Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-06-03
DECORATION DAY.
How It Was Observed in
Lancaster.
A Large Crowd Present.

prove a complete failure. Most
however, put great faith in the fact
that Providence seems always tc
specially favor ~ with good wealth.
er on decoration day. About nine
o'clock the clouds began to show
signs of breaking up and by noon
the sun was shining very clearly.
About ten O'Clock the people began
to come in, and kept On coming I'M.
Til a large crowd had assembled
They came from all parts of the
county to do honor TO the heroic
deeds and deaths OF Grant county
soldiers. The usual extensive prep
arations were delayed this year,
most of the real work being done
the morning Of the day. Shortly
after dinner the people began to
assemble in the court yard, and in
q short time the east side was dense.
ly packed.
The exercises were opened with
an overture by the Platteville Hook
and Ladder Band.
Hon. A. r. Bushnell was then
introduced as President of the Day
by IL. Buchner, Esq, Chairman of
the Decoration Executive Commit
tee for the year 1880, and in his
opening remarks substantially said:
We have met together here in memory of those
brave men, who in thu day of our nations peril,
went forth from Grant county. and gave their lives
to preserve for u.s. the government est ablished in
the blood Of the fathers Of this repu, lie.
Their bones lie scattered wherever in that great
struggle heard the sound of hostile gun, OF sur.
geon's call told off the weary days, The graves Of
many Of them are marked only by the greener grass
nourished by their Wondering ashes.
But here at her county seat, Grant countyn token
of the enduring love other people, and to perpetuate
the remembrance of their services to their country,
has erected this soldiers monument.
Thirteen years ago, the Governor of Wisconsin, in
the presence of assembled thousands. in the name
Of the people of Grant county, who erected it in
the name Of the state Of Wisconsin, whose sons they
were IN the name OF the United States of America,
whose government they died to preserve; IN the
Of Almighty God, the father OF US all solcmny
dedicated this monument to the memory Of those
brave men whose names are inscribed upon its col
umns.
BY act of Congress, well by act Of our State
Legislature, this day of each year. when the land
clothed in flowers, and all nature puts her most
beauteous garments, has been set apart a day IN
which to decorate and adorn the graves OF these
dead, and all the graves Of those who fell in the
cause for which they died.
Then let us this day, read over the names here
written, recall the familiar faces and forms of
these dead refresh the remembrances OF their lives
their services and sacrifices, and ndelibly impress
them upon the minds of the rising generation.
Their day has passed. They lived the lives of true
descendants of the fathers of the republic and like
them, they died the death Of patriots.
It is to their heroic courage, their suterings and
sacrcesand those who fought with them, under God,
that we owe as nation, that high consideration
abroad, thatprosperity, and above all, that peace
and security at home which we now enjoy,
passed Slavery the great cause of sectional COM
tention has passed away once free people in this
day and civilization can never again be ensaved
The great chieftain Of the MON armies who lacks
not penetration and dissernment, nor the opportu
mites of knowledge, says: "Thsre is no reason to
doubt that those who the gray will perform all
that they have promised Of loyalty to the National
Flag"
While we enjoy the rich blessings which have come
down to country through the blood Of those who
have gone before let never forget to faithfully
perform the duties which deyove upon us, as the
now citizens of this great Republic. 1t is ours to
conseorste the memory of these loved dead with
music and with song. with prayer and thanksgiving,
with acknowledgment ofther services and sacrifices;
to beautify with flowers and adorn with wreaths
their memorial stones and while we withhold
nothing from their memory nor pallate the treason
ofthose who fought against them, it is also ours to
heal our countrys wounds guard well the rspub-
lie, and hand down to our children, for them and
their children's children, this government of
the people, and by the people, and for the people,
to be perp etuaed the future generations forever
and forever.
Rev. Goodsell, Methodist pastor
at Platteville, then offered very
impressive prayer, after which the
band impressively rendered that
grand anthem, sold Hundred"
Col. Clark here gave notice of the
Soldiers Reunion to be held at Mil
waukee al next week, and request
ed all desiring TO attend to report,
during this week, by card or in
person, to A. r. Bushnell at his Of
fee, that arrangements might be
be made to secure the reduction on
fares and their quarters assigned at
Milwaukee.
The President then introduced
Il. G. Orr, Esq ). who delivered the
following address
Mr.. President; Ladies and Gentlemen:
With feelings ofjoy and sadness inseparably
commingled, we meet to-day to pay fitting
tribute to the memory of departed worth.
In every age aud country homage has ever
been paid to the great and good, and es.
pecially to the nations heroic and meritori,
Gus dead,
The cunning of the sculptor's chisel and
the magic of the artists brush have ever
been invoked TO preserve and erpetuate for
posterity their form and fealties. The poets
cong and orators theme through all the ages
past have told in measured verse and burning
eloQuence the deeds and merits of the worlds
great actors,
Could we brush the dust of centuries form
the chiseled thoughts Of a Phideas, Michael
Angelo, or a Canova, or roll back the tide OF
barbarism which for centuries has shrouded
classic Greece and Rome, and look upon the
monumental ruins that tell of their former
greatness, or with awe and admiration behold
where Raphael with conception above the
human, bends 10 the canvas the sublime
mystery of the TRANSPORTATION, we would then
learn how fast this custom is welded TO the
human heart.
II is fitting and proper then, that we, for
this one day at least, pause amid the stirring
scenes Of life that engross our thoughts and
attention, that provoke discussion aud someS
times bitterness of feeling throughout this
land, now shrouded with tho drapery ri
mourning, to pay the tribute of willing hearts
to the memory Of those who so nobly battled
for the right, TO wreath our garlsnds upon the
tombs of those who freely gave themselves as
offerings for their country's good, and grandly
died that the right might triumph, that the
Union undivided might survive, and that the
freest and best government ever formed
should not perish from the face Of the earth
forever.