Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-06-04
MEMORIAL DAY.
A Great Crowd Procession
Fine Dinner--Patriotic Address
General Enthusiasm

A Great Crowd Procession
Fine Dinner--Patriotic Address
| General Enthusiasm.
Memorial day, after an interval of II
years, was observed by one of the larges
and most successful public demonstra
tions ever witnessed in Austin, showing
| that the deep interest felt in the war anl
its veteran soldiers has not in the least
abated with the lapse Of time.
The weather, was all that could have
been desired, and at an early hour in the
day the multitudes from the country
near and far, began to throng our streets
Soon the G. A. r. Posts from Browns
dale and Leroy put in an appearance,
clothed in neat uniforms, and bedecked
with badges, who, with our militia, gave
the city quite martial appearance.
The day was given over to the celebra.
ton, and the crowds of people upon the
street, and the children carrying flowers
to the courthouse, gave everything a
holiday aspect save that the flags at half
mast suggested sober reflections.
From IL o'clock until the procession
moved, and after the return of the pro-
cession from lakewood until night, the
ladies served an elegant dinner and supper
in McClellands block, of which not less
than 700 people partook. The room was
decorated with evergreens and flags while
the charter of Mcintyre Post beautifully
framed and surmounted by large wreath
hung in a conspicuous place. At 2:15
o'clock p. M, at the ringing Of the Con-
gregational bell, the procession, under
direction of H. B. Corey, Marshal, aided
by assistant Marshal Abram Newell,
moved down st. Paul street, turned onto
Adams street, and then marched up Main
street to lakewood cemetery.
The following order was observed I'd
Regimant band; Co. G, under command
of Capt. NJ. M. Trowbridge; Mcintyre
Post, No. sc, of Austin, Capt. w. II. Suit
ton commander; Henry Rogers Post, No.
II, of Brownsville, Albert Swift comman-
der; James George Post. No. %, Leroy,
H. A. Mcconnell commander; St. Ber-
nard Commandery K. T., No. 10, J. s.
Anderson commander; Daughters of
veterans in conveyance, carrying the
floral decoration, and children of the
public schools, commanded by Vert An
derson. On arriving at the cemetery the
procession was placed in ranks about the
burial lot belonging to the G. A. r. on
which stands the old monument now let
tered Mcintyre Post, No. 66, G. A. r.
After music by the band, Rev. G. E.
Wright, chaplain, offered very appro-
pirate and timely prayer. DR.. Phillips
sang ''The Soldiers Battle Prayer"
Rev. w. E. Stanley then gave the ad
dress, of which we give brief resume:
Comrades, fathers, mothers, brothers,
sisters, sons and daughters, all who
braved, suffered, sacrificed, prayed and
wept in all those sad and terrible wears
when we commended for the unity and
freedom of our loved country, once more
place our tributes of affectionate remem
brance upon the graves of those who
died that we Nigh enjoy the inestimable
blessings which are ours to-day. How
different our emotions as we gather in
this quiet enclosure where peace reigns
and the weary are at rest, than what
they were 20 years ago, when the news
that the rebel guns had Inundated the
stars and stripes, in Charleston harbor,
kindled each drop of blood into flame,
and our youth, the flower of the land.
marshalled to go forth to avenge the
honor of our insulted flag.
We have assembled to-day in common
with our fellow citizens all over the land
to pay our respect to the memory of those
who fell in that awful but victorious
conflict; those brave men whose remains
have found resting place beneath the
sods of the land they helped to save.
We are not alone in these deep senti-
ments of love for the memory of the fall
en- brave. In ages past, all nations have
delighted to honor their brave, and build
over their ashes the monumental pile.
part the record of the deeds of brave men
Although, as people, we have had an
existence of only little over two cen.
| turtles, we have a history we may we'll be
proud of. This has been land of heroes
from the day our forefatheys landed at
Plymouth Rock until now. The spirit OF
1776 made possible the spirit of 1861.
The Revolutionary fathers in memory
Of their great sacrifices, thought thei1
sons might degenerate, and might not be
able to Withstand foreign foe, but
scarcely had the last old veteran gone to
his grave, than their sons fought out q
conflict for freedom and country, in com.
parison with which, in magnitude and
expenditures, the old wars were dwarfed
into insigniicance.
While the noble dead of other states are
being remembered to-day, let me speak
of the heroes of our own loved Mime
sofa. This I can do impartially, as
never having been enrolled in any Of her
military organizations.
How noble her record One of the
youngest of the sisterhood of loyal states,
she sent %, 900 men to the front. Where
in all the records of the valor of the
brighter page than the history of the
Minnesota First. Bull Run, the battles
of the Peninsula, Fredericksburg, Ante
tam and Gettysburg, witnessed their valol
and their loss. Of 1900 men enrolled in
that organization, less than 800 returned
from the front. Time prevents US from
speaking at length of the meriterious
deeds of our other Minnesota regiments
| but their record is written in nearly every
conflict of the war. They left their dead
upon hundred battle fields. Minnesota
has earned we'll the proud position she
holds among the sisterhoed of states, she
has paid it in the valor and blood Of he1
modest sons.
While speaking of the heroism of tho
men, let us not forget the devotion Of
the women. The victory was won not by
the brave soldiers alone, who barred theil
breasts to the rebel fire, but as we'll by
the mothers, wives, sisters and daughters
who all through the North, toiled anc
prayed at home. Many lives were cu
short in battle, prison pens and hospitals
but who knows how many hearts-tht
hearts of mothers and wives broke wher
the sad news, flashing home from thu
battle field, brought the end of all earthly
hopes. The bullets fired at soldiers
breasts often glanced into the hearts a
home. All honor to the devoted wome1
of 1865, who stifed their fondest af
fections, that they might not hinder thu
| hOnr of the nations rnScue r'="