The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-06-02

past, to a morning In April AZ year
ago, when the white winged angel 9
Ipeoce withdrew from the sight 9
men, and the nation was awakened
from Its repose BY the ~reyerbatio1
of cannon which echoed through IN
land. The telegraph wires bore tn
messages from Fort Surnpter, ant
IColumbia pale and, amazed but full,
aroused at last called for her arInor
The volcano that had been smolder
ing and smoking for 80 years hat
burst forth in all Its fury. Civil wal
had come, and what the end would! bt
was known only to q higher power.
Patriotic Defend Country
AS the repeated calls OF the immor
tai Lincoln for more troops were
heard in the land, patriotic citizens
everywhere left their homes and the
peaceful occupations of husbandry
and trade, and went forth to follow
wherever the great generals Sheridan
sherman and Grant might lead
thought it might be certain death
upon many a bloody field. Victorious
heroes. many Of them sleep peacefully
and unheeding beneath a southern sur
in nameless and unmarked graves
and Columbia having sheathed mel
mighty sword, weeps today for mel
children slain.
All honor to the immortal dead, who
though lost to earthly vision, are
present with us in spirit and gree
their old comrades today, with mem.
ory and blessings from the heights OF
heaven. Again with you they ngn1
the battles of freedom. and sing the
songs Of victory. Guardians OF our
country's honor, with you they rejoice
in the prosperity and u~ntarnisheo
glory of the great union they died to
Veterans, Devotion to Country.
The mightiest of republics honors
Vol gray haired veterans OF the
Grand Army for your valiant and
courageous deeds, for saving the
Starry emblem Of the republic from
dishonor On many hard fought, bloody
Aelds. thereby securing to later gener-
atinns the blessings Of peace and pros
,nerity which have been SO bountifuny
showered upon our people during tne
Years since the civil war. Our citl-
yens shonld never lose sight OF the
lessons Of patriotism franght by your
devotion, which led you against al
most unsurmountable barriers TO
storm the Notifications OF the enemy
and secure the perpetuation OF the
American union, which within its shell
tering arms today protects the WOUND
ed and conquered south as wen az
the victorious north.
A mighty heritage is ours, n with
it descends a mighty responsibility.
Peace and freedom SO dearly PUT
chased with the blood and SUFFERING
OF the immortal dead and OF the I'M
mortal living should not be considered
lightly by any citizen. The nation IS
composed of units making up the
great whole, as drops of water make
up the ocean, and as the whole ocean
resembles a single drop, Sc the char
acteristics Of the nation resemble
those of the individuals composing it.
American citizenship should be re-
garded as a priceless, sacred treasure,
and none should enjoy, and accept it's
benefits without fully realizing its re-
sponsibilities. AS in the days Of the
ancient Roman republic 1t was great
err to be a Roman citizen than to be a
king, so in the American republic it
should be greater to be a citizen of
the union, in the dignity Of its I'M
conquered glory, than to be any po-
tentate, prince or ruler.
Owe Prestige to Patriots.
We owe present prestage and
power, not SO much to the might OF
arms as to the strength Of the parti-
otto spirit back Of the arms. It has
ever been and ever will be ''the man
behind the gun" to whom the enemies
ornaments bow, to the %invincible
self-sacraficing courage Of the indi-
vidual citizen.
AS long as American hearts beat
as one with reference to defending
the dignity and glory of the Union.
symbolized by that brilliant starry
banner, no external force, or combina-
ton Of Powers, can destroy the coun.
try which our courageous fathers and
the Grand Army Of the Republic have
builded, 20 wrest from Freedoms
hand her sacred emblem. As long as
general integrity and comparative
freedom from corruption prevails
among our pecple, the United States
must remain the brightest light in
the starry dome of the nations. In
the full dignity of American citizen
ship, when the occasion arises, an Ad-
miral Dewey, Schley or Evans will
send the fleets of the enemy to the
bottom, while the flag we love will
float freely upon the breezes of
heaven untarnished with never dimin-
fishing but ever increasing glory.
Honor to Women.
All honor is due to the grey haired
Veterans and all honor is due to the
grey haired mothers, wives and wild
ows, who in the darkest days Of our
country's peril, cheerfully accepted
the burden of caring for the home.
while the husband, father, or son
fought with the army, who worked I'M
tiringly preparing necessaries for the
destitute soldier and d%elicacies for the
wounded. History, embelllshing its
pages Of glory, makes no mention Of
their aching hearts and the agony Of
suspense they endured, anxious vel
dreading to hear the latest news from
the front, and to read the lists Of the
wounded and dead, which might con
tain the names of their best beloved
ones. NG.@ "
Women Devoted to Cause.
For the most part these women
compose the Relief Corps of today
Look into their faces and you may
see a nations history written there