The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-05-29


of those who have answered the roll
call in the Celestial way. There is
much more in the beautiful cere-
monies than Il tribute to the dead.
Whether conducted by the Grand
Army OF the Republic or by the lodges,
the sentiment sought to be inculcated
is the same.
Originating as the decoration plan
did with the Grand Army, it repre-
sented not only tribute, silent and
tender, to the memory of the COM
rades who had answered the bugle
call and had followed the flag through
storms of shot and shell, but it has
kept alive on the affairs of our coun-
try the fires of patriotism.
We have not forgotten our devotion
to principle nor our love of liberty.
They lie deep in the hearts of men
today and only the country's call is
necessary to cause them to burst
forth in all their glorious splendor.
Four score years lad passed since
first the nation dedicated to the
proposition that all men are created
equal" had saw the light of day, when
the long smothered volcano of rebel
lion burst forth and the nation was
paralyzed with the stupendous plan by
which its disruption was sought
1t had been claimed by the muck
rakers of the period that patriotism
was dead in the north and that the
minions of anarchy and disunion
would ride in triumph over the soil
of freedom. and that the rebel yell
would wake the echoes within the
walls of Fanueil and Independence
halls. The south had by appeals to
the passions of her people kept the
spirit of rebellion constantly burning,
and one of the great hopes of the
leaders of that cause was the fact
that the people OF the north cared
little whether the nation was divided
or not.
But what wonderful revelation it
must have been to these deluded
leaders when before the reverbera-
tons of the guns of Fort Sumpter had
died away on the April breeze, there
were thousands of neil rushing to the
defense of the old flag. ready to offer
themselves as sacrifice that the
nation might live. Instead of the
patriotism being dead in the north it
seemed to have merely gathered its
strength in the past and to leap into
giants life when the time for it's
need came.
Nor was there any wavering in the
devotion Of the heroic men of the
north when again and yet again the
great leader, the immortal Lincoln,
called for those who were willing to
risk all in defense of their country.
Though the north was deceived in it's
estimate of the magnitude to which
the idea of national disruption had
been developed, and was required to
sacrifice four years ard three hundred
sixty thousand lives to the defense of
the nation. yet no man faltered in his
allegiance to the glorious stars and
stripes.
A nobler principle was never taught.
1t was that though men might forget
the call of the country when there
was no need for sacrifices, that when
the need came men were willing to
forsake home and wife and mother
and sweetheart and children to pre-
serve the integrity of the nation.
On a thousand battle fields the fall
len heroes lie in unnamed graves and
on tomorrow above the sleeping dust |
will be spread a nations tribute of
love. The fast thinning ranks of the |
boys in blue will march with hating
step and unsteady tread. But in the
hearts of those who have grown to
manhood since these same veterans
passed in review in the capital of the
nation they had preserved. will blaze
anew the fire of patriotism. They will
learn again the lessons of devotion to
lofty purpose.
The men who fought the country's
battles will pass from the scenes of
earth's activities. and their memories
will in time become only a remem-
brance. Bat the cause for which they
fought and to which they gave the !
best years OF their manhood-yea
even their lives-will never be for
gotten.
They wrote In letters of blood the
immortal declaration that no political
party, no part Of the nation. nor no
nation can barter the souls Of men
like chattels in the market place.
They forever established the reality
that all men are and of right ought
to be equal. They broke the shackles
from four millions; Of human beings
and Of countless yet unborn. They de-
clared in thunder tones which shook |