The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-06-07
DECORATION DAY SPEECH.
BY J. V. QUARLES.

l
/ BYJ.v. QUARLEs.
/ Every hillside in Europe is bristling
with armed men. The roar of the con-
fict is heard in Asia, that land of cher
ished memories. In the old world the
best muscle is employed at nothing bet
ter than carrying gun; the best brains
are occupied with the problem of de-
structiOn. The life blood is flowing
from the veins Of innocent men. The
reason of this sacrifice is a conundrum.
Human beings guilty of no crime are
being crushed torn and mangled. No
body knows exactly why. Red handed
wal with his thousand terrors is abroad
among the nations Of the earth. A sin
gle mailed hand beckons death to hold
high carnival among the habitations Of
men.
Under such auspices we meet to-day,
but we gather as a free people. We
answer the beck of no cZar. No empe-
ror can stand us up in ranks to stop
the bullets aimed at him. No king can
compel us to shoot at men we don't
know and whom we don't want to kill.
The strength of our government is not
measured by it's ability to destroy life
nor does it's safety depend upon infer
nal machines devised with hell-born
craft. The air in America is strong
enough to float our flag and it don't
keep an army corps tugging at the hal
yards to keep it up where it may be
seen and respected by all men. No
| American is bound to take any stock in
any other mans ambition. He may
live with his wife and little ones, at his
own fireside as long as he can behave
himself
i The nations of Europe not involved
are in state Of feverish excitement
not that they care anything about either
lCOssack or Turk but because any mo-
ment they may be plunged into the con-
lfict.
Our Republic is not even startled by
the great duel Tt looks on as compla-
Gently as the boy who witnessed the
conflict between the lizard and the
snake. No matter how general or pro-
tracted the struggle not a woman
among us need worry or weep. With
no enemy to fear, no army to pay, with
peace and tranquility at home we are
left to work out our national destiny
Iuntrammeled.
! Any American able to comprehend
this state of things who does not feel
gratitude in his heart must be as barren
of sensibility as craven image.
Let us not, indolently. forget that
this independence which is our joy
has been welded and fashioned under
the white heat of suffering. Does it
become us as men to stolidly accept
this great legacy and never reflect
whence it came 4?
Charity to the living is enjOined as a
virtue but we owe more to the dead.
! The advancement of the present in re-
ligious and political liberty, in science
literature and arts is the handywork OF
those who are dead. We take by In
heritance not by purchase.
The thought which [ wish briefly to
present to-day is this. Can we as
Americans afford to allow our national
heroes to be forgotten? AL will agree
that it is but simple justice for any ma
ton to commemorate great deeds OF
thoughts that are associated with its
Town history. The man who labors
well or suffers much for the common
cause of humanity deserves to be re,
. membered. But it seems to me there
are cogent reasons why we in America
IshOuld not exhibit to our children in
, difference toward heroism that has
challenged the admiration of the world
) We have a political structure resting
: upon principles It's strength and Wig
| or depend upon the growth Of those
/ principles among the masses Of the PEG
. pie. Dismissing it's armies it relies
l confidently upon the spontaneous pat
e riotism Of it's citizens. Such govern
ment must inculcate patriotism as
: national virtue. When we fail to i'm
press the mind of our youth with the
q honor in which we hold the patrlo1
4 dead we neglect one of the Creates
g sources of national strength.
It has been said that Republics are
: ungrateful. And so it would seen
J when we reflect that the United States
Join in celebrating but one day in the
calendar. Out of all the grand results
" that have crystalized in the crucible 0.
suffering since the Mayfower landed a
! Plymouth only one event is deemed
: worthy comnemoration by the nation
at large. Only once. each year is thi
+ nation called to pause and reflect tina
! there is anything grand in it's birth
n great in it's history, or noble in it's pur
lposes.
Shall another half day be taken from
! the business year and devoted to SACRED
!, memories? Why not? We meet OF