The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-05-26
NO more shall the war cry sever
Or the winding river be red

Or the winding river be red
May 30 marks another milestone in
the lives of those old heroes of 81. Heads
are white with the SHOWS of many win
tiers. Backs are bent with the toll and
struggles of the passing years. But the
fire of recollection burns bright in the
eyes of those comrades as they march
down the street to the strains of martial
airs and wend their way to the city on
the hill where their brothers of "a long
gone past lie quietly awaiting the sound
ing OF the last great reveille. Varying
thoughts will come to them as they stand
around the mounds of their comrades
who have answered the call of the Silent
Reaper and with reverent hands place
their floral tokens of memory and love
Pictures viii come trooping up of those
stirring times of the sixties and they
will live over again those days of tur-
moiL Once again they will kiss their
loved ones goodbye at the garden gate
and swing off down the street on the
way to the front while bands play and
people line the walks and shout after
them their goodbyes and God speed. The
days of training and the routine of camp
life, and then the battle perhaps a sud
den attack in the night perhaps line
of charging boys in gray hurled at them
at the coming of dawn The muffled
roar of cannon, the rattle of musketry,
above all the inspiring strains OF pat.
riotic airs. Men begin to fall and the
lines to thin. but always out there in
front are the colors and they press on
into the thick OF it all. In this moving
panorama each occupant of that hillside
city lives again clothed in a. uniform
Of blue, manfully hearing his part in
il all.
And then the picture fades and each
surviving hero turns silently away,
thinking perhaps of the time when he
must heed the call OF The Great Com
mandcr-m- Aict and be mustered ont of
the service. The path of glory leads
but TO the grave"
Decadent indeed will our nation become
if We shall ever forget to pause ON each
recurring Memorial Day and pay our
tribute to those living and dead who
answered their country's call Time the
great leveler has healed the bitterness
between the North and the South and
today we recognize the sterling manhood
the loyalty to conviction of those who
wore the gray equally with those who
wore the blue. Wanting not in pat.
riotism. We express the hope that never
again shall IL be found necessary to re-
sort to arms to settle any conflict in
this country OF ours The price is too
terrible in human blood and human sui
fering The empty sleeves, the mounds
on southern battlefields the aching
hearts Of those left behind, the vacant
chair by the fireside. these were an awfuI
price to pay.
''War is hel' and a nation that leads
the world in science and art and knowl-
edge surely can settle its great questions
in nobler ways than by hurting the
flower of its manhood against shot and
steel
So while with bowed head and tear
dimmed eve we pay homage next Tues
day to the heroes Of '6l, let us resolve
that never again shall tn Gland be red
dened with blood and the homes Of the
nation filled with anguish. peace hail
her victories no less renowned than
war" There are soldiers of peace equally
worthy Of our homage with the soldiers
of courage. Those who spend their lives
in making this old world happier abid
ing place. are worthy Of our highest
honors. So while we strew our flowers
Of gratefulness over the mounds OF those
dead heroes of 81 and pay our tokens
Of respect to their comrades who linger
vet awhile, let Us equally pay tribute to