The National tribune., 1911-04-27
HOW DID YOU FEEL, CoMRADEo
A Reminder of the Past by Patriotic
Instructor.

A Reminder of the Past by Patriotic
Instructor.
When 80 years ago treaSon's shot
was fired at the Flag that proudly
waved defiance from. Sumter's walls,
and that brave handful of loyal men
under Anderson. defending it TO the
last extremity. were finally compelled
to lower it. how did you feel, COM
rade; how did YOU feel?
When Lincoln sent out his cali for
volunteers to come to the defense of
the Flag and the Nations Capital.
where treason was seething. where
assassins lurked, and you read It. how
did you feel, comrade; how did you
feel?
When. IS hours later. you. with
musket on shoulder. marched into the
capital, and the President, meeting
you with outstretchcd hands, face
beaming with joy, saying those words
that reached your heart, Thank God.
you have come at last how did you
feel, conrade: how did you feel?
When facing on the firing line those
hosts who battled to crush to the
earth Gods Republic. when shot and
shell. sent on their death mission, were
hurtling around YOU, when the COM
rade who slept under the same blank
ct with you fell from your side in the
battle. how did you feel, comrade;
how did YOU feel?
When those Southern hordes invad-
ed the North and Washington, BaIti-
more, Harrisburg, Philadelphia were
apparently almost within their grasp;
when you after making forced
marches of 40 miles a day, brought
them TO i halt, and on the field OF
Gettysburg for three days, losing 23.-
900 of your comrades. fought with a
desperation such as was never known
before. the greatest of the 10 great
battles OF the worlds history and
turned back to Southern soil Lees
host, how did you feel, comrade; how
did you feel?
When, after four long years of that
deploraole fretricidal war, in which
over 100000 of your comrades were
killed on battlefield and over half a
million wounded, you reached Apo
mattoX, and on that glad, sunny Sab
bath day, while the sweet tones of the
distant church bell reverberated
among the hills, singing, Peace on
earth, good will to all men," you wit
messed the lowering of the flag of
treason and the final triumph of the
dear old Flag, that you had SO long
fought for without one star being
eliminated from its field of blue, how
did you feel, comrade; how did you
feel?
When you returned to your home
and had once more resumed the voca-
ton of the life of peace, and the rust
ed plowshare frightened as you bent
to aid the work of binding up the
Nations wounds" doing your part in
building the most humane and great
est Nation in the world, how did you
feel. comrsde; how did you feel?
When, as the years have passed and
you are bent with the iufirmities of
old age; when the plow is rusted, the
shingles falling from the house and
the srasshopper has become a burden
10 you, the bright. steely eyesigft
dimmed, the quick, alert step becomes
tottering, and, unable to work longer
YOU reach the milestone in life's jour
ney that. says Rest" and YOU learned
that you had asked in vain of that
Government to fulfill the promise of
President Lincoln, and be granted that
pension which would permit you to
end your days in comfort, how did
you feel, comrade; how did you feel?
When you saw the specter. Want,
go into your comrades home, and day
by day witnessed the shadows grow
Ing longer in the West, as the strug-
gle was being made by him and the
loved life's companion TO remain to-
gether, and when finally the effort
became too great. did not your heart
ache as you saw your old comrade
come to his cottage door, and, stand
ing on the parting stone, throw bIs
arms around the form of the dear
wife, the one who thru the long. weary
years Of the past had ministered TO his
lifes comfort, and kiss her furrowed
cheek, while the tears filed the eye,
as he bade her Good by" TO go into
the Soldiers Home, that she might
have the small pension he was receiv-
ing (too small for hoth), and keep
the spark of life alive in her, how did
you feel, comrade; how did you feel?
When YOU read the words uttered
by the Nations lawmakers--uttered so
frequently that they never could do
enough for the old civil war veteran"
you believed them; when President
Lincoln made that promise to care for
them in his address delivered Just 30
days previous to his death, you be-
lieved that when the time came to
have that promise fulfilled that the
Nations lawmakers would consider il
as sacred; but when you witnessed the |
cold refusal, the fierce resistance to |
The veterans appeal for SIS or $40 Il |
month made by some of those law
makers who in the past have been |
the loudest in protestations of loyalty |
to and desire to aid the veteran, how |
did YOU feel. comrade; how did you
feel?-Edward o. Shelton, Patriotic |
Instructor, Gettysburg Post, 191. e. A. |
r., Department of Massachusetts,, Boss
ton, March 20. 1911.