Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-05-28

s MEMORIAL DAY, 1904 MESSAGE OF PEACE
( BY f. p DUFFY NJ D.
ChuhB /
Ravens


you did nobly," A light spread over
the pale face OF the youth and won
drous ray kindled his glazing eye. as
he said. General, didn't | lead them
straight" My boy" said the gener-
al. with a gentle pressure of his hand,
you acted valiantly, you did all II
was possible to do. you did your duty.
A bright smile played around the dy-
ing youths lips. his glazed eyebails
turned back from the threshold OF
death. and flashed "Thants." his heart
but once throbbed and forever grew
still. Shall we not keep Memorial
Day for such as he?
But besides the men who wore the
blue and marched under the nag there
were other patriots. They were those
whose fingers plied the needle. and
whose hanas moulded the dough. and
whose pens indicted loving words to
boys who were nohody's sons. for
they were orphans-the women OF our
country. These whole-souled women
did not know anything OF country or
CLINE or lar guase They only knew
grand humanity. and that all were OF
one kin. for they were all children of
one great and loving Father. And so
they sent letters 10 young men who
had no mothers. and eXhorted them to
be good and true and brave. and ever
to do their duty.
And SO We commemorate the men
who did their duty and the women
who taught them.
Alas that the ranks Of the veterans
are being thinned by an enemy none
can conquer in this life-death. And
of those who remain the once elastic
step. and 1.-THE limbs. and blue coat
have changed. The elasticity is gone.
+ the iitheness has vanished. the blue
has faded. but the courage is still
{ there. and the PATRIOTS heart throbs
/ proudly as Of yore.
The goth OF May is observed in the
southern states as Memorial Day"
{ when the graves OF Confederate sol
T diers and sailors are also decorated
/ gith flowers with imposing cere-
F monies. In recent years there has
T been a happy commirgling Of the men
I IN Biue and the men in Gray on these
solemn occasions. This Is as it ought
1 to be- this is as 10 shall be- When
f the causes Of the fierce conflict and
terrible siauGhter, the wrecked homes
and ruined lives the weeping widows
and gaiiine orphans. the broken-heart-
( ef mothers weeping Tor their sons be-
+ cause they are not. and strong me1.
+ fathers. with the Joy spring Of life
broken in their hearts. are realized.
surely the olive branch of peace will
bring concord and union beneath the-
weeping willow and dropping ash. and
brothers meet brothers In peace. and
higher. nobler, holier patriotism viii
come forth like pure gold from the
I refiner's furnace.
Patriotism may not be the highest
/ virtue of the human soul. but il has
the most intimate relation 10 the cause
we commemorate. And. then. patriot
ism in America is different in kind.
not in degree only. from that Of other
countries. Patriotism, as 1t has pre-
vailed in the old world has been the
curse of mankind. There patriotism
meant TO hate your neighbor on the
other side of the river--to oppose. rob.
and slaughter the men. women and
children on the opposite side OF tho
boundary line. for the aggrandize-
/ ment of the ruling classes-to present
the bodies of the common people as
a target for the arrow. the sword. the
spear. and the bullet-to bring mourn
ing and sorrow and poverty into the
cabin of the oppressed peasant and
the room of the toiling citizen for the
honor. power and pelf OF one man-to
{ ali ftx. rh.xl. .l. 81
made In the image OF God. glory and
the legalized murderers. who reveIed
In carnage, slaughter. rapine, and lust.
patriots, But America has taught the
world a patriotism of another kind
broad as humanity and co-extensiya
with the globe. II has let tyrants ana
oppressors know that the poor have
rights and the rich duties, and thai
| downtrodden peoples who have show
themselves worthy OF independent
shall not be exterminated through re-
lentless hate and cruel wrong. by fire.
and sword. and famine, and the pest
lence that follows in their train. IL
witness whereof let Cuba testify, that
strong nation, whose patriotism IS
humanity, can and will right the
wrongs of the weak, though they MAJ
have a differently tinted skin.
This is the patriotism we celebrate
I to-day. that is symbolized in the haE
/ that floats above us. is emblematized
/ in the solemn functions OF commen
Grafton. when we strew garlands q
/ flowers on the graves and encircle
with halo Of fame our patriotic dead.
/ This is patriotism. indeed, when at the
/ call Of duty two millions Of the coun-
try's pride leap forward to preserve
the Union or to die-this is the patri-
] nrisua we wish fn nreserra and tran