The National tribune., 1910-08-25

of courage and self-sacrificing devotion.
Wherever 1000 young Americans were
mustered, whether on the fertile praiT-
les of the West or amid the murmuring
pines and hemlocks of New England, a
splendid fighting regiment was a sure
result. IL given the opportunity. it
would not fail to gloriously demonstrate
its valiant character.
What l am saying to-day about New
Hampshire regiments / have said and
shall say about those from other States.
Comrades. as we march down the
long western slope, whittier Grant,
Sherman. Thomas and Sheridan and a
! million of our comrades have preceded
u.s. the most glorious Of life's sunsets
greets US. God has been wonderfully
kind to us, in that he has shown US be-
fore we pass away a thousand-fold
richer consummation of all that we
strove for and secured than ever before
gladdened the eyes of passing veterans.
While We suffered and sacrificed far
more than any other army ever mus-
tered. while we fought vastly more ter
rifle battles-combats the slaughter of
which appalled, the world-the marvel
GUS results of those services and sacri-
fees have still more astonished the
world. AS they were passing away the
veterans of the Revolution and the
War of 1912 saw the country for which
they had fought still poor and strug-
CLING, its future clouded and doubtful.
burdened with debt, and its sections dis
cordant and hostile. The veterans Of
the Mexican War had as their reward
the extension of the country to the
shores of the sundown seas and the ac-
quisition of California, the Land OF
Gold But 1t seemed that the country
for which they had fought was falling
Ito pieces.
When we enlisted it was to confront
a million men in arms to destroy the
Government; it was to recover a terri
tory larger than all Europe outside of
Russia, which had been wrested by
ItreasOnable hands from the National
domain. When we were mustered out
no one in all the wide region dared
raise flag or draw sword in hostility
to the Government.
There were then 100000 people
embittered against each other by four
years of awful fighting and the memo
rieS of q million newly-made graves.
Now there are 90.000.000 people DWELL
ing in prosperous content in comfort
able homes stretching from the Atlantic
to the Pacific, from the Lakes to the
Gulf. All obey the same laws, rever-
ence the same Flag. and are proud of
the same National destiny. Then We
were laboring under an enormous Ma
tional debt, with more than the wealth
of an empire swallowed up in the hor-
rible NAV of war. To-day we are the
richest country in the world. Then our
country had no consideration among
the powers of the earth. They made
their plans as if we did not exist. To-
day we are the leading world power.
and no one moves until assured of eur
attitude.
All this is the work of the Grand
Army of the Republic. None OF it
would have been possible except for
what we did. Surely we can face the
setting sun with a proud consciousness
of having fought our fight glorious for
our country and mankind. We can
turn our aging eyes upon the Flag
which we have made pure as the stars
and benefcent as the life-giving SUM
shine, and
All doubt and treason scorning,
Believe, with courage true and faith
sublime,
That it will float until the eternal morn
ing
Pales with its glories all the lights OF
Time.