The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-06-01
Of the common mass, not by any oomm.ndlns

.aa@s 49, Nhals 80 -, - ~ tAHA
hat win be the invuinerabie shield OF these
Institutions, we must regard 10 by giving
honor where honor 10 due. We must not forget
he dead and we must not forget the living
Who survived the tempest though broken and
I wish the government OF this country,
whatever u is, acting through the people and
a sense of gratitude am in recognition
sacred obligations, would do even and I'M
partial justice to the defenders OF this conn
instead OF pouring ont the treasury into
he silken laps OF those left rich by dead com
mauders.
1 am not here railing at the officers of the
Army, and do not understand me so. l
am willing to concede that they performed
their duty 10 the best OF their ability, and that
they arc entitled TO a Just share of praise. l
I'm only anxious that the common soldier
should be rescued from the oblivion Of a ma
forgetfulness, to the end that his stead
fast devotion to principle should be known
heralded throughout the land, so that
those who Inherit the blessings OF a free gov
ernment may know the price OF It's salvation.
Dur army was not composed of hirelings
into the ranks by poverty or untoward
circumstances
MyrIads Of youth, enjoying all the honors of
rare ability, left their couches of down
and hurried from the velvet carpets In state
w mansions, only to share the tired footsteps
of M army, and biyouac In malarial swamps
No cause was ever before consecrated by the
lives Of such men as these.
The great bulk of our army was composed
of willing men. They We're not led by a con-
halter over the Alps, or across the
billows OF Russian SHOWS. Forty centuries
did not o down upon them from the pyta-
mid OF Cheops, invoked by a passion for emp
~ fame, seeking the thraldOm OF all mankind.
Every soldier OF the army OF the Union fol
had u master but himself, but with an indi-
conception of his duty, intelligent,
single and aggressive, as II he alone were the
1Aa 49,. ~ - a A. E -
The soldier fought to accomplish an end he
clearly fOresaw n understood, and not
blindly to serve the unseen purpose uf any
autocrat. The beacon light of liberty, re-
klltdled by a spark floating across the darkness
of Midiaeyal centuries, had for u hundred
years illumined u tops and
warmed with hope the hsarts of all Christen-
dom painting tor a higher and better cOndi-
ton of human life, and the soldier was deter
mined that II should not go out forever in the
thick gloom of political heresy, secretly
welded 10 the enslavement of our race.
When Martel on the plains of France set the
walls of Christianity up against the deluge OF
MOhammetan fury, and broke the crescent
with the cross, he performed no higher duty
for humanity and civilization than did our
army OF patriots when it stayed the tide of ii
political heresy which sought to sever the
Arch Of the Union. Aye, the Arch OF the
Uuionl-more bounteOus in It's promise of
safety IT, man than the rainbow that spans
the sky. The dome OF the Capitol is high; the
Ridge is higher; Mount Washington Il
higher still; but over them all in the blue
empyrian above rests the Key to the Arch OF
the Union.
such was the service we must remember to-
day when we tread the ground hallowed by
the Nations dead,
This is the day that the Nation has set apart
to n.0urp and show its reference for the dead
lest coming generations might believe that
lOve of country is but an empty name and the
catch word OF pointless rage and violence
The Nation does not cast its flowers to-day in
RI a rad QrQOu yVhara death has mn OfhaF MIR
pose than the sport OF tyrants.
The mother mOurns at every evening tide
and the sister moves with trembling step
where the footprint on the lawn chokes hel
with the sad memory Of youthful glee
Not every grave can we decorate t rday
some Of our brothers are crowded down by
the ~earthworks at Fair Oaks and Port Hudson
and there they must remain forever.
One mother longing for her children cOult
not find them or a place to plant the weeping
willow, so broken hearted, she gave her wal
to the wind that sighed through every South
ern pine, her tears IN the dew that covere,
the land and went home to kiss the cradle sh,
loved. Now she has gone TO seek for then
over the river. ..
60 then to-day wherever you can find a sol
dler's grave and cover 1t with flowers, tinte'
alike for all the earth by some angel hand, 81
that they might speak Tor every age and ever.
Nation, the language OF sympathy and love.
IL any grave you cannot find, call the nam
in solemn cadence, trust the perfume of tn
hyacinth to the ambient air, n it will wav
its censor over his tomb
The living owe the dead. but the dead OW
nothing to the living.
Sixty-iye millions of people exult to day 1
the majesty of this Republic;-in the estat
lIshed fame of Its flag on every ocean,, and 4
the ripening force of Il humane philOsoph
that brings the heart in its first estate up I
the exigencies Of human government-such
conception crystaliZed into adamantine form
was not an accident; IL is not an ephemers
bauble whirled out of the chatting eddies @
fortuitOus forces, to collect rainbow tlnts an
ride the wave for a moment, then to explod
because IL Is nothing. .
out, after a prophetic view through the Ter
of the heart, down over coming ages and dill
closing the grander possibilities Of human life
that has been so long ~obscured by the claim
of personal right to rule.
