The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-05-07
THE SOLDIER DEAD.

Preparations have been completed
in this city for the observance of Men,
orial day by those who wore the blue
in the days that tried mems souls.
The public should take far more than
passing interest in this event. In
fact. with the exception of the ceremo-
MES for the remembered dead, the
younger generation should take the
directing hand, and by this means
show their respect to the memory of
those who have answered the last
bugle call and have enlisted in the
great army of the Immaculate Com
mander, and at the same time relieve
the fast failing hands of those who
yet remain, of the work which con-
socrates again the ground where rest
the sacred dead.
The ranks of the great army who
answered the call TO arms. with the
accord that has lived and will yet live
till patriotism shall he no more, I'VE
are coming, Father Abraham, three
hundred thousand strong" are fast
thinning and in a few years the men
who wore the blue and followed Grant
and Sherman and Sheridan on score
of bloody battle fields will be only a
memory. They wrote the pages OF our
national history that will be the 'ad-
miration of the student and the patriots
shall remain frankincense on the
altar of human rights
The world has never seen a parallel
like that for which they went to war.
Oppression had driven men to arms in
the past, but then the oppressor's heel
had trodden upon the neck until resist
ance or death was the only issue.
Not SO when from every city and ham
let and farm they rushed in the
dark days of impending disaster and
ruin the thousands who counted life
as nothing when the surrendering of
the union and the destruction of all
that men had held sacred in a dem
Ocracy We're in peril. Neither were they
wards OF the spoils as had been the
armies which had been valiant in the
u.ln |, b,l.
value save for their own aggrandize-
ment.
They were prompted only by that
latent fire of patriotism that once
kindled burnt into an unquenchable
flame that was only subdued when the
purpose which called it forth had
ceased to be.
1t has been said that patriotism may
pass from nation and that those who
have once burned with the love of
country may forget. Let him who
thinks SO turn to the records of those
who now gather to pay tribute to their
comrades who lie beneath the soil they
consecrated anew. and read there the
deeds of valor and acts of daring, the
record of the heroic charge or the
deadly repulse. and then forever close
his lips in shame.
These men did not feed their inspira-
ton on success alone. Had they done
SO they would have returned to their
homes after their first defeat and rout
at Bull Run. Instead they buckled
on their armor anew. and when the
three months of enlistment had ex-
pired they were ready to pledge their
services to their country until the end
should be.
And no matter whether they were
following the wavering banner of Nc
Clellan in his advances and retreats
against and from Richmond. dying of
inaction on the banks of the Rappaha-
mock. driving the legions of Lee from
the sacred soil of liberty at Gettys-
burg, dealing sledge-hammer blows
against the fortress of Vicksburg,
stormiag the bloody heights of Look
out Mountain under the magnetic
leadership of Hooker. slowly retreat
ing from the desperate field of Shiloh.
holding the fort in the face OF star
walton at IuKa and Corinth. following
the daring Sherman to the sea. rally
ing to the inspiring words of Sheridan
ut Cedar Creek. Turn, boys. were go
ing back" or following the unconquer-
able Grant through hell Of shot and
shell from the Rappahanock to
Appomatox. they were the same un-
faltering heroes. And when all was