Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-06-05
devouring flames. Successful rebellion
meant continual war -

meant continual war"
The Judge than gave an amusing &C
count of the enlistment of our townsman
Fletcher Kidd, a school boy only IL year,
years of age, and not higher than hi.
cane. The recruiting officers rejected
him because too petite to stop bullet
but, when the spunky little patriot ban
tered the recruiting officer for wrestle
he backed down and Fletcher earned
the pround distinction of wearing the
loyal '.blue"; and a brave soldier he
was, too.
The speaker here referred to the stu
pendous effort made to subdue the re-
bellion. 1--WE cannot comprehend it I'M
| til we look at the historical data. On
land and sea, from the beginning to the
end of this war, not less, yes more than
two millions of men were under arms
more than one out of 20 of our popu-
lation at that time. Grant county had
between 800 and 1000 brave men who
persisted for the Union. Go look at our
National cemeteries, those bivouacs of
the dead where 100000 patriots sleep.
All! Who slew all these? And has the
loyal American people no excuse, no
justification to offer at the bar of God
| and man and to the nations of the earth
for the sacrifice of half million lives?
Four millions of men have been raised
from the hopeless condition of chattel
slavery to the birthright of American
citizens. Our obligation does not cease
here. Our victory will not be complete
until we have planted the church and
in Ynish n in,
the South. Here was the secret of our
superiority over our former enemies;
and we need not dread the development
of the peaceful industries in the south
ern states, for such rivalries never ex-
cite sectional jealousy and strife, but
are the bonds of union and fraternity.
Aud soldiers of the Republic: You
cannot but be aware that your wonder
full success in crushing a rebellion more
dangerous and powerful than ever
threatened the existence of any nation,
has invested our country with a moral
power over other nations that it never
possessed before. 1t has altered the
laws and institutions of other lands.
Wherever slavery existed it has been
abolished or is in process of extinction.
You have made man greater because
you have shown what man can do and
given him stronger claim to the re-
spect and protection of his fellow men.
In other words you have rendered hui
man liberty more secure and
assured its universal prey
alence in the future in every cline
And when l look at what we have
gained, what does our nation owe to
the widows, to the orphans, to the sur
vivors of this war wasted by disease,
of which they were not conscious when
they were discharged. In such an as
semblage as this how many do | see in
battle Topped away"
Gen. Calls then presented the speak
er with a list of the names of wounded
soldiers he saw before him although
many escaped his observation. These
names were read and the character
of wounds briefly stated.
And the dead whom we cannot re-
call! Spring comes to offer them her
flowers. But our tears are min
gled with exultation, and the blessings
of peace and pardon they have be-
9ueathed to the living to the present
and future gnenerations- may assuage
our grief. And could the spirits of our
Revolutionary fathers look down from
Heaven this day upon fifty millions of
people devoutly and reverently honor
ing tho brave men who died in defence
of that Union to which hundred years
ago they devoted their lives; could
they see what freedom, education and
religion has done and is capable of
doing for the elevation and happiness
of mankind, they would have the assur-
ance they had not lived and labored in
vain, and soldiers of the Republic, that
proud distinction is yours.
the stand. the crowd soon gathered
around the soldiers monument, where
impressive ceremonies took place, I'M
der the auspices of the Grand Army
Post. After music by the Band,
DIR. Eaton stepped forward and made
an eloquent and touching prayer. The
monument was then decorated by
Miss Lizzie Smith, Miss Name Barnett
Miss Kate elise, Miss Clara Mchaelis
Miss Laura Schreiner, Miss Mamie Book,
Miss Helen Strong. Miss Laura Cover.
And thirty-six little girls, whose names
are printed below, encircled the monu
ment, presenting a pleasing spectacle
by their careful marching and quite de-
meanor, and in their singing of those
patriotic songs, 1--WE deck their graves
alike to-day" and Meath their cover
ing of Beautiful Flowers" they show ed
careful and painstaking drill, after which
eight little boys, each holding in his
hand tiny basket of flowers strew the
ground within the enclosure of the mon.
ument with those silent tributes of love