Gilpin observer., 1912-06-06
TRIBUTE TO THE
NATIONS HEROES
DECORATION DAY ADDRESS DE.
LIvERED BY JUDGE II. s.
CLASS AT BRIGHTON.

11Ou II. .. CldSS, county buQSe OF
Adams county. Judge Glass was greet.
ed by large and appreciative audi.
ence, and spoke in part as follows:
Mr.. Chairman, Soldiers, Ladies and
Gentlemen:
Memorial Day is an institution po.
culiar to the American people; in no
other country or cline has any par.
ticular time been set apart sacred to
the memory of the warriors dead.
Brave deeds in battle have long been
told in song and story; valor on the
field has ever been accounted among
all men and all nations since time be.
gan a divine attribute, worthy of the
highest emulation; paeans of victory
have ben the favored song of the poet
and inspired the brush of the artist.
But the purpose Of Memorial Day is
not to stir the blood; not to arouse the
passions of men, nor to inflame the
prejudices contributing to. or resulting
from civil war We are met to pay
the tribute we owe to the defenders Of
our country in her time OF need; to
keep afresh the memory of their deeds
repay in humble thanks the debt
we owe to those who bore the battle.
And by this mean not only those sol
diers who fell fighting upon the field,
facing shot and shell; not alone those
sailors who went down to glorious
death beneath the wave. The spot
where man has died for man is holy
ground ~ ic iudood m honor and n
privilege for the soldier to fall in the
fight, upon some open field; to be in
the fore rank, returning blow for
blow; or, when the enemy Is pressing
heavily and the fate of the day de-
pends on standing firm to hear the
words of cheer Hold the line!'-the
thrill that every soldier must feel
when, having been held in reserve for
hours that seem eternity, he hears the
welcome order "Charge!" At the word
he Is off. eager for the fray
"His not to make reply;
His not to reason why,
His but to do or die
He crosses the valley of the Shadow
Of Death, he climbs the heights and
floats upon the azure the symbol OF
l.
the victorious Stars and Stripes.
And at night. after the sunset gun,
20 sit around the campfire and re-
count brave deeds OF friend and foe.
Fer
Fame is there to tell who bleeds.
And Honor's eye on daring deeds"
But what of those who have enlist
ed for the fight to find an enemy far
more dangerous than the armed foe;
an enemy to which your swords have
.eaden points; a foe which under
mines the courage; an enemy which
palsies the arm and pierces the shield
Disease. No brother to shout a
cheer; no battle-cry to stir the blood;
to feel that your name will occupy nc
Eiche in the bright halls Of Fame;
never more to hear the "neighing
steed, and the shrill trump: the spirit
stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife.
and all the pride. pomp and circum-
stance of glorious war" To meet
death bravely at the hands of this in
visible enemy, in a strange land and
fer from home and loved ones, wheth-
er in the hospital of his friends or in
the dungeon Of his enemy. Is the
highest test OF the soldiers courage
the strongest proof Of the patriots dc,
votion.
And no Memorial Day exercises
would be complete were we to fore
go tribute to the noble women who
contributed their full share to the
cause Of Liberty; those sacrificing
women, fitting over many bloody
field, raising the last cup OF cold wa
ter to the lips Of the fallen-friend or
foe. On behalf OF those soldiers, those
brave men who lay wounded on the
field or stricken with disease in army
hospitals, | thank those women who
smoothed the fevered brow and lis
tened like a mother to the last words
and conveyed the last loving message
to the dear ones at home. and then
at last to press down with the hands
OF loving service the eyelids OF many
a soldier boy in death. Honor the stout
hearts OF mothers. wives. sisters and
daughters who stood with fortitude
and courage and patience at home,
hoping and praying and fearing for
hose at the front. They also serve
who only standard wait"
On this Memorial Day we should
aot only pay the tribute OF our love
and tears to the soldiers-living and
dead-but we should recount the bene-
fits secured to their posterity-the
results achieved. the advantages
which come to us as fruits Of their
sufferings and their valor. for unless
we have learned some lessons these
men fought and died in vain.
While theoretically the cause Of the
Cicil War was the attempted secession
OF the Southern states. I do not be.
lieve it is seriously disputed the real
aud undeil lying reason was slavery.
Every other difference between the
sections could have been compromised
or settled. but no nation could live