This sentiment ascending to the zenith ha
exiled the Bourbons of France, made Englant
save in name, q government OF the people
given hope to Ireland ever rocking on its III
steady billOw in the soft ether of the ocean
and driven the despot of Russia into the 81
oret chambers of his palace for fear that tn
outstretched hands OF Liberty will clutch hi
life.
Then since our government is the highes
e%fiuence of the heart, %unending reverence IA
it's defenders can alone keep the hearts of tn
people attuned to the highest symphonies q
liberty.
This is not a day for the intellect to scintil
late and flash in lofty enconiums. but 1t Is tn
day when tender emotions distilled froi
RfdtcIul 1GdTlS, buOuIut uIOECO u SdCtC COu
munion between the living n the dead.
We shall bestow on the memory of the fal
en- every tribute that a Nations salvation ca
suggest or exacti. 49,,
they gained for themselves nothing but
cold bed beneath the sod2 A country that |
its march TO solid greatness and rations
power, Is bounding ahead OF all other nation
whether living or dead;-a country where III
conscious steam, before but the breath {
water, obeyed the wand OF expanding scienc
and first began TO cleave the river and tn
master grasped the lightning in the clouds
and with his own hands tanned IL until u
harmles as a turtle dove;- a country who's
intellectually scorns the vain chimeras of a
eyeiess fatalism and pays tribute to tha
titudes of life.
We need not fear because other nations ar
whirling in chaos. How could Egypt liy
when the Apian Bull festooned about wit
cloth Of gold Yas the tutor of every Pharaoh
How could Rome live when a rayen's I'm
meaning flight could drive Bompey OF Caesa
Nymphs and Maids dancing on every rtpplin
/ stream displaced reason with fantastic oracle
The ancient. when he foun himself ol
earth, was startled when he saw that the prot
lem OF life would not unfold itse.f and over
whelming awe paralyzed every nerve of res
son. IL ne lived a single day in peace, he be
lieved that he had bribed some pagan god, o
that giddy fortune had tripped on her whee
1 Oto I" ~ - POAhAS ~
Such is not our country, where the humal
mind studies its own inherent powers an
trains them to the wheel OF man.; where tn
people, knowing their W brotherhood, al
i've in the household of the Republic.
The patriotism which saved 1t will preserv'
it, and we need not fear.
Comrades need not tell you the purpos
of this occasion. for you hear the voices We
that IN life mingled with yours, and made tn
battle cry.
You remember when you stood in soil,
ranks full of life and hope. You still see tn
curling smoke, and hear the angry volley tina
sent its leaden hail among, you. You saw
your comrades iall around YOU, some il
sp echless death, and some with disabling
w wSesels' . Yd u F II assea 3 bow Hy the sky ssPn ie
down its chandelier and bow when the gray,
was filing, the muftied drum filled the for
est with the mournful dirge; the very nigh
before you all sat around the cam p-fre an,
talked and sang. as II the rafting shots aIon,
the picket line did not tell you that the mort
would break In blood.
1t is not nv purpose to review before yol
the miseries of war, or to harrow your heart
by painting scenes you would gladly forget
yet with a sad delight you will give this day Il
the remembrance of your brothers left on thu
battle field, where death has no eye TO weeI
and no heart to pity; and l am sure that wheI
you count the cost and the supernal labor ant
and anguish OF war, you will devote the re
mainder of your lives to the DEVELOPMENT of
sentiment that will close forever the Hood
gates Of you country's tears.
Behold that symbol of a new philosophy
once set up on Judes's Sacred Mountain to di
vide human hatred from human love: Hat
its last utterances, given in more than morta
agony, possessed the minds OF men, you would
ha We had nothing for which to mourn to-day
IL is now stretching out its almighty arms IL
kindly benediction over the dead, and every
Mary in the and who lost a son, Is kneelinp
around its base. No matter how much mad.
ness and fury ave desecrated its shade, YET
with its articulate thunder Of good will tn
men, Il is the ladder to human right.
You enrolled yourselves under q common
flag and together butfeted the iron shot OF the
battle held pot to answer u party cry, but be:
cause ypu we're your. country's chill:
suffering Of your army life far above any
former estimate of human endurance, you be-
came brothers clear beyond any definition of
human fraternity, Notwithstanding you were
always clad In aggressive arnor, yet often
you were more helpless than babes, n could
not live but for the companionship that war
begets. 60 back with me q moment and COM
mcnce your endless tramp again. A soldier Is