Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-06-25

No. men, high minded men,
WtthpOwers as far abovedull brutes endowed,
In forest, brake or fen.
AS hearts excel cold rock or brambles rude;
But now their rights and knowing dare
Prevent the long aimed blow,
And crush the tyrant while they rend the
chain,
These constitute a state,
There were dark days during the war
for the union. The government made
solemn pledges. 1t agreed to protect the
wounded soldier, and the widow and
fatherless children. The pension was
promised, and he is not a good patriot
who does not rejoice when the govern
ment keeps this promise. 1t promised to
pay back all borrowed money, and he is
a true patriot who ~rejoices to see every
dollar paid back. Our national credit
to-day, better than standing armies, comes
from a just fulfllment of our promises to
redeem all our pledges. What a hale of
glory rests down upon us to-day because
the moral conscience of the people has
compelled the administrations to meet
every n of these promises. What a tide
of national honor and prosperity has set
in upon US because of this just course in
the action of the government.
When we consider the vastncss of our
territory, our rapidly increasing popula-
ton, the incoming tides of population
from foreign shores, the many %nationali-
ties represented in our population, the
multiplied and often conflicting interests
of the people. the presence and destructive
forces of vice in the larger cities of the
union, the growing wealth in the nation,
its true nature, its power to corrupt and
destroy, its still greater power when en-
ployed in corporations, WI ask, whether
simple government resting wholly
shall be equal to the strains if not the
perils in reserve for it. We believe it is.
We devoutly hope so, for civil and reli-
gious. liberty must abide here, if any
where. If representative government
fails here, it fails for the entire race and
for all time.
How may We add to the social and civil
forces which shall resist the evil and
apparently destructive elements to which
I have alluded?
Every American citizen should be an
American. He should love the govern
ment under which he lives and honor its
Republican characteristics. The genius
of the government should be studied in
the family and in the schools. The grand
history should be in the hands of every
American scholar. The progress made in
all departments Of labor and enterprise
should become a just source of national
pride. All the virtues should be cherished
by the people. The tendencies to effemi-
nancy and vice which the accumulations
of wealth have never failed to promote in
other countries, should be averted by the
adoption and practice of the habits and
employments becoming the simplicity of
our form of government.
Wealth should be no passport to place
and power. Personal worth and real
merit alone should be recognized. All
the virtues of heart and soul should be
encouraged. Love of country should be
fostered at home and in the schools. Uni
versal education should be a watchward.
All the states should provide for it and
the general government ishould enceur-
age it. The structure of our govern
ment is well nigh perfect. The parts of
the system are marvelously adjusted. We
need fear for the future only as the
sources of all power under it become
unworthy the sacred trust. If the people
are pure, if they are beyond the reach of
successful corruption, then there is no
ground for fear. The liberties of the
people will be secure. and each year Sc
cure further safeguards.
Standing here at the grave of one of the
many who saved to us and eur children
this fair political inheritance, let US swear
fidelity to the grand principles of right
that lie at the foundation of all good
government, and here make the solemn
pledge to cultivate and encourage all the
virtues which adorn human character
and dignity the state, to insist by voice
and vote upon an administration of the
government in harmony with it's charac
ter and laws, and to teach to the you'll
about us the enchanting lessons of patri
otism, everywhere found in our national
history. Acting thus we could consist.
emily exclaim, we could e%xultingly ex
claim
Thou, too, sail on, 0 ship of state;
Sail on, o union, strong and great;
Humanity with all it's fears,
With all the hopes OF future years.,
Is hanging GREATNESS on thy fate.
Col. Henry G. Rogers was born in the
state of Vermont in 1884. He came into
the territory of Minnesota in the G
1856, and settled at Brownsville, in Now
er county; in 1858 he was elected a sena.
tor from this county to the second Legisla.
ture of the state; in 1862 he was elected
to the state house of representatives
in 1862 he enlisted into the service
Of the United States as a member
of the 9th Minnesota volunteer regi
ment. He was made captain Of Co. A
was promoted to the rank of Lieut.
Colonel in the 9Th regiment, which
rank he held when mustered out oil
the service in 1865. In 1865 he wa
elected Secretary of State and was re,
elected in 1867; in 1870 he was appointed
U. s. Pension agent for the state of Min.
nesota, this office he held at the time OF
his death, May, 1871.
Col. Rogers vas honored by the people
of this county, was recognized by Gov
Ramsey when Minnesota was sending
forth her brave men for the defense OF
the Union, and honored by the state, when
wounded and broken, he came home from
the bloody fields of war; and was again
honored by the government which he
imperilled his life to save.
In these spheres of action Col. Rogers
met and discharged every duty with I'm:
surpassed faithfulness and earnestness
He was a good officer, and left a most
honorable record. No friend and indeed
no enemy can name the Time or the place
when he betrayed a trust, when he for
got the obligations which he had assum
ed. He was earnest and honest. He was
true to his convictions of duty and brav.
in his obedience to them. I had thu
honor to know him for the first time, ii
1857, when / assumed the duties of State
Superintendent of Public Instruction
He was then Secretary of State and was
ex-oficio State Superintendent. Whe1
it became my duty to receive from hin
the papers and documents belonging tt
the Office, I found him so kind, so devoit
of illwill, or jealousy, 10 ready to aid me
that I was his friend from that hour.
discovered that he was profoundly in
terested in the common, schools of tn
state. He was glad that they were t,
have the entire attention of an officer ap
pointed for that purpose. He cheerful,
surrendered his connection with them
only because he was certain that the,
needed all the time of a special officer
The true man showed itself. The publi
good had a higher place in his mind thai
any honor which vas seemingly about t,
be takenfrom his office. He was as anxiou