Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-01

our natal day, as 1t was on that
occasion that our nation was born.
On that day determined men met in
Independence hall and there resolved,
that all men we're created free and
equal, endowed with certain inalien-
able rights, these being life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness, and for
the accomplishment Of these ends they
pledged their lives, their fortunes, and
their sacred honor.
"The Fourth Of July, we celebrate;
memorial day We consecrate.
ITO me an occasion like this in
great measure Is an hour OF sorrow,
a never ending day Of mourning. The
length and breadth and depth OF the
wounds and scars occasioned by that
cruel war are as a poisoned arrow,
the shaft of which has deeply pierced
the hearts of every true American
citizen.
Regardless Of nationality or church
the people rallied to the rescue Of the
cid flag. Well do remember the day
that General Francis Thomas Meag-
rer led into the very Jaws of death the.
Irish brigade. And the German hosts
stood as it were like p wall of fire.
Recalls Old Comrades.
IT wish it were possible for me to
make special mention of every depart
ed comrade that lies buried in these
which I think will suf1ce.
"My mind reverts back to Con.
Dougherty, who lies buried in the
Catholic cemetery, brave, chivalrous,
devoted husband and an indulgent
father.
And I also recall the name Of Will
liam Steller He was princely man.
"And fancy see the form Of Com
rade Bachman vending his way
through this cemetery, dropping a tear
and flower on the graves Of departed
comrades. Chas. Bachman the. same
yesterday, today and forever
mot many mouths ago, as l was
looking out upon the old ocean from
Carolina beach, an associate OF mine
read the following, Captain Samuel
Houston Harper Is dead I said 1t can
not be! It can not be- But It was
true, too true, and the lion-hearted man
that am, I sat down and wept like a
child. I then said, In the triumps of
eventful and we'll spent life the sum-
mons came, and the bugle blast that
once called him to arms, had now re-
verberated back into the melody Of
trumpet calling hpn beyond the veil,
which separates all earthly vision from
the paradise Of God Il
~ now come to the newly made
grave Of Comrade Israel The dead
have no faults, Martin Israel had none
while living.
"The boy OF today will be the man
Of tomorrow, and for aught | know
may be looking into the face of some
little boy, who may some day be presi-
dent of this republic, or perchance,
some little girl who will sometime sit
as royal queen in the sisterhood OF
the possibilities OF her sex;
Hold to Old Glory.
"Sons of veterans you are soon to
be left standing alone In forest OF hui
man effort. Then let me advise you
that you cling more closely to the
folds of old glory, observe the man.
date Of the constitution, revere the
declaration, defend the Monroe doc
trine and imbibe more freely the
spirit of the Lords prayer, the ten
commandments and Christ's sermon
on the mount for all these you will
government. And may God bless the
sons of veterans, both they and their
posterity now and forever.
Comrades, you and I have passed
the meridian Of life; we are now 60
ing down the decline on the other side.
With you and me the morning of life
is gone, and the sombre shades OF
evening are gathering closely around
about us, we have heard the reveille
at sunrise, and listened to the tattoo OF
night, and taps that once betokened
the extinguishment Of lights. now
come reverberating back as the heralds
OF death Another decade and many
OF us will have crossed the bar, another
score of years, and nearly or quite all
of US will have answered the roll-call
OF eternity, and not only the grand
army of the republic but the 'grandest
army of the world will have passed
into history. Already the great ma
jority of those with whom we once
touched elbows have crossed the river.
Would you behold them today? If so,
then come with me and draw aside as
it were, the veil Of Immortality,