Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-05-31
IN HONOR OF
OUR HEROES
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those soldiers and sailors who have
bled and died to save their country
This custom Of paying respect to the
dead originated among the women Of
the south, who strewed flowers on the
graves of their dead early in the
spring. In some parts of the north
a similar custom grew up, but the
observance Of any particular day was
not universal. On May 5, 1868, Gen
eral John A. Logan, then commander
In chief of the Grand Army of the
Republic, issued an order fixing the
Both day Of May of that year as the
day for the general observance Of the
custom by the members of the Grand
Army and their friends. Since that
time, this day has been generally OBJ
served, and in many states of the un-
ion has been declared legal holt
day.
| The National Cemeteries.
| Congress has established 50 nation
al cemeteries near the different bat
tlefields, most of them being located
in the south, where most of the bat.
ties of the civil war were fought. In
| these SO cemeteries there are 1922, 58l
graves, which are decorated each
year. At the head of each grave is
placed marble headstone, on which
is engraven the name and rank Of
each man. The cemetery at Gettys.
burg. although one of the smallest,
is one of the most widely known, as
it was dedicated by Abraham Lincoln,
and is the place where he made his
famous speech.
Lesson of the Day.
las we assemble each year, as we
are now assembled, for the purpose
OF decorating the graves of our SOL
diers and sailors, we have another pur-
pose; it is to instil into the minds
and hearts OF the rising generation a
love for the cOuntry's flag No coun-
try can ever become truly great unless
all it's citizens have a Keeling of pa
triOtism. 1t is said that the only truly
great love is the love of ones coun-
try-a love shared alike by all. His
tory shows that when the people of
a nation lack this feeling of patriot
ism, that sooner or later that country
is bound to fall. That if it's citizens
thrill of enthusiasm when they see
their country's flag floating to the
breeze, that cOuntry's fate is sealed.
No monarch is powerful enough to in
cite such fear as to bind it's citizens
together with mutual bond as will
this trust inspired by the love of their
countrys flag. Without this feeling
that our country is the greatest ma
fho En NE ~ -1-l
ton or it's people will ever become
great Every true American believes
that the American republic is the
greatest and best nation that exists,
or in fact has ever existed; because
it is founded upon the principle that
all men are created equal, and that
this is government of the people,
for the people and by the people.
Where Patriotism is Dead.
What striking difference between
our own free country and that of Rus.
STA. Shortly after the Russian fleet
had started for the east, there was
held mass meeting of citizens at
which petition and prayer was offered
that the Russian fleet might be de-
feated and destroyed. These people
feel that if their army and navy are
defeated, that there may be some hope
of the common people getting their
freedom and rights-for at the pres
ent time they are as much in slavery
as was the negro in the south before
the civil war. The Russian peasant
feels that he might as well die in bat
tie as to die in exile Ill Siberia, and
fights not as patriot, but with a
grim despair.
Our strength rests Ill our patriot. |
ism, and that has always been our
stronghold. When our forefathers
fought for their independence from
the tyranny of England, it was only
the undying patriotism and love of
freedom that inspired and sustained |
that mere handful of men in that un.
equal struggle. AS George Washing.
ton was the father of his country, so
Abraham Lincoln was it's brother and
protector. 1t was he who, when the
people of the south claimed that they
had perfect right to secede from the
union, and also own slaves, looked for
ward and saw the great struggle that
was approaching, tried in every way
to avoid war and settle the matter in
peace, and offered to pay the slave
owners for the slaves that they might
be set free and the sndckles struck
from their limbs. But such was not
to be; the matter had gone too far
and the war spirit was melted, each
side believing that they were in the
right. But that the union must not
be severed and that we remain one
nation, on that point the people of the
north stood firm. And now, after
years of peace and prosperity, the
south feels that Lincoln was right,
and all join in praise and admiration
Tor the truly greatest man that Amer
ca has ever produced. This is not a
lime to speak in detail of how our
men fought and suffered on the diff.
ferent battlefields, but it is enough to
say that they had a foe of their own
nettle. 1t was American against
American. Never in the annals of
history has there been such a war:
neither side would retreat and it was
simply fight to the finish. 1t was
lot until after four years of such a
struggle that the war was ended and
he remnant of those once great arm
es went back to their families and
homes to again take up the struggle
If life, and not for one instant did they
alter, but went to work to build up
heir homes and their country. Cav
ilry horses, which had charged the
guns of the enemy, We're hitched to
he pillow, and all went to work with