The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-06-04
We are not here to-day to celebrate


those achievements aimed at the consOli-
dalton of any national power, not at.
tuned to the highest symphonies OF uni
versai liberty. but we are here to ccle-
brate the bravery and supreme sacrifices
OF men who struggled to inaugurate q
power that should at once become the
defence and bulwark of mankind; who
died to establish and perpetuate pOliti-
Cal system that would rear no temples on
earth not dedicated TO the great brother
hood OF man. or any across whose courts
any asserted supremacy OF race could
lead sable sister In chains.
BIT it Is the highest glory of to-day
that l can here announce, after more
than twenty years of peace have dried
the crimson dews of war, and without
fear Of offending q divine magnanimity,
or stirring q single fountain of traditional
patriated traitor of the gulf. who, like the
last Saurian monster, bemoans the end of
his race. that the war whose heroes we
Gel, brate was waged on one side to re-
tain and on the other to repeal the world
corruding rule, that man is the enemy OF
fman. And exult with proud delight
when know today hat Their, is but one
living man. from the dark waving frs Of
the nnr'h To- the gorge rs magnOlas OF
tn south. who does not admit the eternal
justicc Of the repeal And in this lies the
great hope OF the republic.
| Ar.r the shOri hgOHy Ut defea cd am
bliion ard wounded sectional pride was
over. the grand verdict Of tie War re-
cclvrd The u. qu'Cscen,e Of the great
American heart, and today u quickened
public conscience would every where re-
bel against the rc-cstublishment within
ouI borders of any institution that did
not recognize the political equality of
man Such sentiment enthrOned in
America for the first time. warmed its
national heart with that cosmopolitan
love for the race, that sends its dogs ev-
cry day from the summit of Saint Ber-
nard down the mountain side, bearing
messages of hope to the weary and be-
nighted
Yes, at last, the clarion blast of Pales-
tines new philosophy. god will to
man" came leaping over the Tiber and
the tumbling ocean, to swell the proud
anthem of American liberty, and to lead
her stately civilization in those grand ev-
buttons made possible by such philos-
Ophy-a philosophy that breathed the
first living soul into civilization. and en-
ables man from age to age to ascend
higher and higher towards the summit of
his ultimate destiny.
| Two thousand years ago the world laid
PROSTATE before memorable masters,
waiting In chains and tears for the day to
dawn, when clarified public conscience,
accepting the dogma of the fraternity OF
man, should bid it arise and walk again.
| The conflict of the new principle with
the old. that ever has asserted the right OF
the strong to toy with the weak, almost
whirled the earth into chaos and extin-
guished the sacred fire, but some vestal
nursed single spark until it famed into
universal light, and when the clouds had
all rolled away over the horizon there
stood the American republic, the asylum
OF the earth. the embodiment of the new
principle, with but one single contradic-
ton to the liberty she proclaimed TO the
world.
That contradiction played on human
passion until this republic summoned the
army of the Union to save 1t from the
old hatred OF man towards man, that still
fingered in the lap of civilization that
was bound to shed the leprosy 1t had In.
herited from the past.
The extlnguishment of that contradlc-
ton by the final judgment of war, has
made the new principle of humanity par.
amount in the structure of our govern
ment, as 1t long ago became paramount
in the theology of the civilized world.
This. then, is the stupendous work
wrought out by the army of the Union.
and this is the day grateful country Las
bequeathed forever to the memory OF its
hallowed dead.
And now wish that the ninety thou
sand, wrenched from their homes and led
out through the fallen gates of Jerusalem,
with dainty hands to build the coliseum
of Rome, the arena that was to witness
the last giant effort of human madness, to
s;ifle the new philosophy, could now Ie-
visit the earth, and see for themselves
Judeas' chant good will to man" has be-
CO me the music of the world.
wish that Hypatia, the last dew drop
of Pagan philosopy, whose alabaster
bosom was torn into shreds because, In
the exaltation of filial love, she
defended the religion of her father
on the rostrum of the temple of Scraps;
and the maid OF Orleans, now embalmed
In the casket Of human pity, who died for
an inspiration as pure as guardian an.
gels dream; and the hundred mothers
and children thrust into their untlmely
rebellion against divinity, though then
Iit to stand as sentinels at the golden
Igates of any paradise, could all revisit
the earth again and see how the world
wide song. good will to man" has
unnerved the arm of vengeance and melt
ed the black wings Of an unreasoning SUI
perstition.
Then we are not here to day to pay a
blind devotion TO the great catastrophe
of death on the battle field; but we arc
here to exult in the triumph of immuta
able justice, and with hearts swollen with
gratitude to yield the incense Of love and
alteration to the memory Of patriot dead
AYE, patriots who did not die to scourge
but to heal the cancers Of the world. Go
then, all We living. and cover the sol
dier's grave with the mantle of flora
, beauty, and every night the angel of love
will bedew 1t with amber tears.
Comrades, pardon me If I have to-day
!, advanced q step beyond the empty pane
lgyric of such occasions to talk of the
deep philosophy o. the war. ! intenC
, never To speak again upon an occasion
like this. and could not allow this Il
pass without unmasking the true causes
, of the war.
Twenty-one years have rolled away
!, human life, and new generation ha
|. come upon the scene that never heard it
dismal echoes. You yet remain to EN-
phasize the history Of struggle that de
handed all there was of human fortitude
!. You know the price of this republic. 70,
. saw It paid in steaming blood.
need not point out to you the path
: way to the soldiers grave. You left hin
|, |, on the battle field only to keep the vigil
of his tomb when peace should spread he
white wings above him
lam not here to day to exalt you abov
: the rest of mankind, because you pei
! formed duty your country imposed w
= on you. Your recompense in tawdr
. Qualification for a duty performed; bu
q you must find it deep and lasting COR
. seriousness that you did preform 1t, an
q that every cradle that rocks In the cour
n try to day. rocks t" the music OF safet
= and peace, bscause Of the triumph OF tn
!. army of the Union. A triumph that pre-
: served the integrity of the household o
= the republic, the tending OF which woul'
have bequeathed TO this country piagu
= of endless disaster
a This, with you, |. not gala day, eve
4 II our flag does toss Ia needless gaity owe
Il the sea and over the land. Memory
n filling your hearts with scenes of ireffs
\ BILE sadness, as you look back throug
q the haze of horrii reality and see ID
q white ambulance again fitting along tn
/. winrows of death, the stretchers, re-
a with the blood Of the boy who Played wit
= you on the lawn of your childhood home
- little dreaming that he must soon close th
y garden gate behind him and b. throw
into the red jaws Of the Moloch Of war.
al You stand again shivering In the col
J dcws of the night, looking upon the pa
d lid faces of your brothers, who hav
70 heard their last reveille, anu who hav
It gone to Sleep on no other pillow than