Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1905-05-24
nener 70 The Old yoldisr.

Homer 10 the Old Soidia.
Announcement 10 made 10 smother
OF the public observance Of
Memorial day. In this connection
the NEws desires to urge upon oil cit
issns to render due respect and trib.
ots to the deceased comrades OF the
civil war. Do not leave this entirely
70 the feeble Grand Army veterans
and members Of tho Relief Corps, but
Join hands with them and they will
ioably appreciate the assistance aad
POUR loving memory Of the dead.
The meagre attendance. - in yssss
,sst. at the cemetery to scatter flowers
spou the graves Of fallen heroes, 10 .
election upon the pstriosio spiris Of
he town and il 10 to b hoped chat
be remaining veterans and the pat
lotto ladies Of the W. r. G. will not
~ alone at the cemstssy this year
sheu the day arrives to place aowsrs
.pon the graves Of Ritsviliss Dc.
'arted soldiers. The boys. who forty
'sass ago marched away TO ofIer their
ives upon the altar Of their country,
nd who never ialsered whom the hail
1 death dow thick and last. are to.
10y but shadows Of thsmsslves. and
: 10 With difficulty, but uos without
martial ssdor, that they Robbie 70 the
ity Of tho dead. They hsvs reached
he suuset Of lie, and shall 10 b sid
bat ~ Of The younger generation -.
nee to do them and their comrades
'ho have besn mustered cot, the
'ouor which 10 their due - deienders
{ their county? II 10 siscerely 70
. hoped not. II. psrchanee. there b
essons Who have not witnessed che
sautiful services Of the g. A. r. end
=. Z. c., upon The annual occasion
'hea they remember their desd. let
och attend the services this year.
lime will soon b whom the 0ssad
Irmy Of the Republic vill end. Ths
isil war vstsrans arc Old men, end
bsir ranks cannot b Reoruited.
II we forty years ago shat che civil
'ar ended. Men who are nov in the
rims Of lite we're thes 10 sheir era.
leo. The war began a yeafs ago.
ID The soldier who enlisted It The
eginuing whom II ysars Of ags 10
on 6S-uos old, but yet % shs rap.
lly descending eide Of mAB's journey.
hieb seems 90 long ~ The besio alag.
~ which 10 really very shose after
i.
The Grand Army reached IT, mss.
sum membership 10 1890. when the
,tsl vs. l09. 4S9. By 1894. The ms~.
,fship had fallen to 96S,O83. which
- . loss since 1890 Of 10000 . ysAr.
, the last decade The loss hes bssu
1000 . year. which shows that for
70 last fifteen yssrs the membership
~ net only been declining. bus that
70 rate Of decrease 10 steadily in.
easing. In 1904 the snnuai sspos,
lowed q membership Of FAC. SOL
- Of los, 218 member sincs the
~ximum vac reached in 1880.
Uothsr fifteen years wili cut ever
1900 from The membership Of the
ganisation, which M,eAns that thu
u 10 in eight.
The figures are tull Of sorrow. bot
sy are remo,seless Aad inevitable.
roy should reinforce the obligation
s0a the newer generation which has
ridden upon the scene Of action, 10
Al fairly and justly BY the old col.
o.. and locking arm ia srm, 70 cid
fslteriog steps.
Let not the American losystl Lss
u The support OF the old soiAisr h
aaned to 90 much pension snd to
CD and such measure Of orstsry on
smoriAl Dsyi
Tho veteran 81 the civil var gave
best years Of biz young manhood.
d made sacrifice Of business op.
rtuuity and health. TO the esoss Of
snstion. Il vas shs supress Dc.
sion Of loyal eitiseeship. In view
the last thinning rauks Of shs
Hod Army Of the Republic. let not
. original sacrifice and The present
"a be forgotten.
Down in Arkansas they have intro.
cd hugSius socisties 70 swsli che