Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-05-30

H K
 3 Lee met Grant at Appo-
 mattox, and more than
 one-half of the heroes of the armies of 1861-65 have gone to their long homes. The youngest of those who remain have gray in their hair and beard, and springiness no longer is in their step. Each year shows diminishing numbers, and before a generation more shall go by not q score will remain of the more than 100000 who enlisted under the union flag during the civil war
 It is sad indeed to witness the steady aging of the many, the steady falling from the ranks of those touched by death. It is difficult to identify the bent forms and unsteady step of these veterans with the gallant youths, full of the fire of living and impulsed by patriotic fervor, who charged the pre- cipitous wall of Lookout mountain and passed through the seething hell of the Wilderness.
 An! brave soldiers were these, who met in saber charge, or with bayonet thrust, men equally brave. What a pity they might not have continued ever young, the ensemble of sturdy manhood, in whom hope runs high, and the promise of the future is as gold for richness.
 Yet, after all, theirs Is the lot of all humanity; to gradually grow older and finally to be lost to sight forever.
 But though man be mortal, the deeds of man are immortal. And though these men show age and decay, their deeds are fresh as if performed but yesterday, and they will continue green in mans memory so long as heroism is supreme virtue and pa triotism remains loftiest of sentiments.
 The nation sets apart day of each year in which to recite 10 a generation that has come after, the deeds done by these heroes and the principles for which all risked their lives and for which so many gave up their lives The graves of the dead are decorated with flowers. Those who are living hear each returning Decoration day the nations estimate of their services pro- longed through four years of almost ceaseless carnage.
 The conflict was irrepressible and unpreventable. The wisdom of Wash ington, Hamilton, the Adamses, Jeffer- son and Madison could do no more than put off the evil day. Whether this is a nation or a mere confederacy of states could not be settled by any argument, or debate, or compromise. It was one of those terrible knots that might be cut only by the sword. These oq to settle what the fathers of the coun- try and the mighty statesmen who fol- lowed after were unable to arbitrate. Manassas, Antietam, Gettysburg, Shiloh, Chickamauga and Appomat- tox were inevitable. It required long wars and a thousand battles" to prove that this is nation and not a compact of states.
 If Washington and his associates gave us free country then soldiers of Spottsylvania and Petersburg gave US nation that shall not perish from the fac of the earth. 1t is in no spirit of the bitterness that marked other days that these words are written. Those who fought with the south fought hon. (estly, as they fought fairly and brave ly. They had the teachings of Henry and Jefferson and Madison and Burr to confirm and establish their faith. The conflict had to come, and peace and kindly feeling also for those fought against the union The facts of history, though, are incontrovert- ible, that upon the endurance, the courage, the daring and the patriotism of the union soldiers of 1861-5 hung the fate of a mighty nation.
 God bless them! in that they fought long and we'll. God bless them! that they counted no hardship too great, no peril too hazardous. May they ever be held in honor in that each one, ac- cording to his station and opportunity. acquitted himself nobly.
 Time does his work and 1t is given unto all men to die. But the veterans of 1S61-5, though the last one of them pass away. have achieved an immortal ity of fame through the greatness of their deeds.
 Hail, then, and welcome Decoration day! And when it comes and comes again, let the story be told to the chill dren and the children's children, how this mighty war won an endur- ing peace to the land. Honor to the veteran living; enduring gratitude and tender remembrances for those that are dead.
 . -s WITTY YyA1r r0ocro %nDDr