St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1909-09-22

I'm every CITY anu ldIRC lOWu lHCAC WCiC
recruiting offices on every corner. Flags
flying, bands playing usually fife and
snare drum, when accompanied by a
bass drum properly manned with its
snap and stirring music, sweeter to an
old soldiers ears today than the finest
music of the highest order in concert or
opera. We remember the flags and the
banners; these flags stand for all the
soldiers hold dear. They standf for liberty,
loyalty, country, good government, in
short for the United States. These we
can see and handle; when these are dis
honored it comes very near the life blood
of the soldier. We remember this great
army fastening to the front, and what
an army! the like OF which was never
seen on the earth. On they come by
companies, regiments, brigades. divisions
and corps, tramp, tramp, tramp; then
comes artillery and the grinding of the
artillery wheels, no other wheels sound
like these; and the rattle of the cavalry,
we can almost hear them now after so
many years. We have a strong hope
that these sounds will not be heard or
these scenes witnessed any more on the
earth. There is almost universal hope
| ludL nC lag LllDuldl VI WOll III pCdGC
congress will settle disputes without
war. Something will have to be done
or the whole world will be bankrupt.
The great money expense of war is being
considered. The war of the rebellion-a
civil war; a war among ourselves, cost
this country, all told, north and south,
between four and FIVE billion dollars.
The United States has increased in pop
ulation in the last ten years, about 10.
per cent and it has increased in military
expenses 800 per cent, this in time of
peace. If war should be declared it
would double this amount. Weare using
about 70 per cent of all our revenue in
preparing for war in time of peace.
Russia is planning a billion dollar navy
and is actually spending 5000, 900, 900
a year upon ornaments as against ST.
900, 900 year upon education. Great
Britain is spending $300,000,000 year
on her army and navy as against $780,
900, 900 on education, science and art
combined. Germany has increased her
debt in the last generation from $751;
{ 900 900 to over 81, 100000, 900. Most
of it has been spent on her army and
, navy. Other nations are straining every
! nerve to follow suit. There will have to
) be halt soon. Some of these countries
[ have large number of unemployed who
need help. Ruin stares all the nations
! of the earth in the face if they keep up
this rivalry in armament. Experience
J has demonstrated that Swollen navies
5 fan the fires of hatred" so said MIR.
: Jefferson. 1t is claimed that all this ex-
3 pense in preparing for war is in the inter.
est of peace; it seems a paradox; some.
/ thing is wrong somewhere. Peace is
better than war and we want peace il
we have to fight for it, but we do not
e want to be ruined in the process. There
y is better way, and we firmly believe
). that the teachings Of the golden rule ant
s its practice is coming to the front, anC
9 that war will cease on the earth. Sher
> man was right, war is hell" Let u
/, all think peace, talk peace and liv
:. peaceably with all men if possible, no
looking for trouble but remembering
that there is so much good in the wors
of US and so much bad in the best of u
that it does not behoove any of us t.
be too critical Of the rest of u.s."
About a million men were mustere
out at the close of the war in '65; on
million volunteer soldiers from the mort
| had rounded up the confederacy. Apr
II 9, Lee had surrendered his army t
\ Grant and the universal cry of The wa
H is over" was heard on all sides. 1t wa
H a great problem of what would be til
H result of turning loose in the country {
H a million soldiers who had been withou
H the restraints of civilization for fou
years; it caused a great deal of appr
H hension on the part of the authorize
We heard of cases where they doubled tt
H police, but it was but a very short tin
II before the old soldiers were the policemen
II and it was a marvel what honor we
Il bestowed upon these returned soldier
/ There have been five presidents OF tt
1 United States selected from this compan,
19S governors of commonwealth, II
1 senators of the United States and trol
1 this same company, congressman in
4 large number. | have not had any
y these honors yet but am waiting an
willing.
The war is over. 1t might have bee
- worse Some of us escaped with OF
,e: lives and it largely depends on us whf
" we have made of life since the war. "
in have had some battles and son
be victories. May we keep our minds @
n. the victories, look for flowers and Il
lis blessings. You see l am and would
he optimistic. Making the best of wht
20 we cannot help is good philosophy an
V, not very bad religion; though there
st snow on the roof there may be fire G
IS, the hearth. had motto to live rit
S, instead of trying too hard to die ric
D. and am we'll convinced that | sha
" carry it out. am in no danger. If
lg had riches l would have to give the
Or all up as the wealthy Hartman did Il
ne other day. Any of these trif1es such {
" riches, or the North Pole, that l cannC
fv keep, are not worth working ones self
e. to death for. had rather be intereste
of in true riches,' the kind that we can tai
i'd with us when we march over the rive
r., the riches that come from practicing tt
he golden rule, doing unto others as "
he would like to have them do unto us.
o. believe that the time is coming whe
~ right will be at the front, when might
tn order to be powerful will have to
of right. l fear that some Of you will thin
of that am trying to preach. hope no
d. These are my sentiments. They hay
hit been growing on me of late. | am tryir
Nv to foster them. | am sure they will he
he to make our last days our best days. S
may it be.