Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-06-19
Decoration Day.

FROM the ST. Lawrence to the Rio
Grande, from ocean to ocean, the nation
has gathered to do honor to the memory
of its patriotic dead, and to cover with
flowers the graves of those who have fall
en- in its defense Nor do we believe that
this has been done With any desire to keep
alive forgotten animosities, or in any other
spirit than that of tender and imperishabe
regard for its benefactors. They VINO
sleep beneath the chaplets and the wreaths
that have been heaped upon them by a
grateful generation, have died that free
dom might survive, and that the rights of
labor and the claims of honest industry
might be acknowledged forever; that
amidst all the revolutions of European
politics, the strifes of castles and the OBJ
pressions of priests and kings, one retreat
might yet be preserved for the immigrant
ana the stranger where they may remain
secure from their ancient foes, and enjoy
the fruits of their enterprise and skill I'M
molested and in peace Sadly vet resolute-
ly our heroes took up their arms to defend
the Republic from its mistaken adverse
ries. They fought once more the battles
of progress that commenced at Marathon,
and have been repeated wherever the peo-
pie have been driven to rise in their
strength against an overbearing caste or a
cruel despotism. OF various races and
creeds, of different parties and beliefs, our
soldiers conquered that all mankind NAV
yet be tree-for the German in his crowd
ed territory, the Celt and the Saxon. for
the settler in the Western wilderness, the
merchant in his fourisking port, for the
misguided men they vanquished, and for
the slave. The hOnOrs that have been paid
to their memory on Decoration day come
we believe, from the generous instinct of
the popular heart, are the tribute of no
single land or nation, but reflect the inn
pulses of the people of Europe and Amer
lea who have profted by their achieve
ments, and who united in casting flowers
upon their graves.
1t was the leading trait of our recent
contest, whose embers are still glowing
beneath its ashes, that it was the struggle
OF the working-men against those who
would live without labor, and of those who
would build up in the fairest portion OF
the New World home of universal free
dom against the advocates of caste and
privilege; and hence we may hope that as
the healing hand Of time softens the bitter
ness OF faction, the singular advantages
Moving from the triumph of labor viii
D'NSP "N"y NlOlIy all MEMORY OF the
contest, save in its beneficial conse-
quences; that as a universal prosperity
once more envelops the nation, as the vast
tide OF immigration pours into our Dor
ders, and universal industry succeeds the
strife Of parties, we may once more form
a community as united as we are prosper
Gus IT IS labor alone that has ALWAYS
healed the wounds Of nations and we
trust that our institutions, freed forever
from the faint of European barbarism.
may give to labor its highest efficiency.
the exploits OF the men whose graves we
nave wreathed with the sweetest flowers
OF spring were not those of selfish CON
querors who have fought for Gain. nor
even OF violent partisans who have riven
their lives in idle passion or foolish vani-
ty, but of the heralds of industry and the
authors OF new progress. Every blow
they struck so unwillingly, yet so boldly,
swept away some obstacle from the path
OF Freedom and opened the avenues of
prosperity to future generations: and
hence the children of labor will gather on
each Decoration day to adOrn the graves
OF thelr heroes, with no vulgar sentiment
OF victory or of superiority but with a
new anxiety to spread every where around
them the ease and the comforts OF indus
trious peace
We cannot indeed, hope for any mirac
ulous deliverance from the necessary evils
that HOW from a civil contest. We should
conceal the truth did we assert that a per
t'ct reconciliation of il portion of our
people who are still malcOptent. who fos-
Ter our lealousies and resentmentS, can be
soon achieved. 1t viii still require the
constant care of an active Government to
prevent internal disorders and secure the
equal rights of all the people, to protect
the industrious, and to represS the TURIN
lent But we believe that this perfect re-
Cancellation will at last be attained As
the industrial throngS enCircle the recent
~ dlsOrdered portions of the country with
belt of prosperous communities and
States; as the growth of education dissi
pateS The preiudiCes that are ALWAYS rife
among the uncultvated and the indolent;
as labor becomes honored in the regions
where 1t has been heretofore held as a
badge of lnteriority, and the common
school, the emigrant, the farmer and the
mechanic press onward from the Potomac
to The Gult-the impulses Of faction will
be lost IN the general prosperity of the
country, and honest labor viii achieve it's
final triumph 1t is well, therefore. that
we cast fowerS upon the graves of those
who saved US from disunion, and whose
victory was the triumph of peace Around
their slumbers play the bright CLEANS of
progress; from their ashes spring up the
hopes OF universal freedom To them all
nations owe ceaseless gratitude The
Worklngmen OF Europe as we'll as America
nave no friends like those who sleep calm
ly in their patriotic graves. nor viii they
ever grow weary of celebrating the simple
and touching rites by which they have
chosen to signalize their benefactors.-