The Ordway new era., 1915-05-28

and appreciation Of the vast bestow-
ment that The blood of the fallen
contributed to the nation and to the
world. Freedom unfurle her banner
| once more. and this time 1t was over
the CORY fields of fratricidal warfare:
this time 1t was not to the trumpeting
of declaration OF independence, but
to the sonorous sound OF the procla-
nation of freedom for the servile
classes Of the population. The South
was freed from its trammels and
blossomed out as the section of the
country most American and endowed
with the greatest wealth Of unrealized
resources. The country blossomed
out in the new power and influence OF
union indissoluble. of house 10
longer divided against itself. The
world paid tribute to the heroes OF
battleiields as sacred as any of those
which. In Holy Writ. set forth the
epochs In the progress Of mankind in
the .theocracies OF the past. Freedom
had given 1t new content and civili-
zation had bestowed upon II a new
dignity. and life. and vaior were given
fresh glory in the tremendous strtg-
gle which il commemorated on Deco
ration day--the day OF solemn hush,
yet of glorious recollection. the day
when the tears Of sad recollection are
shot through with the rainbows OF q
perennial rejoicing. H
The commission of liberty cannot
be laid aside. even II the nation that
has set up the standard of freedom
for mankind could discharge its obli-
cations TO the world otherwise.
Wherever there are oppressed there
is felt the magnet Of the influence Of
American freedom: and SO from the
serf-afflicted land OF Russia, from the
life.burdened lands of Europe. come
the slaves of oppression and OF harsh
discrimination. the subjects of the
curse of inequality. that they may
join in the song 81 those redeemed
from such conditions or those whose
birthright 1t is to enjoy life. liberty
and the pursuit of happiness. No
| wonder that the country is virtually
at pause as the observation Of the
sacred day OF reverence for the ma
tons slain uplifts to the view Of
mankind the dignity and power of
ideals that are woven into the life
and character OF free people. No
wonder that from the highest to the
lowliest the officers of state and the
citizens pay tribute to the men who
remade the nation, Animosity. re-
sentiment, schism are all in the past
arsl a united people rejoice in the out.
come of fiercely dividing struggle.
To the world of today. this great
tragedy OF half century ago is but
tradition and not living memory. but
the passing years can never eface
that record from the very souls of
those who went through that fiery
furnace in the great struggle for the
nations life with its frightful toll OF
precious young lives sacrificed to the
Moloch OF one of the worlds greatest
w1rs. Costly indeed was the price with
which the dawning peace was bought:
Fourteen thousand men killed and
wounded at Shiloh: $4,000 went down
at atsChickahominy; $4,000 at Antietam.
and 1900 more at Fredericksburg.
1000 killed or crippled at Chancel-
lorsville: e3,u0o lives sacrificed on the
field at Gettysburg: 10000 at Chicka-
manga: $4,000 at Spottsylvania. while
IL 900 fell In the Battle of the Wilder.
ness
In those four years of blood and
carnage. $4,000 men perished by the
bullet. ISsvo0 by disease. and aS.0oo
died from other causes-a total of