutenant Governor
Gilbert w, A. Ketcham and Judge Ellison
spoke, in addition to short addresses by
Senator's Fairbanks and Beveridge. Senator
Hendee presided at the NJ E. Church and
Past Department Chaplain d. r. Lucas. of
indianapolis, entertained one of the largest
crowds ever gathered there for a half-hour
with stories of war days. The music was
feature of the campfire being led by Pro-
fessor Nicely. Judge d. W. Comstock
spoke. with Senators Fairbanks and Bever-
idge who transferred from one meeting to
another. Many of the soldiers in the audi
ence here participated by responding to
calls for stories, and many thrilling events
of the war days were retold, interspersed
with songs of a patriotic character