Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-30


great men of history Through good re-
port and bad. victory and defeat. summer
and winter sunshine and storm, they un-
hinchingly and mplaining1y met every
requirement of the great task that fell upon
them. No hardship was too severe for them
to undergo, no loss was too heavy for
them to bear, no sacrifice of comfort. or
blood, or life was too great for them to
make. They laid all unSparingly upon their
cOUntry's altar, and behold the result
this mighty nation, so full of honor and
full of promise. Only the shortcomings of
ourselves, of those who are to come after
US can bring their work to naught. Our
presence here today is our pledge that 1t
shall not fail through fault of ours, for
we have come, not only to Strew flowers
on their graves. recount their deeds, extol
their virtues and pay tribute to their mem
DRY. but also that we may study the lessons
they taught, and by these sacred and beau
uful ceremonies Consecrate ourselves anew
to the great duty of perpetuating what
they preserved. May God give us wisdom
and courage to do our duty well as
they did theirs If so, the Union they
saved and the institutions they perfected
will endure for long ages to come and with
the passing years bear ever-ipcreasing bles-
sings to huma nifty.
After another selection by the Marine
Band. Chaplain Charles c. Pierce, Artillery
Corps, L. S. A, was introduced
Chaplain Pierce's Address.
Chaplain Pierce said:
Il am not a senator. / am a representa-
tive A poor one, perhaps, and yet my con-
stituency is my only excuse for being on
my feet l am not an orator. The SOL
diers call me by another name, and 7 have
no wish to change it. 1t is a case where
wishing would be futile. because when
soldier does the christening, an appellation
sticks. There is nothing to be DONE ex-
cept, If the name be bad one to immor-
taliZe 1t by noble action. or If a good one
n nr0
when the sculptor gives ii a place upon
ones tombstone.
II am glad to be here. for many reasons
First of all, because the men of the G.. A.
r. desire that the men of the Spanish war
shall be represented in these services.
DO you realize what that means? 1t
means that fellows recognized as
real soldiers by men who know what it is
to be soldier 1t Is a compliment to any
man to have clear ballot when he seeks
admission into any worthy order. 1t means
that the craft after due examination. have
concluded that their standards will not be
lowered by his admission.
For many years our fellows have looked
up to the survivors of the sixties with a
| deal Of pride. as being the real thing We
have believed everything you told us, and
| have given each individual soldier sole
| credit for saving the Union. 1t matters
not to us that YOU take US in at a consider
| able discount, as being veterans IN embryo
We are glad to be saved by the skin OF
our teeth Wen do anything you want
! If you'll only let US stay. All we want is
lovin: we don't want your money.
Nothing could give US greater rejoicing
| than to see you place some tribute upon
| the graves Of our dead. as you strew flow
ers upon the graves of your own. And II
anything done on earth can be as balm 10
disembodied souls 1t must delight our dead
| to know that the perfume in the sod above
| them came from the hands of men who
learned in a bigger war how to define a
| soldier. 1t comforts all of US to know that
| ha fellows taxa sort of
,ternal pride in US.
"The logic of birthdays may assign to
some of the melancholy duty of caring
for your graves in the years which We
| should like to postpone. but I can assure
| you that the mission will be performed
| with an added tenderness and reverence be-
cause of these anniversaries which we are
permit ed to share with you, ana the MEM
| DRY which we shall always cherish, of your
| benediction and your care of the graves OF
our younger martyrs.
II am glad to be here for another reason,
viz: that 1 have somebody to represent.
| The number Is insignificant IN comparison
with yours. But the character Of the men
shows that there Is no room for pesstmism
| in a study of American patriotism.
Love for the nation Is as deep-seated as
| It Is widespread. No one of us Is disposed
| to dissipate the heritage Of the fathers Of
| the republic
earthward from the bourne of the immor-
| tails you will know this country by its flag.
| There may be more stars in it. but 1t will
| be the same bright banner that you bore
| aloft. and that you gave to your children
| as legacy of love.
| Our men took 1t from your hands, as they
| sung the battle cry of modern civilization:
| "A Charge to keep have God to Glori-
| ~. And though they brushed it against
| q banner full of yellow, and bore 1t into
! distant chimes. 1t Is their Joy that 1t has
not faded in the glare Of a tropical sun
| nor taken on jaundiced tint from the
moral tone of the peoples over whom II In a
| been raised. nor has 1t been bitten from
its staff by the bullets of men whose aim
| was more true than ours. nor captured by
| foe more vtgiiant than its defenders
"Our men have brought 1t back That is
| something. And 1t is just as pure as when
| you gave 1t. That is more. We are not
ashamed to leave 1t with you for had Its
| every star voice and every fold a Ian
| guage, you would listen in vain for any
| story of dishonor. and the ears Of all ma
TONS every man in his own tongue, would
hear the protestation. Of which our cold
footed and cold-blooded foes would fain de-
l hat 1vv1no To a an n1opsH