The Washington times., 1904-05-30

I
/ try. BY the term soldier. 1 mean the
| warrior. either regular or volunteer. who
/ defends the cause of the Union on land
or sea.
The Typical Soldier.
I'VE see our typical American soldier
/ in his early days or in his manhood en-
gagged IN the pursuits Of peace. Around
/ him are the opportunities of a useful.
| happy. and successful life All the com
/ forts and blessings OF domestic life are
/ his. Advantages for financial achieve
ments open before him Station and
/ fame awaits him among his conntrymen.
/ His he TT is thrilled with the hopeful
4 promise Of success for himself and those
/ dependent upon him In the midst CT
such circumstances he hears the call OF
! his country.
Not only did this American soldier
give TO US the lesson Of self-sacrifce.
but he showed to us that love of cOun-
try and patriotism was, in the language
of the song. the supreme tyrant OF the
hour because IL led him and his COM
rades from the walks Of peace 10 the
/ scenes of war. there to endure, and die
If need be, that his country might live.
Lesson of Obedience.
He has also taught us the splendid
lesson Of observation-disclosures to the
all it means. obedience TO the laws Of
the country, and obedience to the cause
OF civil and religious liberty. Through
all Of these scenes there seemed TO be
one controlling sentiment in his life
My country, all for thee, all for theeT
Let us note one more distinguishing
/ characteristic. Il shines forth upon
every battlefield Of the Union. 1t
grasped the banner of freedom at
Sumter, more it through untold perils
all the way to Appomattox and raised It
aioft in triumph Ger the grave of Sc
cession. rebellion, State rights and slav-
cry, and beQueathed 70 as a land with
out chain. a flag without a staini
Courage, valOr! View them as displayed
upon the, greatest battietields OF the
world and you Will find that this typi-
cal American soldier is surpassed by
none
with all the briliiancy Of a Napoleon
on the field of AUsterlitz in the battle Of
nations, and the calm cOmposure and
firmness of a Wellington on the field Of
Waterloo. he has written his deeds Of
valOr IN letters of living light. But few
printed pages, but the rank and hle Of
the Union Army stood behind Logan,
Reynolds, Meade. Chamberlain, Sheri-
dan. Sherman. and Grant and wrote
their names upon the tablets Of imnlor-
tai fame.
The Rank and File.
TT fifty illustrates the idea that
Washington and Lincoln and Grant rose
to their surprising fame and glory
upon the foundation Of the rank and file
OF American soldier The generals
planned. but the rank and file executed
those plans and orders and placed the
stars OF honor and glory upon the
shoulders of their leaders
When I meet this typical American
soldier and listen 10 his recital OF the
| events Of his military life, I note the
flush Of his cheek and the CLEAN Of his
eye. He seems 10 follow that banner Of
freedom step by step amid the leaden
hail Of battle; he waves IL upon the
ramparts, and salutes il on land and
sea with such devotion and earnestness
that / can see within his soul the men
tai picture of the Stars and Stripes the
banner Of civil, religious, and intellec-
tual freedom
american soldier Is forty years older
than he was when he enacted those
scenes. Even If that be true, | am inn
pressed with the idea that in loyalty
and In all the noble graces Of American
citizenship he is forty years younger.
His Country.
His country Certainly. He saved
it, reunited It. and bound the States to-
gether in fraternal ties Of unfading
blood, 'Tis his in a peculiar sense, and
when he walks these avenues and
streets he can justly say. This is my
country; this is my Capitol His cOun-
try2 Yes. The soldier and his country
inspiring themes! When we interpret
them Alright, we see what they were,
have been, and are, and read within
them the possibilities Of the futurei
After the address, the exercises were
concluded with a selection by the band
entitled, Prayer 10 the Virgin" Du-
reau; poem, Peace BE Unto Them"
Nellie Robinson StrettOn; closing prayer
I the Rev. II. A. Griffith; America -
choir, assembly, and hand; taps,
Soldiers Home bugler.
Flag Raised and Saluted.
On the conclusion Of the exercises and
the decoration of the graves IN the
cemetery. the band escorted the partici-
pants 10 the front OF the main building.
where at noon the ceremony OF raising
and saluting the flag took place This
proved most impressive ceremonial.
the band playing The Star-Spangled
Banner and the Soldiers Home battery
firing a salute of tweaty-one guns.
The decoration Of graves was in
charge of the officers and members Of
Lafayette Corps, No. TO- w r c. Mrs
Lucie Is. Graham, chairman OF commit
tee, and children of the public schools.