The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1885-06-04
Memorial Day.

The devotion of day to exercises
in memory of the men who offered
their lives for the preservation of their
country should be held secondary in
Importance only to the festival estab-
lished for the maintenance i'll t. mem.
cries Of the people of the first usher
ing in of political liberty in their
country. "Patriotism, the heroic
plant Of the ages thrives where glory
is recognized and heroism is honor
ed," and truly the enthusiasm of the
immense gathering which observed
Memorial Day in Wadena promised
we'll for the eternal remembrance of
the debt we owe our soldiers. Short
ly after noon the G.. A. r. Post, pre-.
coded by the Cornet Band, filed
down Third street and along to the
Skating Rink, which was chosen as be-
ing the most commodioas and con-
venient place in which could be con-
Quoted the exercises preliminary to
the march to the cemetery and the
decoration of graves, After them
entered the Public Schools, marshalled
by Principal Buck and the other
teachers. They were followed by
the Light Guards and citizens until
the spacious building was crowded.
When all were seated the Band played
a number Of the old army songs
which had so often been triumphal
marches to the soldiers OF the Repub.
lie; which now brought to mind the
old scenes and with the impartiality
which comes with time made them
forget the sectional enmity in the
contemplation of the principles for
which they fought. We will say OF
Ex-Gov. Barto's address that it was
mastery piece of eloquence, that
coming from soldier to soldiers, and
about soldiers, it was most worthy of
orator, listeners, and subject. 1t was
Il happy thought that led him to read
in full the address with which Gen {.
Logan inaugurated the celebration OF
Memorial nay. Many fine passages
we might quote from his speech, but
we refrain. "America,' sung by the
choir may be regarded as the national
anthem, since by the firm nobility OF
the words and the grandeur of it's
tune it has almost entirely suppressed
ed all others which ever held that
place. Mrs. Luce, Mrs. Ostrander,
and Mrs. Case, and Messrs. Jones and
Couillard, who composed the choir
deserve thanks for the singing Of this
and other pieces in such manner as
to add greatly to the interest of the
exercises. The perfect drill Of the
Light Guards is worthy OF comment
and compliment. In spite of the heat
and wind and dust, their behavior
was excellent. The absolute preci-
sionwith which thesalute was fred
excited the admiration of all who
were present. The dirge-like
melody of "Departed Comrades
played at the cemetery by the Cornet
Band was perhaps the browning act
OF the day. That, indeed, stirred to
it's full depth tile sentiment of love:
almost reverence, which the surviv-
ing veterans and they who, at home
fought almost as hard battles, feel for
those who, out of the hundreds OF
thousands who offered themselves to
death for their country, were tated
to fall. The contemplation of the
disinterestedness which led them to
fight, famed again in the youthful
generation the fame of patriotism.
which brought into public and private
affairs has so much to do with thu
success of every nation, and th'
veterans observed not without graft
tication this disposition to pay
respect to all those who fought thei
battles.