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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (May 24, 1901)
B Memorial Day Address. Delivered by Mr. Bryan at Arlington Cem ctary, near Washington, D. C, May 30, 1894. It is reproduced at this time because it presents the editor's views on the subjects considered on decoration day and also because it contains a recommendation that Lincoln's Gettysburg speech be read as part of the program each year a recommendation which has since been fol lowed in many places With flowers In our hands and sadncsB in our hearts we stand amid the tombs where the na tion's dead are sleeping. It is appropriate that tho chief executive is liere, accompanied by his cabinet; it is appropriate that the soldier's widow Is here and the soldier's son; it is appropriate that hero are assembled, in numbers growing less each year, the .scarred, survivors, federal and con federate, of our last great war; it is appropriate, also, that these exercises in nonor of comrades dead should be conducted by comrades still sur viving. All too soon the day will come when these graves must be decorated by hands unused to Implements of war, and when these speeches must bo made by lips that never answered to a roll call. We, who are -of the aftermath, cannot look upon the flag with the same emotions that thrill , you who have followed it as your pillar of cloud by day and your pillar of fire by night, nor can we appreciate it as you can who have seen it waving in front of reinforcements when succor meant es cape from death; neither can we, standing by these blossom-covered mounds, feel as you have often felt when far away from home and on hostile soil you have laid your companions to rest; but from a new generation we can bring you the welcome assurance that the commemora tion of this day will not depart with you. We . may neglect the places where the nation's greatest victories have been won, "but we cannot forget the ' 'Aldingtons which the nation has consecrated with its tears. ' ' To ourselves as well as to our dead we owe the duty which we discharge here, for monuments and memorial days declare the patriotism of the living ; no less than the virtues of those whom they com- ' memorate. We would bo blind, indeed, to our own in terests and to the welfare of posterity if we were deaf to the just demands of the soldier and his dependents. We are -grateful tor the services rend ered by our defenders, whether illustrious or name- .' less, and yet a nation's gratitude is not entirely , selfish, sinoe by our regard for he dead we add to the security of the living; by our remembrance of those who have suffered we g"lve inspiration to those upon whose valor we must hereafter rely, and prove ourselves worthy of the sacrifices which have been made and which may be again re quired. The essence of patriotism lies in a willingness to sacrifice for one's country, just as true greatness finds expression, not in blessings enjoyed, but in good bestowed. Read the words inscribed on the monuments reared by loving hands to the heroes of the past; they do not speak fwealth Inherited, or honors bought or of hours in leisure spent, but of service done. Twenty years, forty years, a life or life's most precious blood he yielded up for tho welfare of nis fellows this is tho simple story which proves that it is now, and ever has been, ..more blessed to give than to Teceive. Th? officer was a patriot when he gave Ids abil ity to this country and risked his name and tamo upon the fortunes of warj the private soldier was a patriot When he took Ills place In the ranks and offered his body as a bulwark to protect the flag; the wife was a patriot when she hade her husband farewell and gathered about her the little brood over which she must exercise bcth a mother's and a father's care1; and, If there can he degrees in pa triotism, the mother stood first rmong tho patriots The Commoner. when she gave to the nation her boys, the divinely appointed strength of her declining years, and as she brushed the tears away thanked God that He had given her the strength to rear strong and courageous sons for tho battlefield. tfo us who were born too late to prove upon the battlefield our courage and our loyalty it is grati fying to know that opportunity will not be want ing to show our love of country. In a nation like ours, where the government is founded upon the principle of equality and derives its just powers from the consent of the governed; in a land like ours, I say, where .every citizen is a sovereign and where no one cares to wear a crown, every year, presents a battlefield and every day brings forth occasion for the display of patriotism. And on this Memorial day we shall fall short of our duty if we content ourselves with praising the dead or complimenting the living and fail to make preparation for those responsibilities which present times and present conditions impose upon us. We can find instruction in that incomparable address delivered by Abraham Lincoln on the bat tlefield of Gettysburg. It should be read as a part of the exercises of this day on each returning year as the Declaration of Independence is read on the Fourth of July. Let me quote from it, for its truths, like all truths, are applicable in all times and climes: "We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who acre gave their lives that the nation might live. It is 'altogether fitting and proper that ire should do this. But in a larger sense we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this, ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here liave consecrated it tar above our power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what ive nay nere, "but it cannot forget -what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work wliich they who fought here liave thus far so nobly advanced." "Th Unfinished Work1!" Yes, very genera tion leaves to its successor an unfinished work. The work of society, the work of human progress, the work of civilization is never completed. We build upon the foundation wliich wre find already laid, and those who follow us take up the work where we leave off. Those who fought and fell 30 years ago did nobly advance the work in their day, for they led the nation up to a higher ground. Theirs was the greatest triumph in all history. Other armies have been inspired by love of con quest or have fought to repel a foreign enemy, but our aTmies neld within the union brethren who now rejoice at their own defeat and glory in the preservation of the nation which they once sought to dismember. No greater victory can be won by citizens or soldiers than to transform temporary foes into permanent friends. But let me quoto again: "It is rather for us to "be "here dedicated to tho great task remaining before us: that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for whicli they gave the last full measure of, devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall, have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth." Aye, let us here dedicate ourselves anew to this unfinished work which requires of each genera tion constant sacrifice and unceasing care, ftricles, in a funeral oration, explained tho loyalty of his countrymen when ho said: "It was for such a country, then, that these men, nobly Tesolved not to have it taken from , them, fell fighting and every one of their survivors may well be willing to suffer in its behalf." The strength of, a nation does not lie in forts, nor in navies, nor yet in great standing armies, hut in happy and contented citizens,-who are ever ready to protect for themselves and to preserve for posterity the blessings which they enjoy. It is for us of this generation to so perform the duties of citizenship that a "government of the people, by the people, and for the jreople shall not perish from the earth." W The flan With the Husket. BT H. S. TAILOR. They are building as Babel was built, to the sky, With a clash and confusion of speech; They are piling up monuments massive and high To lift a few names out of reach As if haughty Jove, in a whimsy of fate, Had juggled the metal and stone And laid all the honors of Field and of State On a favorite few of his own! But I I will pass' from this rage of renown, This .ant-hill, commotion and strife, Pass by where the marbles ana bronzes look down With their fast frozen gestures of life, On, out to the nameless who lie 'neath the gloom Of the pitying cypress and pine: Your man is the man of the sword and the plume, But the man with the musket is mine! I knew him! By all that is noble, I knew This commonplace hero I name! I've camped with him, marched with him, fought with nim, too, In the swirl of the fierce battle-flame! Laughed with him, cried with him, taken a part Of his canteen and blanket, and known That the throb of this chivalrous prairie boy's heart Was an answering -stroke of my own! I knew him, I tell you! And, also, I knew " When lie fell on the battle-swept ridge, That the poor mangled body that lay there in blue Was only a plank in the bridge Over which some should pass to a fame That shall shine while the higi stars shall shine: Yonr hero is known by an echoing name, But the man with the musket is mine!' I knew him! All through him the good and the bad Ran together and equally free; But I judge as I trust Christ has judged the bravo lad, For death made him noble to me! In the cyclone of war, in the battle's eclipse, . Life shook out its lingering saads, And he died with the names that he loved on his lips, His musket still grasped in his hands! Up, close to the flqg, my soldier went down, In the salient front of the line! You may-take for your heroes the men of renown, But the man with the musket is mine! There is peace in the May-laden grace of the hours That come -when the day's work is done; Ana peace with the nameless who, under the flowers, Lie asleep in the slant of the sun. Beat the taps! Put out lights! and silence, all sound! There Is rifle-pit strength in the grave! They sleep well who sleep, "be they crowned or un crowned, For death will be kind to tho hrave! Old comrades ot mine, by the fast -waning year That move to mortality's goal, By my heart full of love and my eyes full. of tears, I hold you all fast in my soul! And I march with tho May,' and its blossomy charms I tenderly lay on this sod, And pray they may rest, there, old comrades la arms. Like a kiss of forgiveness from Godt, -K'