Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-06-03

the SKY grew darker, anu uaihrl.
The mother beheld with terros, yet With
| pride, the swelling heart of her only boy as
he fought in silence. the battle between filial
affection and duty to country
The storm nears; the profound crisis is at
hand the god of battle is the only arbiter.
Then were expressed The nchlest sentiments
then were developed the nobest characters
| that ever graced any nation or age.
Then were propounded the most momen.
| tous questions the world ever heard twill
the government of the people BY the people.
defend itself ?" 'is il possible for great gov
eminent where all men are absolutely equal
| before the law, in such crisis to exist ?"
In one day the whole loyal people Of the
north responded in language that could not
be mistaken. The whole country became a
military camp. This very spot on which we
are assembled, echoed and re-echoed, with
the stirring strains of martial music, and 20
the measured tread of your sons and brothers
who are now no more among the living. In
| all portions of the country were heard crowds
of Americans and Irish singing the 'iStar
! Spangled Ranner," and "HaiI Columbia
Crowds Of Germans marching with cadenced
step, learned long ago on the shores of the
historic Rhine, singing the national songs Of
the "Fatherland," with smooth rolling rythm.
Crowds Of Gauls singing with the impetuosisy
characteristic OF their nationality, the soul
stirring "Marsellaise" as did their sires when
| following the soldier emperor before his star
! sank on the field Of Waterloo. Crowds Of
| Scandinavians singing their war songs as sung
by their forefathers,s when Chas. XII. led
the Norsemen to battle against all Europe.
Thousands of all nations all sing the songs
that were associated in their minds with de-
votion to country.
Many of those present will well remember
those eventful days when the one question
alone seemed to absorb the attention of all,
twill the governmet survive ?"
Upon the parting scenes between dearest
friends in those days viii not dwell.
There are too many hear in this vast au-
dience that viii ache on recital of those
scenes.
Nor do desire to follow all through the
dark days OF the Rebellion, to review that
sad drama in actual life where there was no
"aching."
Twill not follow up its progress, and re-
count its victories and its defeats, how one
grand army after another were swept away
and their place filled by as many more freemen
till Wisconsin had sen. to the field 81 900 of
her citizens, $4,000 of whom never returned
but now repose on a thousand battle fields
through the south how the loyal north with
a patriotism as pure as ever warmed the hu.
man breast since God Almighty spoke man
into existence, lavished her treasure and sent
her dearest sons to the bloody slaughter and
with fearful eyes saw them fall before the
organized hosts of wrong as grain be
the sickle, that the right might triumph, th at
on the ruins OF human slavery we might rear
q temple of liberty, where freedom clad in
the robes of righteousness, pure and unde-
filed, shall reign enthroned forever.
l will not recount how, throughout those
dreadful years of 1923, when disaster
after disaster almost subdued the braves.
hearts, when with weary watching and wait
ing faith in God almost persisted, how
through the whole length and breadth of the
land could be heard the wall of sorrow when
the means of the bereaved, the groans of the
MANNED and wounded, the measured tread of
the funeral cortege, the plalntive strains of
the dead march and the beat Of the mufled
drums were in discord blended.
Nor will dwell on those other and hap
pier scenes, when after the land had been
scourged with war, when on the morning air
was borne the Emancipation Proclamation,
when our armies were everywhere success
full, when the grandest army that was ever
marshalled under one communicated by that
intrepid soldier, to whose laurel wreathed
brow no victories can add lustre, with victory
perched upon its tattered and battle rent
banners, radiant with glory, returned to its
home.
These are themes upon which on other
occasions would delight to dwell.
But we meet to-day in the "cities of the
dead' for double purpose.
We come to show our tender regard for
%,
We also meet for the purpose of beneftting
the living.
No words or acts of ours can add to the
renown OF these departed
They are immortal now.
In the death storm of bait lie they sank TO
rest, and were crowned with glory everlast-
ing.
Their sun went down without cloud ;
they died at their post Of duty.
"All that man hath will he give for his
life;' this life they freely gave for their
country.
Let US hope that their spirits, freed from
the cares of this lfe,intrepid and unterriied,
trusting in the merits of Hin, who is the
light of the world, were safely. waited by
angels pinions"through the dark valley of
death" to peaceful home beyond the shores
of time.
1uclc iet tueIu rest, let luelE ucmOTl NC
cherished, and their lives emulated.
The SHOWS of dozen winters have COW
cred their graves with their mantle of white,
typical of the spirits that have flown, and the
sun and rain of dozen summers have spread
their tombs in their carpet of green, en-
blematic of their memory in the hearts of a
grateful posterity.
But in that mystic country to which they
have gone, "from whose bourn no traveller
ever returns,' their robes are whittier than
winters coating, and
"a greener hue than May
The eternal seasons wear"
But as we linger around the marble COL
umn reared by loving friends to
commemorate their memory, what scenes
arise to memory's vision as the thronging
memories of The past crowd upon us.
There is not an individual within the hear
ing of my voice to-day who is not a sufferer.
or those who returned to their friends, one
by one like autumn leaves, slowly and
silently, are dropping into unsung graves,
these brave defenders OF a nations name and
honor.
Over the modest mounds beneath which the y
rest in silent repose, have been reared moni-
ments more lasting than marble or adamant.
"Heroes farewell may you In peace repose
forgetfui alike of your countrys wrongs and woes
mi ghty people now bow down and weep
Above the graves where you, their loved sleep,
May flowers, those sacred emblems, ever bloom
Waiting their fragrance Ger each hallowed tomb
II would be an able maker of phrases that
could add to the lessons these graves so sig
nificantly teach.
The lives and death of those who took
part IN that contest for the nation's preserva>
tion,is beautiful commentary on our Amer
lean institutions it is an example of their
excellence it unfolds their benefcence it
illustrates most grandly the ir power and i'm
mutability.
1t also teaches that in this free land at
least, where the poorest citizen within our
borders knows no superior or ruler save the
be no compromise with wrong; so long as
any mans rights are abridged there can be
no national peace or prosperity.
II also gives the tie to the doctrine pro-
muigated by the supporters of the effete
monarchy of the Old World, that mans love
OF power is superior TO his sense of justice.
IL may not be improper In connection
with what has been said of the dead to add
word to their living comrades in that har-
vest OF death, many of whom am pleased to
see taking part in these ceremonies.
10 you no less than to your comrades who
went down in the storm of battle, or pinned
away in Ahdersonville, till grim visaged
death to them was a shining angel clad in
white, is this nation indebted.
On hundred battle fie Ids you have proven
yourselves more than Spartans; il is to you
no less than the dead the country is indebted
Tor It's existence, and so long as you tarnish
ao' tnat reputation you so dearly and nobly