Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-06-05

stopped Win a hlDck luaL threw iuNsketS INTO Two
million ready hands-a time when men could
spare day year, life time. Tired Of so
much Of this soldier business'Y Aye There
was time when same who hear me now were
tired Of 30 much Of this soldier. business At
Shiloh, at Gettysburg, at the Wilderness, on
wsary marches, choked with dust stided with
smoke, blinded with sweat and blood while death
and ball rained all about you,-many, many times
we're you tired Of so much Of this soldier bust
ness" but you did not give it up.
40 this decoration cannot do the dead any
good" but there IS still something to do for the
living and those to follow II in a score Of year
the feelings Of men can so change it is indeed
time TO reflect upon the future of this day Do
such expressions as these. mean that we are for
getting the cause and cost OF the war, are begin
ming within a generation TO yield grudgingly any
manifestations Of gratitude 70 It's soldiers to
meanly count the minutes given as so many dol
lars cones Doubtless in a degree it does Under
the spell of the material spirit Of
our time we look neither backward
nor forward We live in the present only.
But ideas held so vital TO this governments being
tins the last desperate chance OF civil war must
needs be invoked in their defense are worthy at
least Of some consideration from succeeding gen
creations D,uDtless in a degree il indicates, too,
that the personal ties are growing fewer and that
this day ike our natioaal Independence day must
eventually be cousecrated 70 the principles and
spirit OF our heroes instead Of their sacred clay
AS we approach this epoch in our history, e is
prudent TO consider what 'ge are doing 20 preserve
and glorify in the minds Of our children the sub
lime principles maintained through rebellion as
those of The revolution have been preserved and
glorfed in our minds What are we doing for
the future Of this day. For the measure and
spirit Of it's future observance win speak the feel
ing of this people the final attitude of this nation
toward the war and its ISSUES. The future Of this
day! IL is vast subject and its thorough treat
ment requires data on every important topic of
the times. The few minutes assigned to me suf
fers only the suggestion Of the more prominent
points
are you aware that the children of our pnblic
schools know vastly more to-day, concerning the
underlying causes OF the revolution, than of the
rebellion? Time enough is devoted to the sub
ject facts enough are learned by the student
indeed too many; space enough is allowed in the
text; but in the system of study method of in
struction and spirit of the work fundamental
causesare Avoided as toodelicate Ask the aver
age boy what caused the late war, and he answers
with all the particulars Of Fort Sumpter The
philosophy Of the years of civil war is crystalzed
ia the constitution and amendments; and though
It may be studied in connection With and as a
part Of our history, do you know that it is almost
never taught aud indeed but rarely taught at all
In our country schools: Beyond these schools the
great mass of our boys and gilis are not able to
go; and it is there that are nourished the ideas
which sustain and shape the policy Of the state.
But if these ideas ought to be nourished in the
schools it is in the homes and at the fresdes that
they must receive their inspiration, for the
school reflects the home. And when an idea is in
corporatad in the home creed, comes to the young
mind framed in loving words from loved lips is
caught at the mothers knee it is kept with set
tied conviction which holds on and on ia the hui
man heart though the years roll over the head
But what, in fact, are the fathers and mothers Of
this country doing TO inspire a veneraton in their
children for the principles for which these your
comrades died How many evenings DAYS
months, alas years pass, with never word on tho
new birth of this Nation IN thousands of homes
throughout the land And still as the hours go
by, silent as thought the ideas caught at the fire
side, cultivated in the homes and at the schools
are weaving the sestinies Of this people-prepar-
ing their future history.
Not only IN our private life but in our public
speech as wen, we are guilty Of this sin of omis-
sion. The fun meaning OF this silence, of the
studied avoidance Of this subject is not found in
our selfish thrift alone nor yet in the public indif
ference manifest in our homes. 1t comes more
directly rom popular northern policy known
rs Cancellation But" says one would YOU
..1fs s.. 81 90
answer: The story of secession must be told in
history, and as we hold sacred the unity Of this
Nation and cherish the liberty OF its people, it
must be told tuthfuly, told dispassionatelv, told
unnjnchiugly What would you have. Shall we
play fantastic tricks with the facts of history and
give d lie TO posterity that shall damn the mem
Dry ST these dead Remember how history is
made I know IL has been urged in almost every
state that that the past must be forgotten that
even these graves must DE neglected to soothc tile
wounded sensibilites of the south and bring order
out of chaos But / tell you that it is a.
compromise with danger and Gishonor You got
from the generations which proceeded yours the
bitter fruits Of their compromises aud ate them
amid the horrors Of civil war; and if you would
have those who follow you inherit durable
peace, SO dearly purchased you must not yield
one point Of principle, nor stifle its proper ex-
preston. You We're right, etcruaIly right And
until this people proclaim it 10 one strong harmo-
uious voice Nation, is but an empty name Amy
other policy is perous and disgraeeful The day
must come when the better Judgment of the south
shall yield an unqualified, an honest and hearty
approval of national unity Anything less than
this cannot Toe conceded with safety; anything
less than this must lose us their respect and worse
than that our own To seek to hold fast to the
principle and at the same time smother
all public expression of its approval, to sneoEtHg
u sustain it with an apologize silence
manifests o sal want Of moral substance, and is q
perncious public policy. 1t is as wretched as it
is weak. 1t is a species of vicarious sacrifice. 70
unfairly relegates 90 the future the responsible
ties of our own time. do not SO much question
The intentions Of the advocates OF this policy as
their wisdom Without wishing to abandon the
ground gained by the war bad counsel seeks ia
bridge the bloody chasm by
cancellation and silence This is the
artificial method under which we would rear our
children in almost total ignorance of the great is
IS %.