Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1908-05-29


and gather in thought for the final
titanstic struggle at Gettysburgh, let
us reverently pause and thank God
that the strife is over. Let us gather
each year; let us express gratitude to
the noble men living and dead and to
the heroic wives and mothers who
through their love suffered equally
with the soldiers. 1t is not Emine
today to raise again tina dividing Is
sues Of the past: with us here are men
who we're no mean foe. To accept
defeat without bitterness. and to.enter
with unfeigned loyalty into future
national duties is noble. Thank
God, that now with magnanimity
of mind there is no division.
Personally l feel like taking of my
hat to the Southerners of today. II
we of the North were first to abolish
slavery. they of the South have been
first in emsncipating from a greater
slavery-cursing white and black
alike-ths liquor traffic. OF the 30,
600. 900 Southerners 1900, 900 live
under flag prohibiting the death
dealing liquor system.
No one need to put his ear to the
ground to discover pressing problems
unlike those met by our forefathers,
but requiring equal devotion and
sacrifice. In our industrial life, in
our political life there are issues to
be met. l will but suggest two for
your further thought and determine
tion. Men who live in our country
with no thought of giving, but only
of getting .are dangerous; men who
with greed would sell for personal
comfort are not patriots. There is
demand for men of principle for
men who cannot be bought; for men
who will sacrifice perronal interests
to national we'll being. One Other
great national question l will men
tion, the liquor traffic. Great pro-
gress has been made. especially In the
last seven years but it is still one Of
our mightiest problems; no greater
foe of the Grand Army is yet among
us, In the conflict for its overthrow.
Shall we hesitate to meet the issues
with equal sacrifice aud strength of
purpose.
The Civil War began by the sur
render of Fort Sumpter by Major
Anderson in 81; the war virtually
ended by the restoration of the same
flag by the same hand 10 the same
Fort in '65. Our party says, DIR.
Cuylar went over to Fort Sumpter in
steamer commanded by negro,
who was an emsncipated slave and
later became member Of Congress.
The broken walls of Sumpter, brown.
battered aud lonely in the quiet wave
were hopelessly SCARED and all around
it on the narrow beach lay the
stratum of bullets and broken iron
several inches deep. A great crowd
of distinguished people were present
DR.. Storrs offered prayer aud Henry
Ward Beecher delivered the oration.
When the speech was concluded
Major Anderson drew out from {
mail bag the identical bunting ths
he had lowered four years before ant
attached the flag to the hslysIds ant
when it began to ascend Gen. Gil
more Prasped the rope behind hin
and as it came along to our part O.
the platform several of us grasped d
also. Such a volley Of cannon from
ship and shorel The scene inside o
the fort beRgars description. Th'
handolasps, the shouts and hugs an,
tears made it the greatest day in mos
of our lives. What will the consum
nation of the purposes Of God mean
what brain can picture the futur'
that is before his hand2 Let us linl
our lives with his and enter into hi
plans. Most of YOU veterans will no
have many more days to live; ma,
they be bright with faith 10 the nigh
aud love aud sure purposes of God AM
| ke the old soldier when life was a
IT. last ebb and the memory Of tn
: II call in the army was in his mind
answer present IN the fual roll ca
= at Gods right hand.
DECORATION DAY, MAY 30
Members Of the G.. A. r. and W
X. c. will meet 10 their hall at
, O'Clock p. III. and march in body
the opera house where City Attorne
CLEMENTS will deliver the Decoratio
Day address.
After tine exercises at the oper
house the members OF the Post and {
: the Relief Corps will form in line @
Sixth street and march to the Rogt
River bridge where the closing exc
= cises will be conducted by the Reli'
g corps.
! The School children and all Il
various civic societies Of the city, al