The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-05-31

spirit Of the civil war is wanting
among all this.
The Newer Vision.
In 1898, during the Spantsh.Ameri-
can war, on this day I CHANGED to be
in one of the greatest cities Of the
south. Its people had assembled to
do honor to their warriors who had
fallen in defeat-to dedicate a monu-
ment to the dead of dead confed-
eracy. And on that day l saw the
thinned ranks Of the lost cause march
by, with faltering step and bent
form; their shot torn battleflags once
more unfurled; but before them, in
front of all, the starry banner of our
reunited country kissed the southern
breeze. Behind these veterans IN
gray swept by the veterans in blue
men who but yesterday had met in
relentless conflict, joined that day
in the blessed hands of amity and
peace, upon that common ground that
Drinks the grave and bridges over
hate and strife and struggle But
that pageant of reconciliation did not
end with this. Behind these soldiers
of two armies of the past, there
marched the soldiers of one army Of
the present The sons of the north
and the sons of the south, united in
a common cause and for common
country. Texas and Illinois locked
arms, Virginia and New Jersey once
more caught step, Iowa and Missis-
sippt followed the same old flag
again. And as gazed upon that
scene, the greatness of my country
overwhelmed me. l asked myself that
day, and l ask you now, where In all
history do you find parallel to this
where conQuerors drop their tears
upon the bier of conquered-where
in one short generation the sons Of
men that met as enemies in war go
forth to war together as comrades
and as friends.
Contemplating this, realizing its
portent, bending low and humble as
Elisha did. that mine eye might be
made to see," ] seemed to catch a
vision
The Reunion Complete.
1t is the still and calm of sum-
mer night in the southland. The
moon has risen above the towering
blackness Of the pines and in the
somnolent caresses of her chastened
flood, she laves silent camp. And |
then in the distance, there breaks
upon the stiffness of the night the
wavering sound of song and music
and gentle as the murmur OF the
whispering pines, catch the soften
ed cadences of Dixie Land"
And as r listen, hear another song
and the organ tones of the "Star
Spangled Banner arise to Heaven'l
from that same tented field, and then
all Is silent again, as the grave But
no, grander, holier than before, an
other and single anthem floats UP
to the stars; not from the camp
where Dixie" was Just heard. not |
from the chanters of the hymn of the |
old flag,-no. but from both, the mel |
ody Of "My Country IT'S of Thee" IS /
waited to the jewellers in the sky.
And bending lower still mine eyes |
see more. Away off yonder in the
stellar gateways of the Infinite I |
seem to see heavenly host. an army
part of blue, the rest of gray, arisen
from a thousand stricken fields and |
sanctified in the heart flow OF frater-
nal blood, there on that eternal camp
ing ground of everlasting peace, the
blue and gray are resting side by side
and Joy is stamped upon those !
faces as they gaze down
upon that earthly camp below. And
hen, upon the solemn silence Of the
1ight a voice spoke forth from out
the bivouac of the dead, and silver
peace. Of such immortal gentleness,
hat voice of yesterday descended
rom the stars to the boy that dream