The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-06-05
DECORATION DAY IN THE CITY.

Wilkin Post were OF an extensive anu
fitting character, while the assistance by
outside parties was quite general and
marked. Business was suspended to an
extent never before equaled, and the
afternoon was in every respect holi-
day.
The system Of decoration was some
what varied this year, the work being
done by committees appointed to visit
the several cemeteries, 10 strew tne
graves Of the dead soldiers with MOWERS,
and the exercises were hello III Norman
nark which relieved those in attend
ance the task of marching in the heat
and dust up to Glenwood cemetery. At
, 40 u. m. the procession commenced Its
march in the order previously announc-
ed, and was very creditable one, IN.
deed, The most interesting division OF
the line Was that in which the pupils
and teachers of the public schools
marched. They were all in a body, each
grade under direction Of the proper
teacher, and the profusion OF banners
and flags gave them o very gay appear
ance. The superintendent and teachers
deserve much credit for the pains they
took TO assist in the sacred cause OF show
inc respect TO those who live in memory
only. The Good Thunder Cadet band,
the Repimental and Germania bands, OF
this city, and the martial band OF Wilkin
| Post. proyided the music; and all the
| differant examinations of the city were
out i'm full dress, Early i'll the day peo-
ple began TO arrive from peighborlng
Villages and the country, ana ny noon
the public thoroughfares We're crowded
with people. -, o,o,
the Normal grounds where the eSeIIlses
of the day occurred. The alhefeh'
bands discoursed some appropriate nhu'
sic after which the attention OF the al
PENDANTS was turned to the large elevat'
ed stand upon which were seated the
mayor and common council, members
of Wilkin Post, the orator of the day
Rev. ]. n. Liscomb, the choir and 9TH
ers, numbering in all about forty per
sons, After divine invocation ny Kew
la, c. Pollock, Mayor Barr delivered
short address in which he spoke thought
fully of the practice now prevalent ~
this country of observing this day, and
of the generality with which peo'
| ple of all sections give their attention to
Il, He said that it differs from all SINH
lar days-New Years brings ITS greet
ings. Christmas has Its voice of gladness,
the Fourth Of July brings rejoicing, and
Thanksgiving day arousss thankful
hearts and grateful minds, but MemqElal
day brings mingled sorrow and Joy, sor'
row for those who who 30 recently turn
ed from happy homes and those dearei
than life Itself, TO assume the uutS o.
defending their imperiled country. Inc
view brings I'D sad thoughts yet beyond
Il ali there isl CLEAN Of gladness that
their suffering, their sacrifice and blood
preserved the grandest nation thai
stands or ever was formed. In view OF
this fact we can find cause for rejoicing
We do well 10 observe this day and keep
fresh the memory Of the men anu Iheii
work. Nor should We pay this tribute
to the dead alone for there are tho NV,
ing ones who deserve our gratitude ano
respect, and when the time comes ioi
them to pass away, let us strew theli
graves with the sweetest of flowers. The
MAYOR was followed by the singing Of
"They Fought and Fell" by Messrs
Schroeder, Haynes, Mead and Williams
Miss Davis at the organ, but when aDou'
half through with the selection very
abrupt interruption to the exercise oc'
Cured. The platform with Its burden
of human flesh and decorations went 70
the ground with crash, For seVeral
minutes excitement was intense, mace
more 40 by the thought that sons of the
children who had taken refuge under
meath from the hot sun were beneath
the ruins. 1t proved otherwise, how
ever, they having been warned Of the
| impending danger shortly before and
gotten out of the way. Otherwise the
mishap, instead Of source OF good nat
ured laughter, would have been the
cause of sorrowful fatalities. A tempo
rary stand was arranged for the speak
ers, and after the quartette finished their
music Reverend Llscomb, who served
his country well in the rebellion, pro-
ceeded TO deliver a very able address,
every way appropriate to the occasion.
He commenced by remarking that me-
MORALS Of the dead are dictates OF alice
| ton common to humanity, such as Gem
eteries, tombstones, flowers, etc. Mans
tendency il to remember the dear ones
gone before. Why have we lett the
shop, the store, the office and the nome
to assemble on this occasion? There Is
something unusual IN the day, 1t being
set apart for special and sacred pur-
pose. There is cause for IT. 1t is not
because the men we honor were better
than their fellows, nor better tho the
average of men; II ID not that we wish To
perpetuate hatred; it Is not III the day !;
il is not to rejoice that we were IN the
war; it is not to rejoice over IA fallen foe.
We meet and provide these mementos
in memory of those who, inspired ny
love of country, the most supreme OF all
deyotiOns, to save their menaced land
and hereby to inspire i'm the young the
same noble sentiment. By this gather
ing We In some measure strengthen pa
triotic feeling and loyalty to this lofty
sentiment Of national unity. The young
growing up at our fireSdas should be
imbued with this feeling. Teach it to
the children, repeat the stories OF war
ever to them, give it to them in history.
Permit them to be thrilled with the sem
timent of patriotism by reading accounts
of the sacred struggle. 1t Is fact that
much of the inspiration which prompt
ed a ready response to the nations APP
peal, and led to the thousands OF acts OF
bravery, was due to the impressions
made on the young minds of that time
by reading accounts of the noble strug-
gle made for liberty by our forefathers,
or hearing those who served in later
wars recount the tales of heroism. True
patriotism is available against all foes,
internal or external" saws DR.. Buckley.
So gathering as we have leads the young
to make inquiries. We tell them OF the
deeds of our fallen ones, and they re-
solve 10 make the the country stand at
all hazards. So a memorial day, even
solemn memorial day, is blessing to
the country. A writer has said that mo
nation has long sustained vigorous ma
tional life, or had long career which
had no national anniversaries" Macaul y
says: "a nation that does not glory in
tIaA al do Nf n1t2a a h-I
ing for its descendants to be proud OF.
The occasion which led to the results
we commemorate was the greatest OF the
age, and it meant more than the pres
ervation of the union or the freedom OF
the Negro. IL meant the enchanting OF
the fettered faculties of the illiterate
south, and the stimulus of trade and
commerce within her borders, and liber.
ty for all the world. 1t also meant that
the American union should stand as the
greatest advocate of equal rights and CIV
il liberty. As we stand here to-day we
can take new courage for there is anoth-
er great blessing which We can know to-
day and that is, our country to-day is
enjoying season of prosperity and IN
creasing population rarely If ever known
before. This is due largely TO the spirit
Of oneness that pervades all sections, u
state we are interested in maintaining
and encouraging. We need more gem
eral oneness of heart throughout the ma
ton, and it is growing. The populace
of the south meet to strew the graves oil
those who fell fighting for a cause they
right; but a remarkable indi- |
cation of bond of sympathy between
the two sections is noticeable on such |
occasions. Before the war this could
not be, for slavery and liberty are di- |