Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-01-29
Continued from third page.

States was responded to in glowing
words by that prince of orators Col
VIM. +. Villas. No abstract OF MS
words can do them justice. He cleo
trifed the audience and called forth
rounds OF applause. His alluslon to
Gen. Grant touched every soldiers
heart and when he alluded to the
great soldiers later misfortHnes and
appealed TO the nation not to let any
misiudgment or censure fall upon
thai noble hero about a little matter
of money, but for grateful people
IN lift him above the clouds which
business misfortune had now gathered
about his head, into the sunshine d a
loving nations kindness, every war
rior's heart was in his threat in sym
pathy and love for the great com
mander. It was an appeal that every
soldier throughout this broad land
whether he wore the blue or the gray
should echo and re-eche.
The general made a happy alluslon
to the change to soon to take place IN
the great Office, which was well re
oeived and greeted with cheers.
The drum corps was called for at
this time, but failed to appear, and
Gen. Fairchild called for the old
army song: Mary had little lamb, "
which the boys sang with will, hun
dreGs joining in the chorus:
"Hurr,h for Mary burrah for the lamb,
Hurrab FOR the teacher who did't care d-n,
While we rallied round the flag, etc.
'0rhe National Guard, " was re-
sponded to by Gen. Q. 2 Chapman in
the following forcib(e words:
Recognizing the fact shat the prevailing sensi-
nent OF the war is that Of "reminiscences rather
than a contemplated Of that future 10 which lies
the sphere OF usefulness Of the National Quad,
hesitate 10 interrupt the current Of your thought
in responding as briefly as / viii TO the sentiment
assigned tome.
a
curity for our beloved country, lies in the re
markabie recurrence Of public opinion, led by
such men as Sherman and Sheridan, Dunn and
Bennett, and many Of the most experienced and
thoughtful officers OF the army 10 that fuuda-
mental truth so firmly held, SO often and clearly
expressed in the state papers Of tho
fathers Of the republic finally
crystalizug into one Of the early
amendments to our constitution, that "a well
regulated militia is necessary to the security Of a
free state"
IL adgurs we'll for the future when the thought
of those upon whom rests the responsibility Of
providing for the defen Of the country, turns so
strongly to the body Of the people as the real
repository Of the military strength Of the nation.
Human nature changes but little with the ad
vance of civilization. While we may indulge IN
day dreams IN which the horizon Of the future
seems already roseate with the coming dawn Of
that mileuial day foretod in holy writ, when
swords shall be beaten into pillow shares AID spears
into pruning hooks; when nation shall not
lift up the sword against the nation, neither shall
they learn war any more" An awakening TO the
stern realities of the time shows us the demon of
disorder and unrest stalking the length and
the nihist, in Germany as the socialist, in France
as the communist, in every couatry under diff
ferent name but ia all the same spirit. Even
withs our own borders the lessons Of Pittsburg
aud Cincinnati can not safely be unheeded.
When we see the nations Of the old world stag
gering under the utmost limit of taxation, not
only in oney to support their armies,
but In young men withdrawn from the ayocatious
of civil life TO make a home IN camps and har-
rrcks at a time when habits of industry and thrift
are 70 be formed if ever aud made Il burden upon
those whose age or physical inferority aleue
exempts them from similar service. And all
this TO maintain a sovereign on the throne Let
us congratulate ourselves on the kinder fate that
has cast our lot in country where the people
are the soyereigns, and where the soyereigns are
able TO take care of themselves
'.The Rank and File:
This toast was the theme of short
speech, full Of power and beauty, by
Gen Edward S. Bragg. He referred
his hearers back to g.. When Sum
ter had been bombarded and Bull
Runs disaster had stirred the nation,
then from every hillside, farm, vii
lage, city, there came the priest from
pulpit, the lawyer, the laborer, the
mechanic, the artisan, anS formed in
military order to support the flag of
an undivided country. Later in the
same year you would find them
in the camps, exulting over
the capture of chicken or
porlSer captarcd near the picket
line and fearing they should never
see a rebel and the war would close.
A year passed on, and there the rank
and file purified by the hardshlps of
war had shrunk in numbers but those
who remained were pure gold And
there was the rank and file. March
leg in column toward the sound of
the guns, an orderly would ride up
and bring an order to carry yonder