The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-06-05
LETTER FROM OKLAHOMA

old comrades wherever they may be:
This beautiful sabbath calls me back
to the cherished memories of the
days that are gone--my last visit to
the home of my childhood meet
ing of my dear comrades of whom |
reverence the name-the thrilling
stories of untold fortitude-the many
nairl readth escapes, the subtle gen
ius of the battle field the march anc
the bivouac, the steady halt, aim and
fire, the charging steed that was so
animating but last but not least the
crisis of the fallen hero whose blood
flowed not in despair but in devo-
tion to the love of country in a divine
spirit.
Yes, my comrades, this beautiful
Sabbath day of 1914, still kisses the
breeze of loving reflection of a gem
erouS people, the sweet remembrance
of an all wise Creator, the fond en-
brace of all that is pure and good,
the open hand of luxury is still point
ing the finger of consolation; the oil
of JOY is still pouring out the toiling
millions; the sweet fragrance of God
loving kindness has brought melody
to all nations and prefixed it's great
ness in earths remotest bounds. The
enchantment of heaven has been your
guiding star. Your sorrows are turn
ed to joy. The great touch of SYM
Pathy has extended you sweet con
ISOLATION. The mighty hand of kidd
ness has been fraught with the glcr-
ious deeds of Immortality. The rush
ing tide of the fondest hopes of an
everlasting future all blended with
:he profoundest gratitude to God ana
the loving chasms of peace and good
will to all men.
Yes, my comrades, we should teach
lesson to all. The world may see in
every fiber of our nature that the
deeds of charity shall be the watch
word that shall light our pathway to
final destiny from whence no trav-
eler ever returns. The outstretched
hand of kind providence has staid
your sorrows. The sweet fragrance
of times purest flowers have embalm-
ed the whole world and changed your
lamentations into the sweetest notes
of fruition. A half century las pss,-
ed since the South was thrown into
the excitement of flame and fury of
dreadful war. The awful destruction
of life and property is more than diff
ficult to calculate. The South held
back nothing in that gigantic strug-
gle for national life-farms, homes,
cities had been desolated by wars
enactionS. Reason was almost de-
throned. A brave and generous peo-
pie had to submit by force of liberat-
ed slaves. Added to political sorrows
which was worse than the plaques of
Egypt. But today, my comrades the
God of all good is looking down with
that all-Seeing eye and with pity and
love, bids you come to that feast that
awaits his people.
The story as told and borne around
the world thrills the soldier of all ma
tions The superb charges from Ma
masses to Appomattox will inspire the
nation yet unborn. Time, nor chan
ges of time, will never beautify the
sentiment of patriotism with a more
magnificent splendor. From time i'm
memorial down the ages, valor has
never been near the zenith of splen-
dor. The manly manhood of this
sunny South sprang forth from the
earliest dates and will go down the
ages to the latest period of ciciliza-
ton.
Yes, my comrades, the equal to the |
boys in gray the world had not known.
The boys who marched to the most |
airs-glorious old Dixie. No, boys, |
the nations of the earth can never
know of such. You staked all and lost |
all, but you are still the intrepid stan
dard bearer that followed Lee and
Jackson. Today, my comrades this
beautiful Sabbath day, 1914, after a |
silence of fifty years of one of the |
bloodiest wars of modern times you
are the pride of a nation. You are
handing down to posterity name
and fame the world has yet to know.
While your ranks are thinning rapid |
ly, the shining luStre of over two
thousand battle fields shine a charm
ing brilliancy, and we pen these lines
a constant and repulsive sense of
duty comes with intensive purpose
Of calling that comes to every true
patriot of the sixties. With the same
intrepidity of the battle field you
have fought the battles of life. A |
born soldier-a born citizen true in
war, true in peace. AS the waning
years come and go the ties of broth
erhood should not be overshadowed !
with lost opportunities as the short
comings of mortal man show to the |
world that the boys in gray were the
flower of their race. History cannot
repeat itself too oftenSin vindicating
W