Alaska sentinel., 1905-06-08
Memorial Address.
pY ". 2. INNAN. NAY sO. l905.

2 MT. President 40Ur GOmmltfee, La- dies and Gentlemen Again We are as- semi bled, in common with American clt- izens everywhere throughout the length and breadth of our country, in the ob- seryance of the solemn duties and for malities of Decoration Day-a day set apart by the proper authorities as Ma tional holiday in which to do honor to the memory of those departed heroes who offered their services on sea and land during the period 1861 to 1865 to uuell internal dissensions and compel respect for this sentiment expressed by a patriot of much earlier date, time which also tried mems souls: "The Union-it must and shall be preserved :"
 Forty years have passed since the close of that war, and the old flag still floats over united people, prosperous and happy, commanding the respect of every nation on the face of the globe, and ex
 tending helping hand to the oppressed wherever found.
 The history of the American Nation, from the signing oi the Declaration of Independence to the present day, fur nishes many an example of heroic pa triotism, as well as long list of names of those who, in their several stations in 1LAE. AAAt tAI4lGu anu 4NNN4AAb b-AI n iEiA est honors our country could bestow. Of John Paul Jones, whose intrepid sea- manship and indomitable will and per severance, inspired a sentiment which has culminated in the present American navy. respected wherever the flag is fly ing to the breeze. We are pleased 10 know that our government, with the very able assistance of admiral Porter, has discovered the remains of the hero of the Bonhomme Richards, and that those remains will soon be landed on our shores and deposited in consecrated sail. Then, on each return of this day, lis last resting place will be decorated with flowers in honor of his memory. Since his day, Phoenix like have arisen to meet every emergency at sea, our Far raEut. who lashed himself to the mast head of his flagship in Mobile Bay, the better to observe the movements of the enemy and direct his own fleet; admir- Als Sampson and Schley, the destroyers 5f the spanish fleet in Cuban waters :: admiral Dewey, who dared the torpedoes and wiped the Spanish armada from of the waters in and about Manila Bay.
 In the halls of congress, and in other civil capacities, another class of mental Iiants, no less distinguished, have ful- tiled their destiny. The fearless signers oi the Declaration of Independence and the sentiment and example of such men a Patrick Henry, Henry Clay, Andrew Jackson, Daniel Webster, the lamented Abraham Lincoln, and hundreds more, saieguarded by an army of military tal- ent, of which generals Washington, Grant. sherman. Sheridan and many others are illustrious in history, have handed down to pOsterity the heritage which every American citizen should take the deepest interest in perpetual ing. They are not all of the defenders 5t American Liberty and Unity. The rank and file of the Army and Navy in the war of the rebellion, must not pass lnnoticed. Admiral Dewey remarked, It was the men behind the guns who
 lone the work" and in the history of Jur country the man behind the gun has not been wanting. When destruc- ton threatened our very existence as Nation, at the call of president Lincoln, the flower of the land arose in their might, forsaking everything near and lear to them, for the dangers and sacri- ices of the battlefield, to stay the de- stroving hand. There were dark days in that long struggle, when the fife and drum, the rattle of musketry, and the boom of cannon furnished all the music; when the fortunes of war seemed held in the balance: when it was impossible to foresee or foretell results. Through five long years the war was waged-bro ther against brother, father against son, Americans against Americans
 l have in mind an incident occurring in the trenches before Nicksburg The approaches had been made to within thirty feet or go of a Confederate fort. In the night time the confederate picket hailed: Hello, Tank .' ''Hellon 'Lets don't shoot" All right; say, Johnnie. come over here and get a square meal" Can't; you won't let me come back" "Yes; we will get you square, and you can go back when you please ' ''All right; I'll come." He came. got a square meal and was asked "What regi- ment?' sixth Mo. Infantrv." "Yes; this is also the 9th Mo infantry-Feder- al" Then my brother is in Go. B" The brother was found; they met there iG the trenches After a little the John nie said: "Guess 1 had better De going