Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1907-06-28
MONTGOMERY

genuine feelings which the citizens
have toward the old Soldiers OF the
Republic.
1t is now forty two years since the
close of the Civil war and the partici-
pants in that struggle are already be-
come unique members Of the commun-
ity. The youngest of us are becoming
old men, we are veterans in years and
venerable of age. The active cares and
heavy burdens of life are being shifted
from ours upon younger and stronger
shoulders, and we, no longer capable
of hard physical service, are permitted,
like the old men upon the walls Of
Troy, to watch, with curiosity and
solicitude the younger toilers as they
struggle in the great contests of life.
More than full generation has
passed, as we count successive gener-
ations, since the close of the great
struggle for National unity, in which
we, whom you greet today, were the
active participants.
From the fields of strife the smoke
of battle has long since rolled away;
the wounds of conflict are healed: the
scars obliterated Great nature has
resumed her wonted sway and covered
each mound and bastion with her
mantle of verdure, and the wheat waves
and dallies in the summer winds on
the fields once plowed by the fierce
artillery-but the work accomplished
in that gigantic war will not pass away.
The Republic survives in its integrity,
and so thoroughly was the work done
the staunchest supporters ofthe Uuion.
for one rejoice that that war was
fought out to a finish. The partici-
pants on each side learned to respect
those of the other side as they would
never have done, had some sort of a
peace been patched up in the early
months of the struggle. This recipro-
cal respect of the contestants has grow n
to a feeling of mutual comradeship
and love, SO that between no different
classes of the people is there a more
cordial and friendly feeling than be-
tween those, who, from forty two to
forty six years ago, were facing each
other in hostile array.
The last forty years have witnessed
changes, social, industrial and material
that no like periods in the worlds
history, has ever know. New questions
are arising and requiring an answer
We stand upon the thre shold of 6
future, vast, momentous. appalling
big with possibilities, with responsible
ity. with opportunity, with destiny. II
could say word to those by whom
these responsibilities must be borne
it would be to impress upon their minds
: that underneath and back of all politi-
cal forms the body polite has a social
f and moral life, from which its politica
, framework can in no wise be severed
and that the strength and vitality OF
the political organizations will depend
: upon the strength. vitality and SAINT.
q of this underlying and controlling
moral life. Hence | urge that JUSTICE
! bs the watchword Of the Republic
\ selfishness be denounced and replaced
=, by duty; that capricious Indifference
(. to, or cunning evasion of the Law
: should give away to absolute obedience
u to the law; that patience and heroisn
It should be exercised, both in the en-
y during and remedying of wrongs; tina
II the great interests of the family, tn,
# state, society and civilizations be plac
4 ed before the capricious, pleasure
n loving, self-indulgent feelings of tn
IS individual. In short, that DUTY, ant
l. not selfshness, be the motive of life
q If this shall be, then no problem o
>. government will arise that will no
b find an easy solution by our people
S If this shall be, then "instead of tn
II thorn shall come up the fir tree, an
5. instead of the brier shall come up tn
0 myrtle tree" Then shall we show tha
3 "Righteousness exslteth the nation
'e and that justice is crown of glor
70 upon the brow of the state.
To these opportunities, possibilitie
70 and duties, we, who are SO soon to b
discharged from further earthly servic
e. confidently welcome the comm
st generations.
le
III The big annual dinner given by th
y. management of the state Home We'