The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-05-29

energies under such test. And how
like FURNISHED gold shines the genuine
character when tried in such a fire.
While army life brings out the best in
some men, it exposes the worst in
others. None of US would say that all
who died were fit to die.
But, o, my brethren, how had it been
with some of us had we not in the silent
watches of the night, spent on guard
duty, or as we lay looking up at the
stars, or drawing the soldiers blankets
over our faces to protect them from the
storm, felt once more the warm kiss.
looked again upon the fearful faces and
heard over and over the farewell words
OF the dear ones in the old home up I'm
God country, as we called it, and
felt sure in our hearts that mothers.
wives, sisters and sweethearts were
praying for our safety of soul as wei as
of body? Every old soldier will hold a
broad shield of charity over the comrade
who carried lao talsman, whatever his
faults, if he was true to his country
cause even unto death.
But let no one mistake this candor as
to the few for insinuation as to the
many intelligent apprehension of the
value and sac!edness of its cause, or by
lottler sense of duty, purer patriot
ism or more determined courage than
that which rallied to the defense of the
old flag in 1861, Ali that it suffered
through incompetent officers for the
hrst two years of the struggle did not
suffice to break its front or daunt its
spirit. From field and workshop, from
office and store, from bank and rail
road, and even from college and pulpit
not for hire, not for glory, not for
adventure, but for the preservation of
a government which stood for principles
dearer than life-came this citized army,
the best blood and brain of the land.
Its battle cry was The Union. it's
inspiration the love of freedom, its
support in reVerses, intelligent and I'M
lilnchlng faith in the final triumph of
the right. These citizen soldiers were
not mere machines. The ranks were
full of scholars and skilled artisans.
They could build anything from saw
mill to railroad, and from bridge to
a steamboat. If their country, with
all its phases of topography and climate.
had presented no barrier too formidable
for their commercial enterprise, neither
could 1T offer obstacles sufficient to
daunt their spirit in war. Hungry or
fed; barefoot or shod; mounted or on
foot; hailed as heroes or as Lincoln
hirellngs, they fought on, marched on,
endured all, braved all. and thanks be
to the God OF nations, at last overcame
all. Then they laid down their arms.
put off the faded uniform and resumed
the peaceful pursuits of civil life-a
time-long marvel for the historian.
Rl1t alas NOT oil
at the final roll call. Hundreds of
thousands of those brave citizen soldiers
fell in battle or by lingering sickness,
or IN slow starvation gave up their
heroic lives. We saw them in the morn
ing of the conflict, when the long roll
was sounded; at evening they were not
with US, but on the broken shaft of a
mighty Confederacy is chiseled the re-
cord of their deeds. No matter, so far
as their memory is involved, whether or
not some of them seemed to have died
in vain, as did the equally brave men
who confronted them in battle. Before
our eyes they stand glorifed by
sacrifice. Every man who fought
under the flag had power to lay down
his life or what was to him the equiva-
lent or value of his life, for his country.
llC Ioad, dioO Iilc power U WllIuTdW II.
He laid it on the altar of patriotic devo-
ton; therefore does his country love
him because he died that others might
live in the enjoyment of free institu-
lions under a benefcent government.
He gave up his will to army discipline,
his time, his plans, his home, his ease,
his opportunities, his family life
everything. The sacrifice was complete.
Death made it perpetual. And in that
only consists the difference between
those who died and you who read these
words today, for you. also, made COM
plete sacrifice. All that life meant to
you in those early years was freely sur
rendered. You had power to lay it
down or withhold it. You became civ
, ing sacrifices" to the cause you loved.
of truth some of you die daily. But,
mercifullv preserved, you were permit
ed to take up your world life again, as
our fallen comrades were not to do.
But both you and they by the same
law lorificatlon through sacrifice
have taken a larger life. Both they
and you live and are to live in the liberty
and happiness of free peoples for all
times. The mighty progress of the re-
deemed republic has given her voice
and a power among the nations far
exceeding her influence in the former
days. In that increase of beneficent
power they and you live on while gov
ernments endure. That so long as time
lasts the prosperity of four millions of
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