The Somerset reporter., 1906-05-31
Memorial Day Address.

We are privileged TO present herew h
the admirable address delivered by
Judge Augustine Simmons of No. Arson
before the members OF he Grand Army,
Russell Relief Corps and others who as
sembled at Grange Hall, yesterday after
noon, to participate In the exercises he'd
there as part Of the Memorial Day OF
servance.
Soldiers of the Grand Army Of the Republic :
The country regards It's defenders as its
pride and glory, not only for what they we're
and are in patriotism and ,lf-sacrihce, but
also for the system Of government that makes
such devotion to country possible, Every
soldier suffered for the country because it IS
his country. The wars Of history are mainly
contests for the grandeur and supremacy Of
kings; the Union troops struggled that ma
ton dedicated to liberty might endure.
They fought, not as hirehngs but for their
native land, whose homes and firesides were
Mtiy5. This village is part of the republic.
You are part of the Grand Army Of that re-
public. You suffered for your country, the
country you were born in, and which with
your compatriots you own.
In the book of nature is written this I'M
changable law: No hJr M after death.
Upon the very bosom of death are nursed the
various forms of life. The destruction of one
form Of existence is the birth of another form.
Development from lower TO higher forms is
the regular path in which animate nature adj
vances In all of her wide domains of life
nature seeks the best, the fttest. There is nc
exception to this law. Itsome times takes cen.
turtles to accomplish the best results, but they
come at last. The world, as a whole, has never
gone backward permanently When dark
ness has covered one-quarter of the globe,
the light of civilization has enveloped another
part. There is nothing subtracted from the
sum Of phi, scal mental or moral energies.
Force is eternal. While there IS great loss
In one corner Of natures domain, there Is an
immense gain elsewhere. The laws of COM
pen alton and adjustment constantly operate.
1t was intended in the beginning that action,
struggles, and contests should be the methods
of development. Work is the price Of human
happiness, and labor is the cost OF human
Advancement; but the effects of honorable
work and of benehcent labor are not always
realized by the workers. From the depths OF
pain arise the heights of JOY Ease is appseeiat-
ed by the soul that has staggered under gall
ing burden. Therefore, opposites are neces-
sary in life, for we learn things best by con-
trast Sin locks arms with virtue; hate is
upon the heels of love, and love follows hate;
tears drown smiles, and smiles chase away the
tears; war shrouds the face of peace, and
peace smiles again; defeat stares scornlully in
the face of su, cess, but success sets her teeth
and triumphs; death follows life, and life
follows death. 1t must be clear to every OBJ
serving mind, that, in the economy Of nature
it is necessary for men to discuss, dispute,
combat, and even war against each Other; for
in the heat OF con ests are forged some Of
the mi htiest levers that elevate the race
But in any sphere activity implies friction
and friction means decay. \ machine in its
busy and useful action wears out in making
articles for our comfort; the decaying leaf, a.
it slowly and reluctantly finds its grave where
was once its cradle, adds to the lifegiying
properties OF the soil by contributing its mite
10 the tremendous energy which gives birth
to another leaf that tlutters in the cooling
breezes Of springtime, and in this resurrection
lie follows death. BY the death and suffer
ing OF the brave souls we honor today you
and | enjoy citizenship in a free land; in
their gift we rejoice, though we grieve at the
loss Of the gvers; in the fire OF their struggles
the melted shackles dropped from weary
hands, and the bands of a magnificent union
were welded solidly together.
This country has many secret societies that
are dear to their members but what organi-
cation is there on earth other than the Grand
Army of the Republic whose members are
united in fraternal sympathy by common
dangers, by common suferings, and by com
mon victories? What are signs and cere-
monies and rituals and parades compared
with the realities of those terrible days
But peace, rather than war. is the normal
condition Of a civilized people, 50 that the
patriotism Of peace is Of more consequence
than the patriotism Of war. In the one
hundred and twenty.three years of our ma
tional life since we gained our independence
we have had not more than eleven or twelve
years of war; hence our growth must depend
largely upon the patriotism of those who
have never smelled the smoke Of battle, in
other words, upon the patriotism OF peace
But it cannot he denied that generally the
most unsefsh sacrifice and devotion is mani
fest in the patriotism Of war, because that
means the greatest suffering and the loss OF
If itself Nevertheless, the flag that floats
over the schoolhouse, the public hall, at the
masthead and even over the fort sh ud teach
the children such love OF country that they
will be willing not only to die for it but alsc
to H0e for it. This means that they will
have public spirit that will make them in
terested in the village or the town where
they live. because patriotism, like charity
begins at home. The love Of home is the
foundation and the soul.sprng of patriotism.
1t hallows the very soil and even the rough
pastures and the rugged rocks where, bare
footed and hatless, the country child plays
through the happy hours. True patriotism
means an interest in the town meeting. to see
that such measures are voted as will benefit
the whole community, the masses OF the
people rather than a selfish few; to see
that money enough Is raised for the sup
port Of schools, because a child is the
most sacred thing on earth; and tht
child should be taught in the publ c schools
that honesty and fidelity and unsehsh endea
yor in private and in public life are III,
highest qualities + patriotism, because, i
patriotism means love of country, it mean;
first that part Of the country where the citizen
lives.
But ones country IS not simply the soil
though the author Of cur national hymn knew
he was touching a natural emotion when ht
sang,
81 love thy rocks and nils,
Thy woods and tempted hills
Country is the associations connected with
the soil; it is the people, their history
4 rsbui,p literature SONGS ipusIr- Institutions