Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-06-02

ties are not fought out with sword and
cannon. but with tongue and pen in
Legislative assembly. The civilized
! world knew Spain was doomed long
before Commodore Dewey's guns spoke
in Manila harbor. When, on June IL,
1898, congress authorized the secretary
of the United States treasury to issue
$4O0OOO,0O0 worth Of bonds for ma
tional defense, all the ultimate outcome
of the Spanish american war was de-
cided, except how the treaty Of peace
should be signed. The outcome Of the
terrific conflict Of 1861 to 1865 would
never have been the maintenance Of
the Union IL congress had not Loyalty
supported President Lincoln during
that eventful period. Aye, there were
giants in those days. But the giants
upon Capitol hill. whose moral courage
and answering loyalty were tried and
proved, deserve our honor as much as
do the giants fighting at the front.
which Most Deserved IIonorf
Place side by side, if you will, those
two master personalities, John Sher
man and William +. Sherman. They
We're brothers; they were both gen
fuses. AS we look over the pages of
history it is very debatable question
which should be honored the more and
who did the more valiant service for
his country, John or William. One
was Il giant in guiding and creating
patriotic legislation, the other n giant
in military strategy, yet today in al
most every city you can see fifty pic
lures Of William 4. Sherman where
you will find one of his patriotic broth
er. who was senator Of the United
States from 1851 to 1877. The vital
importance of the work done by our
national Legislators can never ne bet
ter illustrated than in the life of james
y. Garfield. He was one OF the most
brilliant volunteer soldiers of the war.
From the presidential chair of Hiram
college in 1861 he stepped into the mil
itary camp and donncd soldiers uni
form. Within two years he wore the
shoulder straps Of major general.
Yet Abraham Lincoln placed his hand
upon the brilliant chief Of Rosecrans'
staff and said: CARRIED. I need you
more in congress than l do in the field
Resign your soldiers commission and
rs a congressman come and help me-"
Thus today | not only honor the sol
der, but also the legislator. l honor
James A. Garfield the general. 1 also
honor James A. Garfield the Ohio con
gresham. In both positions he did
valuabl and heroic service.
IN al ho no.,
who stayed at home and worked the
farm should be praised as we'll as the
young man who went to the front and
was mentioned for Il heroic deed in the
commanders dispatch. The young
man who sank his personality in the
more common but equally needfu du-
ties of home life might have been even
Drawer and more unselfish than the
soldier boy who marched down the
main street of his native town or city,
keeping step to the strains OF martial
music. and whose train pulled out of
his home depot amid the shouts and
huzzas OF admiring friends who came
to bid him goodby.
The Boys Who Stayed mt Home.
praising the boy who stayed at home
to work the farm. Some time ago
was attending Il soldiers reunion. It
was n most impressive spectacle, that
assembly of aged men. Yes. the
ranks of the old soldiers are thinning
very rapidly. We shall not have them
with us long. But, though these veter-
ans We're very old when they began to
tell their campfire stories. as their par
rative proceeded they seemed to be-
come boys again. Among the stories
told was one | shall never forget. Did
you have any brothers in the army?"
| asked an aged soldier. Yes, one"
was the answer There were three
boys of us. We all wanted to go, but
father and mother We're getting old.
and some one had to stay at home and
look after the old folks and our youn-
ger sisters. SO one night VIC had 4 fam
lily convocation. After the family talk
we three sons and mother and father
decided that two Of us boys could go
to the war. but that one should stay ut
home and work the farm. Who We're
To go! Who was to stay at home?
We all wanted to go and fight and so
we decided 10 draw lots. Mother held
the book and put in the three slips Of
paper with one marked Stay AT home.
We drew. John and myself went to
the front Harry stayed at home"
Did your brother regret that he had
TO stay?" "Oh. yes. But some one had
10 stay, and so he simply swallowed
his disappointment. Yes, we two boys
could never have gone to the front but
for Iarrys faithfulncss to the old
folks" Was he not just as patriotic
as the two who went forth to battle:
Let us, then. place flower over his
grave as well as upon the graves Of
those who went to the war. Let us
realize that the stay at homes some
times evinced greater moral courage.
made more heroic self sacrifice and en-
dured greater disappOintments than
the ones who went to the front.
In this Memorial address we would
accord praise to all who did the coun-
try serviCe-the contractors who fur
nshed the blankets and the shoes and
the tents and the food and the guns,
the patriotic bankers the railroad men.
like Thomas Alexander Scott, who did
such valuable service in rushing the
trooDs to their ultimate destinations.