Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-06-20
THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.


The state encampment of Oregon now in session in this city,
is composed Of the noble remnants Of the greatest in his
tory
ounumbered Greeks hores Of barbarans usng only for
blood
PROSTATE Europe at his feet mnions Of conquest
But the Grand Army of the Republic is made Of the shat
tered ranks Of millions who battling for humanity
Before them the pillar OF cloud by day of an attempt to
wrench free constitution into bulwark for extending African
slavery.
with the Dark Continent it's nursery it had the greed
and avace born Of the fires Of hell to peeuate money
making institution.
AS the Union armies marched FORTH they saw porten the
skies foreteng the doom Of the gandes republic the world
had organized.
Upon it's fate hung hopes of humanity and like pillar
of fire by night they from their campfire the dangers
besettng the Union.
estimated eight hundred thousand Of those three millions who
enlisted between the ages of sixteen and twenty.
No Of the later born generations knows anything Of the
spirit Of patriotism that sent fathers and out marching
side by side, and receiving the baptism of fire.
Some bullets hit and hit by bull
And what of the women and children left at home?
There tears at parting grim determination TO stand for
any sacrifice however great
Then there months and years of patient waiting amid
anxiety that can never be measured.
There was not home the north but had its representative
or related one at the front.
There was not home but its portal was liable to be dark
ened before sundown by the telegram announcing the message
An we can never live those days over again. and we can
the cost of the tears and hearthrobs in million
We see the long weary years Of that struggle unfold and the
constantly increasing toll of death and disease broadening the
band of sorrow around the brow of the weeping nation
The gore of victory either side tnged with the
fuI realization that Americans after all more than broth
ers hut that principle must prevail at matter what cost of
blood and treasure.
Cod in His wisdom and in the workings out Of Divine Prov
dece would that government Of the people should not per-
ish from the face of the earth forever.
Back of all the generals and commanders the abes and the
puresmnded leaders who led armies to victory the
greatest man the world has yet produced
Patient his uerances combination of the wisest states
manshp and the ndiest humor that from the lips
of man. Lincoln sat in the potouse of the ship of state and
guided Che nation to it's destiny of Union restored and free
dom preserved
Then came the meeting Of Grant and Lee in tent under the
apple tree at Appomatox and the world will know what
passed between those mener hearts wrung with grief for
the sorrows of their peope-God alone present to know
what they thought and felt and said and left unsad
The result the most magnanimous peace terms of
fered defeated foe vanqushed rebellion, impoverished
though proud and valiant section that had saked all and lost
The reconstruction Of the nation binding up the wounds of
those not killed in battle the returning ranks Of citizen sodery
ill-eoupped to the struggles of life next
The intervening of the upbuidg Of the greatest ma
on the world nation founded on the immortal prn
cpes Of freedom equality justice humanty-are all like
dream to u.s.
These few of the achievements of the assembled in
Salem odayen who made the nation great by their sacrifice
who handicapped themselves that the republic might live
and prosper.
The youth Of today realize but family the debt of gratitude
owes to the hating thinning ranks of the aybeards of the
Grand Army Of the Republic in whose honor these few lines
written.