Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1861-07-20

have prayed that if possible it might
pass away, but all in vain. The time
has come on which the destinies of.
ages Is to turn.
And as it was impossible for our
fathers to perform their work Of plant
| ing these States, and of achieving our
national independence without sacrifc-
es cheerfuly offered and suferings
cheerfully endured, SO it is impossible
for US a. this great crisis to perform our
apportioned work in the history Of hui
man progress without our share Of SUI
fering and selfsacrifce. And it is
cheering to know that the good people
of " God Co, are not unconscious Of
these facts.
Already have a valiant band Of 80
Pinery Boys gone forth from our midst,
of as clear heads, true hearts and Sin
envy arms, as ever can tread or Amer
lean soil Fired with patriotic devo-
ton and a burning zeal to serve their
country, fathers, brothers and sons
have left the happy fre-sides of their
loved homes in Wood Co., to endure
the hardships Of a soldiers life for their
country's good With bleeding hearts,
but in stern fidelity to duty they have
taken their departure from us in the
name OF their country, liberty and
| God.
And before US we behold still anoth-
er military company-the Grand Rap
ids Union Guards--composed of many
Of the choicest citizens Of our county.
Men Of strong nerves, stout hearts, iron
wills and powers Of endurance unparal-
eied. They too have been accepted
to stand ready to 90 at their country's
call, and yield ready sacrifice to their
country's honor. Nor have the ladies
Of our county manifested any little in
terest in our country's welfare. Those
stars and stripes that are now waited
! by the gentle breeze, were made by
their own hands, and presented to this
company as q slight, but earnest token
Of their patriotic zeal and, and as we
look with pride upon this siil<cn banner,
let us remember that it is a flag Of his
tory, and that every thread and fold
speaks volumes to us. Those thirteen
blended stripes forever tell the story of
the Old colonial struggles and the days
Of '76; the story Of the savage and
the wildorness-of Independence Hall,
| Valley Forge and Yorktown. Those
stars upon its azure, tell forever the
record Of our national existence how
from weakness we have come TO
strength-from thirteen states to thirty
four, until this day our flag flashes with
the sunrise as it waves over the pines
Of Maine, and crimsons with the sun
set where it guards the land Of gold
This flag means just what Concord and
Lexington meant--what Bunker Hill
meant. It means all that our fathers
meant in the Revolutionary war it
means all thai the DoclaratiGn.of indie
| pendence meant. 1t carries American
ideas, American history and American
feeling. Long may it wave, and even
tllally find a home equally on all sides
of our Union-North, South, East and
! We&t-unmolaste>i and undisturbed
The Martial Band then played medley, and
hr. II. 3. Philleo read the following poem:
SpIRIT OF LIBERTY, from thy deep sleep,
! Awake ! ere sovereign nation learns TO weep
| Thy greatness fallen, and thy deeds sublime,
Resi- lendent in the chronicles of time.
| Too long hast thou been slumbering-too long
A mighty nation hath endured the wrong
| 1eaped by oppression on thy glorious crest,
! And made thy sacred name the tyrant'S Jest.
/ 700 long hath tyranny usurped thy thrOne,-
! Made vassels tremble, seeds of discord sown,-
Enshacklcd thee with Errors CALLING chain,
Usurped the mnd--enslaved the thinking brain;
Rise in thy might, thy power, thy majesty,
And teach the world a nation yet Is free.
Reveal to traitor hordes, thy sacred form,
And let thy halo gid the impending storm
| Which rashly threatens with rebellious waves
To make the mighty free, ignoble slaves.
Arise oh, Liberty, reveal to earth
! The prestage Of Il not inglorious birth.
From the first dawn of the primeval light
| Thy radiance illuned the breaking night
| Cast long line of splendor DER the East
Spread to the zenith-boSomed in the West
| Till the whole world in radiant splendor shone
! And tyrants quailed before thy FURNISHED zone
! Thy home hath been where Gods wild thun-
| ders crash,
! On mountain peaks, where Gods fierce light
nings flash;
! Thou hast been nursed where the wild tempest
| speaks,
| Reared where tornados rend gnarled hoary
oaks,
| Mid torrents Graded and where whirlwinds
roar,
| Thy home hath been where screeching eagles
| Poor Switzerland, once bound in tyrants chain,
Remembers Tell and speaks Of Gesler slain.
| Enshackled Hungary prays purging flood,
And waits the hour when martyred Maygars
blood
Shall rust defiant Aastria's seryile chain,
| And freedom crush the blood-stained guilIotine
Down-trodden Italy, oppressed of earth,
Awaits the glory Of her second BIRTH
In the far future views the heavenly goal
Lives, breathes moves, acts, through CARR
badi's soul.
And must thou be subdued, OH Liberty
| RI, -