Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-02-24

or AlFRKD SANDERS ESQ Delivered before the
Old Sstflsvs AssociGtioa. at their Festivdl, on
Wednesday Evening, February 22md, 1860.

Oh Sstfisys Association. at their Festiyai, on
Wednesday Euening, february 22"d, 1860.
Ma. PRECEDENT, LADIES' AND GEs-
rLxMES Another year in the ceasele's
cycle Of time, has rolled around, and VIC
the Pioneer Settlers Of Scott County,
have met for the THIRD time TO part'ci-
pate in the festivities of \ reunion. a.
old Time passes on he seems 10 increase
his pace. until to those whose LOCKS are
bleachcd in the sunshine OF age, me-
.need becomes Is the wind aud years
roll away a. months were wont TO DO
We are all hurrying on to inc s'ase,
but let US stay awhile this evening anu
pluck some flowers by the wayslde a.
nlcs,sut memories in years to come.
with old-fashioned leisure let us stay,
while We exchange the friendly congrat-
ulation and partakc OF the well-fiiled
board. A few hours Of social converse
will dispel from our minds cares enough
10 insure months of renewed existence.
All, such gatherings are bright spots in
our checkcred lives, spots to which fond
memory loves to turn.
sweet Memory. waited by thy gantle gale.
OFT up the stream OF Time turn my SAIL
To vlsw the fairy hAunis Of long lost hours.
Beet with far grecner shades. far irssher
flowers"
As we sit in this comfortable room
with such an abundance Of rich provis-
ions awaiting US and so many old friends
around u, let us bid dull care bcgone
and Joy be uncontined.
"Be cheerful, man of care, for great IL the mu.'
titude Of chances;
Burst thy letters OF anxiety, and walk among
tho citizens Of ease"
The pioneers Of new country arc
ever held in grateful remembrance by
those who come after them, and well
they may be, for they make smooth the
rugged places and str aight the crooked
paths; they drive away the wild beast
aud subduc the wilder savage; they level
tho forest and break the prairie; they
build houses and fence lands in q word
they make homes, and having surround
cd them with every comfort, in their
hospitality bid their fellow men to come
and participate.
To that restless spirit which ever
keeps the universal Yankee nation on
the wing, and for which they are some
times subjected to the jeers Of men OF
other natl )nalities, may be attributed the
rapid settlement Of our country; it fells
the forest, subdues the prairie and
peoples the great West, while the ''love
for the almighty dollar" as Washington
Irving terms it, sends the iron horse gal
Looping in every direction and binds the
whole country with band of electricity.
The brave pioneers deserve honor, a
they bear the heat and burden of the
day; it is to the sweat Of their brows
and the labor Of their hands that 30
many comforts are secured to those who
come at = later day, and well may the
latter cherish the memories of those he
ro:c men who discarded the Injuries
aud even comforts Of older settled por-
tions Of the country to come to the
West and hew from its wilds pleasant
homes for themselves and others.
A few years ago and Iowa was por-
ton of Wisconsin, later still territory
dependent on the general government
for support; and you remember when
some Of the more ambitious among us
sought to throw off the parental restraint
of old Uncle Sam and declare ourselves
of an age to take care of ourselves, how
some fearful of taking step SO momen-
tous hestitated, until the majority forced
US into acquicscence. We had not
much then to attract immigration. Our
prairies we're bleak, wild and uninviting,
and he was bold man who launched
his bark OH the inland seas, who drove
his stakes, pitched his tent and prepared
to till the virgin soil.
But brave hearts and strong arms
were not wanting in those days, and as
the curling smoke marked each new
cabin, the task became easier and the
hermits OF the soil we're once again So
cial beings; the self.exiles found them
selves in a society Of congenial spirits.
The friendly visit was made and quick
ly returned, and an interchange of
thoughts and plans took place. An
identity ofinterest and the necessity OF
maintaining friendly relations, their i.o-
lated condition aud mutual dependence,
knit them together in bonds of closest
friendship. They felt as though they
had embarked 10 the same lfe-boat and
must sink or swim together.
And, old pioneers, wien you meet
one Of yourselves, one who has toiled
and suffered privation with you in the
early settlement of our country, do
You not feel your hearts warm toward
him As Though he were indeed a very
brother? And whenever the sad It'd
ings reach your ear that another one of
your number has gone to pioneer the
way to better land; does it not seem
as if another of the thousand little
threads, that in earlier life s.emed to
bind you to the earth, we're severeds-
Permit me to say, and doubt not the
remark will meet with response from
every one present, that since the birth
of this Association the ties that bind me
to my brother pioneers have grown
stronger, and as one after another drops
off | feel more kcenly their less and more
attached to those that remain.
We soon forget our frierds, the last
Of them that fingers upon the memory
is the face, that title page of man up
on which is inscribed record Of the
contents within. Accustomed to look
upon it as We address the owner, its i'm
age becomes stamped upon our memories
and long after the tones of the voice