Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-06-25

dsnce in assuming the duties of the
hour and occasion as President of this
association-an association and pres
ence representing the courage, the pat
riotism, the loyalty of one of the fairest
and best portions of the state--a region
unsurpassed in the beauty of its land
scapes, the fertility OF its soil, and the
character of its people; region cele-
brated for the number and achieve
ments of its loyal sons it scut 10 the
front during the dark days of Rebel
lion" to save the Union. uphold the
laws and preserve to mankind the bless
ings OF free government. These men
who were not willing that this Repub-
lic-this government of the people. by
the people and for the people, should
perish from the face of the EARTH but
freely offered their lives that the grand
and eternal principles of justice and
equality for which our Fathers fought,
should be preserved
Fellow Citizens: do not hesitate to
say that esteem it the greatest honor
Of my life to be elected for the fifth
time as President of this association,
and to preside over the deliberations of
such body of men, so representative
IN character, so great in numbers, so
grand in principles. Comrades, for
this honor ! wish to thank you. Six
years ago the soldiers of Grant county
organized Reunion Association, |
think the first of the kind in the state.
The present association is the result of
that organization. Two years ago we
enlarged our borders, admitting the
counties of Crawford, Richland, Lafay-
cite and Iowa, and changing the name
to the Southwestern Wisconsin Veter-
an Association We count rs men,
bers all loyal soldiers of this district.
The attempt to bring together once
year in reunion the veterans of the war
IN order to renew and preserve the
the sacred friendships of army life, has
proven a success. Each year seems to
add to our number and the enthusiasm
Of the occasion.
Comrades, as look upon you to-day.
| am impressed with the fact that you
are no longer the '.boys of '6l," but the
gray haired veterans. Time. toll ex-
posure during the war and since, have
placed their marks upon your forms
and features. These visible evidences
of change remind us of the fact that
nearly quarter of century has gone
since those days Of toll, of danger and
death, on the march, the bivouac and
the field of battle
Our race will soon be rum" the
places which have known us will know
us no more; soon we shall cross the
dark river and pitch our tents with the
comrades on the other shore. Our
forms will moulder to dust. our names
and deeds will be forgotten; even the
stone that marks our resting place will
crumble and fall; nothing will remain
of us except the influence of our lives
and actions. for good or evil. Then let
us by word and deed encourage a more
general diffusion of knowledge, high
er standard of morality, broader Chris
tan charity, assured that knowledge
and morality will save our NATIONWIDE
and ignorance destroy it. righteous
ness exalteth a nation, but sin is re-
proach to any people,
Next. prayer by the chaplain, Rev
E. +. Clough; then song in the old
army style; then the address nf well
come by +. w. Stratman; and next the
following original poem, by Miss Me
dora Clark, of Madison: