Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-05-06
DEDICATION
OF THE NEW MILITARY HALL
AS AN ARMoRY FOR THE
ENcnOSha Rifles.

The following is brief sketch Of the
address delivered by the Rev. ABRAHAM
HANSON, Chaplain of Kenosh Rifle Co.,
on the occasion of the Dedication of
the new Hall in this city on the I'd day
of April 1853.
After expressing his regret that, from
the extreme pressure of business en-
gagements, he had been unable to select
and elaborate any special topic suited
to the occasion, and asking his auditors
to indulge him in the delivery of few
desultory remarks the speaker pro-
ceeded to say
For myself must be permitted to say
am man of peace; always endeav-
orlng to seek peace and preserve it."
L have never been able to catch the in
spiration of military pomp, glory, snd
display. But in this matter l do not
arrogate to myself any disposition of
heart or mind which is peculiar. From
my earllestacquaintance with American
history l have regarded this as the
grand pulsatfon of this nations great
heart. The exceptions to this-under
this free and liberal goyernment-are
not to be regarded or treated as indica-
tons of national tendency. Hence, on
our festive days-those anniversaries
which commemorate the noble achieve
ments of the brave bands who struggled
more for liberty than glory-I can wit
ness the enthusiastic, patriotic doings
which expand the hearts of the citizens
of my adopted home, without attribut-
ing it to any govelling or unworthy mo-
tive. | regard it as the overflowing,
outbursting of hearts laden with
gratitude for the boon brought to them
at the cost of the ease, fortunes, and
lives of some of the most brilliant, and
brave sons of our race.
Military pomps an d magnifcence
abound in the old world. 1t has lately
been displayed by Great Britain, France
and Russia. And indeed in every por-
ton Of the Eastern Hemisphere we may
find dazzling epaulets, glittering arms,
rigidly disciplined troops, all the para
pharnalia of warfare, and men too, burn
ing with ungoyernable zeal, ready to
face any danger, and fight any oppos-
ing forces. This is their profession,
these the steps by which they hope to
reach the goal of their ambition, and
make for themselves a name and dis
tinctlon amongst men.
Not so in this glorious republic
Here | find contented race; a people
predisposed to peace, approaching their
distinguished privileges, and disposed
and prepared to defend them. | do not
therefore look upon our troops, army,
and munitions of war as the instruments
of aggressions or destruction, but as the
simple butt substantial bulwarks cree
ted for our defence, for the promotion
of our homer, and the protection of our
lives.
1t surely becomes us as people to
offer devout thanksgiving to almighty
God for the blessing of peace in mea-
sure and manner in which we have en-
joyed it for so many years; with such
comparatively inconsiderable Interrupt
tons. True the signs of the times are
now somewhat portentous. There is
full enough in the political atmosphere
of the world, and even of our own coun-
try, to arouse every intelligent and re-
fiecting mind and fill it with an all-per-
vsding and absorbing solicitude for the
result. Never has this world witnessed
such a contest, between such opposing
forces as we behold at the present day.
We may admit that in every age, nation
has been arrayed against nation There
has been eeaseless conflict and strife
for dominion and wealth. But it has
heretofore usually been resolved into
contest of mere brute force. Now it is
more struggle of mind, a graphing OF
intellect. Truth and right form the
grand panophy in which the champions
of Liberty are going forth to the COM
bat, and victory after victory is pro-
claimed as the mede of their praise.
The hot struggle between evil and
good, error and truth, darkness and
light, thraldrom and liberty, may wax
fiercer and still more fierce, but the indi-
cations, at this hour; are most cheering
and certain that God will, in his provi-
dence, raise up from unexpected sour
ces, in an unexpected way, and at unex-
peeted times men of enlarged views and
upright principles-men ofeloquence, of
energy, and undomitable zeal-chieft-
ans in intellect, and worthy leaders of a
noble host of tried, interrupted and un-
faltering friends. And they shall plead
for justice, and truth, and righteousness.
| ea the very instrumeRtality which we
short sighted mortals, may sometimes
apprehend viii be our ruin, shall be
chosen and honored of God to work on,
our nations deliverance, promote oul
'lhonor, and secure our glory.