The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-05-27
"LEsT WE FORGET"
BY William Rosser cobbe.

Lest we forget BrlnS forward the
flowers and lay them upon the graves of
the dead soldiers. They fought good
fight. and after the battle they sleep well.
Let tho people gather and listen to re-
citals of the valor and patriotism of the
men who took such active part in the
times that threatened the safety OF the
people.
Lest we forget" Dangers past, too Oft
en- are forgotten. Gratitude, even, is NOR
tai, for one may fail to recall debts that
are more precious In value than those
measured by the hard and shining gold.
Since AppomattoX another generation has
been born and a full generation of people
has passed away. The young soldiers OF
the civil war who survive are in the serc
of age. Active work no longer can be per
formed by these. The newer generation
has taken their place They live in the
ovcntfu past, made glorious by their he
roic deeds.
Gone now those weighty differences
which could be settled only by the she'd
d.ng of much blood. They We're issues so
great that our fathers. Washington, Ham
ilton, jefferson and Madison, left them to
be determined by q future generation.
There are questions SO weighty that the
sword only may decide them. The civil
war was inevitable. The opposition of
party could not be bridged by argument
No words of cloquence could unite north
and south upon the stupendous problem of
union or secession.
They were brave men who held their
views to be sacred and worthy to be de-
Tended with life as well fortune. How
well these heroes attestcd their courage
is told in the history Of Antetam, Shiloh.
Gettysburg, the Wilderness. Each side
met focmen worthy it's steel. Whether Of
the north or the south, these soldiers
maintained the integrity of American cit
izenship. 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 thai men live forever, He
roc 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 that nations have been
glorificd by war.
The victories of peace are many, but
war long delayed may enervate and cor
rupt people. 1t was not until after Au-
gustus Caesar, of glorious memory, mad
caused to be closed the temple Of Janus
that tho vices OF the east invaded Rome,
to corrupt her women as well as her men.
War is terrible, buo SO is the thunder
storm. when earth Is w.nd-rivcn and light
ming pierced. Yet it is the storm which
clears the atmosphere and rids earth OF
lurking disease and putresccnt odors.
War awakcns men to action 1t gets
them out of self and causes them to do
and dare. If it bring out the bad it de-
vclops the good as we'll
But whether good or bad, war will come.
1t is through battle that every momcntous
issue of earth has been determined, and
man as yet has learned no other way of
settling disputes between nations. That
nation Is honored which exalts patriotism.
Patriotism Is best taught and best melted
through example.
These heroes of the civil war being dead,
do speak. Their deeds have been recorded
by the historians and they shall never die.
The living of today are to be congratu-
lated that 1t is permitted them to see and
know many survivors among those who
charged cannon and who gave and took
sabre strokes and passed Through hail
storms of bullets for their country's sake
and Gods.
Lest we forget" Tell of the deeds of
these men. Make the children familiar
with them. Let 1t be known how they
bravcd ALL endured all suffered all. that
the union might be saved. Let IT be told
that their heroism intensified the merit of
the cause made glorious by reason of Its
exalted principle.
The pageant moves on. Fewer the num-
Der of those who fought. Those in the line
now march with unsteady feet. Time does
not neglect its office ever and soon 1T will
do It's complete work with all of these
men. But Decoration day will survive this
generation, and generation after genera
ton to follow. When the DeODlC to
honor IT they will have learned to forget
its lessons and TO hold courage and pa
triotism in no esteem
But such things Will not be. The heart
beat of the people is as the pulse of these
soldier heroes--dead and living The
country IS dear to all, and what is of the
country and what contributed to its glory
viii be held in cherished and grateful rec
objection forever
Millinm ROSaor Cohhn.