The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-07-11

Mr.. PRESIDENT AND FELLOW CITI,
zENs AS we stand in this presence
to-day beneath the arches of this beau
tiful park, we are forcibly reminded of
the feelings which swelled our youth
full bosom where we mingled, for the
first time with the multitude in the
celebration Of our National Indepen-
dence thirty-fve years ago.
Then the minds of the people, old
and young, were naturally turned
back TO the war of the Revolution,
when the n&ion's independence was
secured; and 0ur orators then were
won't to gather their inspiration large
ly from the. recorded deeds of the
heroes Of Lexington, Bunker Hill, and.
Yorktown.
The patriotism of our citizens was
then stirred to it's lowest depths by
the rehearsal Of the grand achievement
of the long lineeCf those who left the
plough in the fprrow of the field, the
desk Of the study, and even the sacred
functions of the pulpit to join the
Federal forces against the tyranny and
oppression of the mother country.
Thus, "reminiscences of the Revolt
tionary war and those who were it's
leading spirits, constituted the bone
and sinew Of tina, deliverances which
fell from the lips, of the golden-mouth-
ed orators of thehperiod to which we
refer.
And such Was thla regime that was
followed largely Down to the memora-
. bic years Of the N6aellion, the results
of which have risGr up in such pro
portions as to ecli@ae, in the minds of
the people, even tho glorious achiev-
ments Of the fathens. q hundred years
ago.
And thus it is d0at the generation
now on the stage ares, more powerfully
affected by the explatts Of the heroes
on the battle fields OF the Gettysburgs
and Antietams, than Ny all the victo
ries gained by the vetaIans in the days
Of the first Revolution.
We can never forget the precious
blood that was shed Ia 5the early strug
gle, nor shall we ever Gail to recognize
the value of the rich boon that has
been transmitted to MS from the
fathers, as the purchase cQf their lives
which were cbeerfully laid on the
aaltar Of patriotic devotion; but, fel
tlow citizens, you will agree with me
Il think, when [ suggest that, in thu
ygathered up fruits Of the recent war
we have facts. which impaa;t to this 0c
,oaalon grarder significance than j
ever possessed, and which Tenders i
peculiarly fitting that on this day. WE
should, IN order to keep the love Of
country burning on the affairs of oul
own hearts, call up the martial deeds
'ot chose who went down by dhe hun.
dredIthousands into the battle to res.
cue Their imperiled country from the
clutch-of treason, and save the b,ono,
of the old flag.
The Gl8mory of the noble deeds OF
the boys In blue, it would seem. ogaht
TO lnSplDe in the heart of every citizen
of the Bepublic, such an appreciates
OF their hlood-bought liberties that
each should vie with his fellow, in Of.
forts to preserve intact from the ruth
less hand OF tiemagogueism those in.
situations wl&ail have been purchased
at such price.
For it is mulch to be feared. from
the signs of the tlrnes, and especially
from the scenes transporting at Wash
lngton that many Of those who should
be leaders in every &et of legislation
Tor the recuperation eff the country
and Its complete restoration to state
OF substantial peace and progress, have
forgotten, in the pursuit of their own
selfish ends, the millions Of treasure
and human life that We're given to
save the sun of the lettering Republic
from going down in the stormy sea of
anarchy and blood.
Selfish ambition and political aggrand
cement seem to rule at the Nations
Capitol to such an extent that eyery
true lover of his country must trem-
Die when he contemplates the result OF
al this. And yet, while these facts