The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-09-30
The Final Review.

The eyes of patriotic nation are
turned toward Washington today. Not
because Of wars or rumors Of war, not
on account of any great upheaval in
the national government, but because
today thirty thousand grizzled old
men are marching down Pennsy lvania
avenue participating in the last review
of the Grand Army Of the Republic.
The waving battle flags, the martial
notes of the bands, the cheering Of the
assembled thousands and tens of thous-
ands can not take away the feeling Of
sadness that reaches the heart of the
true patriot at this the "last" annual
review. True fifty years has passed
since these same men marched as men.
bearing arms in grand review in the
capitol Of the nation but when a
thousand years have passed, when all
of these men who are honored today
are gathered to their fathers under the
flag of the nation they defended, still
in the hearts of grateful nation the
Grand Review will go on and on. So
long as men have the love of country
in their hearts and so long as heroism
and bravery are regarded as attributes
of virtue, so long will the memory of
the Grand Army continue to be para
mount in hearts Of American people.
The lines were thinned today, but
nearly every city in the nation had
its little coterie of men in the line.
Kenosha men who had fought bravely
in the great civil struggle, marched
side by side with men who went from
New York and Illinois. The regi-
ments and companies were too badly
broken for even q show of organiza-
ton, but in the hearts beat the old
time patriotism and they marched
proudly regardless of the state or ter
ritory from which they had pledged
.heir service.
This may be the last annual review
of the old veterans, the last time that
the tattered blood stained battle flags
and regimental colors will be carried,
but in the future these men will be
revered just the same. In this CON
nection it is interesting to recall a
tribute to the Grand Army of the
Republic paid by well known jurist
of henosha only few years ago
when he said:
The Grand Army of the Republic.
1t marched farther than the armies of
Caesar or Alexander. 1T fought more
battles than the hordes of TamerIane.
1t outnumbered the Eagles of Caesar
aud Napoleon combined. But it car
ried out the ambition of no vulgar
eonqueror. 1T did not extend the sway
Of oppression. AS its soldiers marched,
no helpless people were moved down,
no rights were trampled on, no arts
were lost, no civilization was swept
away. The only ruins the Grand Army
left were the ruins of the auction
block, the whipping post and four
Inillion shackles. ~
'You members of the Grand Army
found constitution leagued with
slavery, you left that constitution
guaranteeing suffrage to the freedman,
YOU found the church defending slav-
bry, you left it emancipating the negro
from superstition and ignorance, you
found political equality mere hope,
you left it a fact, you found personal
liberty a dim ideal, you left it a glori-
bus suniit reality"
This sentiment is felt more than ever
To-Day in the hearts of every true
American and it viii be continued to
be felt until when the last member of
this glorious victorious organization
shall have passed and then may it
be said of all:
''The muffled drum IS sad roll
Has beat the soldiers last tattoo.
No more ON life parade shall meet
That brave and fallen few;
On Fame s eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread:
And Glory guards with silent round
The bivouac of the dead"