Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-07-09
HONOR TO THE BRAVE.
Gov. Kirkwood's Speech at the Dedi.
cation Of the Muscatine SOLDIER
Monument.

The Muscatine Jo' rnal of July Sd
contains an account of the cere-
monies attendant upon the unwilling
of fine monument erected to the
memory Of the soldiers from Musca-
tine county who fell in the war for
the Union. Gov. Kirkwood was the
orator of the occasion, and his re-
marks are thus reported by the Jour-
naI::
The orator of the day, the gallant
old War Governor, Samuel J. Kirk
wood, was next introduced, and WV
idly recalled war times, by giving
one of his characteristic of.hand,
stirring, eloquent speeches, and not
unlike cavalry charge III it's fire and
energy. Said the Governor: have
just unveiled the beautiful monument
the liberality of the people of Musca-
tine has built, and disclosed to view
the proudest soldier the world ever
saw-the American volunteer. am
here to help dedicate monument to
the heroes who preserved the country
80 years ago. May it stand forever
and perpetuate the memory OF the
brave men whom You hold in CRATE
full remembrance. Some men tell us
that there is no such thing as disin-
terested benevOlence; that all men
are selfish; that the teachings of the
parable of the Good Samaritan are
foolishness, and that the lessons Of
the Great Teacher are an absurdity.
Such sentiment is hard and narrow
creed, and makes men narrow and
hard who believe it. Your work
here shows you do not believe in it.
Why have you built this monument?
Ninety-nine years ago our forefathers
pledged their lives, fortunes and
sacred honor, not to do something
for themselves, but to secure to us
the right to govern ourselves - y
country for the people and by the
people. And when few years ago
Il portion of our brethren, maddcned
by prejudice and pride, sought to
overthrow that government, the
American volunteer, with the same
spirit Of sacrifice, rushed to its pres
ervation. You may forget, but can
not, how the young men crowded to
the front; they came as gallants to Il
banquet by hundred and thousands,
so much SO that l, as your Governor
ut that time was almost overrun.--
How much they did and suffered
time will not permit me to tell
Their deeds are recorded in the
history of Wilson's Creek, Don
elson, Chattanooga, and other battle
fields. Why do you erect this monu-
ment? Is it from selfishncss? No;
hut because you believe in what they
did; because they gave up their lives
for your good. In 1864 l was stump
ing the State, just at the time of the
draft, and tired to deal frankly with
the people. l told them if they elect
ed Mr.. Lincoln, he would use every
SuoIG dS lOHS DIS IIlCIl uuN iIIOucy
were furnished, to crush out the re-
bellion. At West Union the audi
ence rose to their feet to man and
pledged their last dollar to the cause,
while on another occasion poor
English minister arose and said he
would like to go, but he had large
family whom he could not leave I'M
provided for, when in an instant a
dozen men sprang to their feet and
offered their assistance and protect
ion. That was not selfshness, but
love of country, that goes a long way
toward love of God. Many of you
are engaged in keen competition for
gain, and to those / would say, if at
any time the Devil whispers in your
ear, instigating you to do something
selfish, come here and look at this
monument. You, parents, bring your
children here, and tell them the story
of what those men did. Teach them
its lessons in season and out of sea
son. They will tell them to their
children and children's children, and
the memory of these men will be
kept ever fresh and green, and our
country will be preserved as Gods
own land and the heritage Of the
free.