Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-02-26

Ooluly III IHo IoCo VI oppOSlIlOl anu OdIe
to be true to our convictions?
A wise person has declared that Am
erica can never be conquered by foreign
foe. The foe is within our own borders.
Our nation will fall only from internal
maladies. When the forces of unclean
government have destroyed our lofty
ideals; when we reject these principles on
which our nation is founded. then we may
expect to be lowered in the dust with
Nineveh and Tyre.
With this close. We of this generation
extend to you our sincere thanks because
you have acted we'll your part in life's
drama and await the reward of faithful
service. The lessons you have taught
soon to step upon the stage of action. We
assure you in all earnestness that wher-
ever the recital of the deeds of 81 cause
hearts to throb with added devotion and
ardor, there you will find people willing
and eager to lay down their lives for the
sake OF the eternal truth.
Major Chritton's Address
after listening to what has gone
before feel like thirty cents with
the three crossed out
The first duty of soldier is to
obey orders, SO l stand before you
by order of my post commander in
the organization to which we belong,
desinated by the letters there on the
blackboard, G. A. r.
| had expected General Minor to
lead the charge and say so much that
you would expect nothing of me
more than salute, but it has de-
volved upon me to fill in some time
and III tell you little about the
Grand Army, the Father of our coun-
try and our martyr president.
OF the order referred to as Wear
ers of the Little Bronze Button, we
have 2S members belonging to Wads-
worth Post, No. %, Department of
Colorado and Wyoming, G. A. r.
There is with us today those that
took a part in the battles OF Shiloh,
Stone River. Chicamauga, Gettys-
burg, Nashville and the March to
the Sea-. All members OF the G. A.
r. are old soldiers. Old soldiers are
Supreme Commander at the rate of
about three thousand each month.
We meet this day to honor those
ularly two of our greatest patriotic
citizens-George Washinton and
Abraham Lincoln.
Washington, the most prominent
one in the incident that led up to the
Declaration of Independence, Arti-
cles of Confederation and Union. In
dependence and adoption of the Con-
stitution, was the first President of
the United States. From April 80,
1880. to March 4. 1877, near eight
years. We call him the Father of
his country; of being First in War,
First in. Peace and First in the
Hearts bf his Countrymen."
Mr.. Lincoln comes prominently
before the people OF this nation in
public affairs some sixty years after
Washington retired. He (Mr. Lin
coln) was elected President in 1900
when this squad of old gray-headed,
lame. halt and partly blind were in
their early manhood. He served as
President four years, one month and
ten days. We loved him then, most
all love him now.
1t is declared in the Declaration of
Independence that all men are Gre
atcd equal; that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain inalienable
rights; that among these are life, lib
erty and the pursuit of happiness.
How about the human chatel slaves
belonging to some of the signers oi
that Declaration and to Washington,
who when he left public life return
ed to his Virginia plantation culti-
waited by his slaves?
Slavery was allowed in some OF
the Southern cotton growing states
up to 1868, but not in some OF the
| Northern states, and was always a
bone of contention until after the
Emancipation Proclamation by Lin
coin, effective January !, 1868. Lin
coin said in one OF his great speeches;
"a house divided against itself can
not stand, | believe this government
| cannot endure permanently hall
slave and half free"
. Soon after Mr.. Lincoln was inaug'
urated, what was called the Confed
crate states having voted the ordi'
nance of secession and resorted tc
arms. Our flag and the United
States troops were fired upon at Fort
Sumpter, s. c., April 18th, 1861
After that we sang. I'VE are Coming
Father Abraham, Six hundred thou
sand more
The great Civil War was on, foui
years Of strife followed with brother
against brother, American agains,
American, 2,494,592 white men en-
listed to fight on land for the Unior
and for the same cause 178,975 color
ed men enlisted and $4,000 men II
the navy. Forty-eight per cent of al
enlisted men were farmers; more o.
them were of 18 years OF age thar
any other. There were 1900 battle:
fought; 100 regiments lost 500 mer
each; our navy lost 1900 men, 800 go
ing down with their ships. flags fly
| ing and guns in action untilthe wave!
closed over them. OF $4,000 Unior
prisoners at Andersonville, Ga, II,
n11 LID thcre-12z In one day. 3SQ