The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-26

VINO 4ouBnp ana pled IN rTSeOon s
cause.
Thus sang Joseph Hopkinson in his
immortal Hail, Columbia! And these
are the sentiments of Topekans and
Kansans today for the thousands Of
veterans. old soldiers tried and true.
who have gathered here to participate
in at least one more memorable state
reunion and rally before the eternal
taps are sounded for them. Hero
worship exists" wrote Carlyle. has ex-
listed and will forever exist, universally
among Mankind And again did the
gifted Carlyle write: Worship of
hero is transcendent admiration of a
Great Man"
Occasionally a little-minded man
will be found who insignifcantly in
sists that it is mawkish to render hom-
age to the veterans of the Civil War.
But he is lost in the crowd that is
ever-ready, as it should be, to express
the highest appreciation and respect
for the men who upheld the hands of
Lincoln in his Titanic struggle to save
these United States from disintegra-
ton. These soldiers, those who died
on the battlefeldS as well as those who
lived to reconstruct the nation that they
preserved from dissolution, are heroes
one and all They are great men, as
men have been measured from the very
beginning. To worship them is natural.
it is inevitable with a people who are
patriotic to the core.
And who are more deserving of wor-
ship than these gallant old boys There
is no mind wonderful enough to con-
ceive the conditions that would pre-
vail in this land today if these men,
who are now fast travelling to the
joyous rewards OF a happy eternity
had failed in the strife of that terrible
war. It is likely that the major pow
ers of Europe would be wrangling over
it's division pretty much as they are to-
day over the parcelling up of Morocco.
Perhaps such a division would have
been made by them already. At any
rate there would not have been a
united nation with forty-six vigorous
and virile states, with two more in
immediate prospect. working hand in
hand to solve the pressing problems of
a mighty government, in a way that is
certain of developing a free and demo-
cratic civilization of greater proper
tions than man has yet dreamed.
Not only did the victory of the Union
army in the war of fifty years ago.
make such a nation possible, but the
survivors of that war, the sturdy old
men, of whom a goodly company are
in Topeka now, have done a yeoman's |
work in rebuilding this nation to it's
present state of grandeur. And what
a large part these old soldiers have
played in the development and pro-
gress of Kansas! When the war was
done, they pioneered to this western
section of the country in great num- |
bers. It is almost true that they turn
ed their swords into ploughshares.
They broke a virgin land. Their toll
has builded a wonderful common
wealth, where peace and plenty reigns.
The erstWhile plains are dotted here
and there with thrivingly prosperous
and growing cities, municipalities that |
are clean and wholesome, where city !
life is worth the living. And where |
are rural communities to be found |
that can equal those of Kansas?
All this has been done within the |
brief space of fifty years, little spell |
OF time in the passing OF the ages. And |
all this has been done on the founda- |
tions that were laid for the most part |
by the veterans of the Civil War. How |
peculiarly appropriate it is, therefore, !
that the main feature of the celebra-
ton incident to the Semi Centennial |
of Kansas. should take the |
form of a reunion of its soldiers and |
its heroes in their capital city.
Incidentally, with the aid of President |
Taft, there is to be dedicated to their
memory huge but useful pile of mas
onry and concrete, the Memorial and !
Historical Building which the state has
started to raise. No better memorial
to the veterans could be brought into
existence. Not only will it be beau
tiful to look at. 1t will also be of ser
vice to the state, a utilitarian mem
orial, a memorial worth while. It is
an honor that is due them, and one
that Kansas has been trif1e slow in
extending.