Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-30

I freedom, not only for the black man,
but for the white man as well, a free
dom which has since been blessed by
Almighty God. The Anglo-Saxon race
was ordained of God to be the stand
| ard bearers Of the cross and of lib
erty.
1T hardly seems possible that half
century has rolled by since the north
anu the south clasped finger tips over
the dead body of slavery, yet such is
the fact, and ah, what wonderful
changes have taken place during that
time. The brave boys in blue, the
flowers of our northern chivalry, left
homes farms, stores and offices to tent
in the poison swamp or lie under the
weeping sky, TO die in prison pens; left
home well and strong to return, if per-
mitted to return, broken in health, and
in many cases ruined for life. Did
they murmur? All, no. for they sprang
from the Joins of free men. The
world has never seen and never will
see again SUCH an army. We do well to
honor its memory. When the blue
met the gray each met a foeman wor-
tiny of his steel; each was fighting for
what he thought was right. For four
long years the uuholy war continued;
then again civilization emerged from
the shade of night and peace reigned
once more over united people. To-
day we come TO perform a service that
the old world cannot understand; the
blue and the gray lie side by side, and
both graves are TO be covered with
flowers. The old soldiers of the north
are to decorate the graves of the south
.ern boys that sleep here. while those
of the south are to decorate the graves
of both the blue and the gray. As a
quarrel often is the means of closer
after relation. the Civil war has been |
the means of a closer relation between |
the lands of Yankee Doodle and Dixie. |
For time the bow of hope that bound |
the north and the south together was |
lost sight of, but today 1t stands re- |
vealed in all its glorious colors. Today /
we sing there is no north, there is no
south We are one in heart, and stand |
under the glorious folds of the stars !
and stripes. We have seen during the
past few years the sons of the men of
'6L'65 camping together on the old /
camp ground, not as foes, but as com
rades, united to fight foreign foe
Decorate Blue and Gray.
Not only do we decorate today the
graves OF the blue and the gray, but
the graves of the sons of the blue and
The gray who fought, not opposing each
other. but elbow touching elbows. and
the stirring songs of Yankee Doodle
and Dixie Land are now sung to
cheer the hearts of the north and the
south alike. The son of the Johnny
IS now well pleased when he called a
Yankee.
when the long years have crept
slowly away,
Fen to dawn of earth's funeral day; ,
When at the arch angels trumpet
and tread
Rise up the faces and forms o. the
dead;
When the great world its last judg-
mept awaits.
When the blue sky shall swing open
Its gates {
And our long columns march silent
ly through;
Past the great captain for final re-
view.
hen for the blood that has flown for
the right
'rowns shall be given untarnished
and bright.
hen the glad ear OF each war mar
tyred son
roudiy shall hear the good Judgment
Well done
blessings for garlands shall cover
them over.
aren't and husband. brother ana /
lover: h
cd will reward these dead heroes OF b
ours. n
nd cover them over with beautiful t
flowers"