Mower County transcript., 1903-05-27
IT EST we forget" Bring forward
II the flowers and lay them upon

LIZ the graves of the dead soldiers.
They fought good fight, and
after the battle they sleep well. Let the
people gather and listen to recitals of the
valor and patriotism of the men who took
such active part in the times that threat
ened the safety of the people.
'tLest We forget" Dangers past, too often
are forgotten. Gratitude, even, is mortal,
for one may fail to recall debts that are
more precious in value than those measured
by the hard and shining gold. Since Ap-
pomattox another generation has been born
and full generation of people has passed
away. The young soldiers Of the civil war
who survive are in the sere of age. Active
work no longer can be performed by these.
The newer generation has taken their place.
They live in the eventful past, made glorious
by their heroic deeds.
Gone now those weighty differences which
could be settled only. by the shedding OF
much blood. They were issues so great
that our fathers, Washington, Hamilton,
Jefferson and Madison, left them to be deter
mined by future generation. There are
questions so weighty that the sword only
may decide them. The civil war was in
evitable The opposition of party could not
be bridged by argument. No words of elo-
quence could unite north and south upon
the stupendous problem Of union or seces-
sion.
They were brave men who held their views
to be sacred and worthy to be- defended
with life as well as fortune. How we'll these
heroes attested their courage is told in the
history of Antietam, Shiloh, Gettysburg,
The Wilderness. Each side met toemen
worthy its steel. Whether of the north or
the south, these soldiers maintained the
integrity of American citizenship. They
differed honestly and they fought honestly,
each to maintain the principles each believed
to be righteous
The battles are over, and with the smoke
{ of the final combat disappeared the issues
that divided this people. But care should
be had that the memory Of the deeds OF
these men shall be kept fresh. 1t is in deeds
that men live forever. Heroic action is
crowned with Immortality, and shall never
| die.
! These are times of peace. The sword is
hidden in the plowshare and the spear is
concealed in the pruning hook. There is
war no more in all Gods holy mountain.
! But it should be remembered that peace
does not abide forever and that war may
be necessity and tina. nations have been
glorifed by war.
The victories of peace are many, but wal
long delayed may enervate and corrupt a
people. It was not until after Augustus
Caesar, Of glorious memory, had caused to
be closed the temple Of Janus that the vices
Of the east invaded Rome, to corrupt he1
women as we'll as her men. War is terrible
but so is the thunderstorm, when earth il
wind-riven and lightning pierced. Yet i
is the storm which clears the atmosphere
and rids earth of lurking disease and pu
trescent odors.
War awakens men to action. It gets then
out of self and causes them to do and dare
If it bring out the bad it develops the goo
as well.
But whether good or bad, war will come
1t is through battle that every momentou
issue of earth has been determined, and ma
as yet has learned no other way of settlin
disputes between nations. That nation
honored which exalts patriotism. Patriot
ism is best taught and best melted throug
example.
These heroes of the civil war being deay
J do speak Their deeds have been recorde