The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-06-01
MEMORIAL DAY.
Full Text Of Judge N. ]. Ssveranoe's Flo
quent Address.
How the Day was Observed In this
City.

Every true American heart beats
high with patriotism on the thirtieth
day of May and well il does for on that
day is the slight tribute ofgratitude paid
the heroes who fell in the country's
defense a quarter of q century ago. The
beautiful imaginable and the observance
ofthe dav should certainly be prolonged
while there is q country left to remember
the deeds OF her valiant citizen soldiers.
Mankato has never been backward in
observing this day Of days and on this
occasion proved herself not deficient in
patriotism and devotion.
The day broke anything but propiti-
ouslv fori its observance as planned by
the committee of Wilkin Post. The very
heavens seemed to weap tears over the
graves of Americas fallen heroes. The
rain continued throughout a large por-
ton of the day and much to the disap-
pointment of all, forbade the rather
elaborate procession that was to have
marched through our principal streets.
The various committees appointed for
the purpose proceeded to the different
cemeteries this morning and decorated
the graves Of deceased soldiers with the
flowers and e%vergreens that the ladies'
of the city so kindly prepared Yesterday.
The various uniformed bodies that
were to have taken part in the parade
formed at their several headquarters at
$50 o'clock this afternoon and marched
to the Opera House, where reserved
seats were awaiting them, Wilkin Post
occupying the stage. The follow
ing organizations were present: Alex
ander Wilkin Post, No. 10, q. A. II ; Co.
f., Second Regiment, NJ. n. g.; Uni
formed Rank, X. of p; Patriarchs Mill
tant; |. o. G. Templers; Knights of
Labor and the Fire Department, with
and Concordia Band and Drum
Corps. They presented a fine
appearance, arrayed in their uniforms,
and, with the large turnout of citizens,
completely filled that spacious hall.
The stage was handsomely and appro-
priately decorated with flowers and
flags and presented II pleasing appear
ance.
The exercises we're opened by an IN
vocation by Rev. r. M. Carter, post
chaplain. A male quartet composed of
Messrs. Glenn. Schroeder, +. w. Wash
burn, c. ID. Millikin and II. NJ. Bromley,
sang 'Sleep of the Brave" in a very
effective manner The beautiful ritual
istic services by the post next followed.
The quartet rendered another song,
"Offering of Flowers"
Judge Severance was then introduced
and in his mastery style o foratory gave
the following address. He wss listened
to with marked attention aad his utter.
ances found an echo in every heart. The
Judge is a favorite with a Mankato aud.
fence and never lacks for appreciation
FSllotc Citizens:
/ hear no shouting to-day, no roar of annoI
waking the echOS of mountain and vale, anC
I see no bontires Illuminating the sky pro
not the anniversary Of "a nations birth, but il
is the recurrence of that day, which in the
name of the republic bids tire living nation
kneel at the tomb of the nations dead.
AL over the land to-day, n fearful patriotism
has ceased its song of jubilee To %solemnize ,
memorial service over The sepulchers OF those
who were willing to die and make atonemen
for the sins of the nation.
On their Calvary all the people have Assem-
bled to-day to send a united strain of love ant
alteration careering over the ocean that mark
the boundary of time, and TO the homes o
those who made the sacrifice.
In doing this, we not only fulfill the prom
Use made to every soldier, when for the las
time he crossed the threshold of bis home api
went out of the garden gate To war, that II b.
lost his life, his memory should live forever
embalmbed in the casket Of a nations graft
tude; but we show ourselves to be worthy of
happy and united country, when we hold tn
memory Of those who saved 1t in close an
lasting embrace.
Life is nothing without the dead. History /
nothing but an C from the tomb. The liV
ing and the dead together rule the destinies .
the world. Lofty and unsclfish actions in tn
interests OF justice and right leave a voice be
hind them that can only die when time
ended.
Fortunate indeed will this nation be, If
ever and anon fingers at the graves of its pa
triot oead, and learns the lessons taught b.
heroes tombs.
This ceremonial born of the natural instinct
Of sympathy and gratitude is not new to TIL
age, though II was never observed, save wher
liberty bad enlightened the mind with a tru
conception of human equality.
Every year the people Of ancient Greco
poured ont through the gates OF Sparta, Atf
ems and Th Us 6esusaan and lin in long PR ee Is ion sS9ggh
and beCecked them with flowers glistenin
with their tears. This certainty of eternal re
membrance speaking the language of devC
ton and endless gratitude. choked the Pass O
~ThermOpylae with Persia's dead and over
threw her at Marathon and Platea.
Patriotism will not live i'm any country whe
il has no reward All that patriot dead Wi
eyer ask is to be admitted to the free recOgu
ton of the Lying, and as they are helpless 4
the rayless palace of the dead, they ask You I
consecrate il with your tears. When one die
for his country, he does not die in obedienc
to any command from rocking Sinai, bpt Qnl
to secure and perpetuate the happiness q
those he leaves behind him.. Patriotism is no
necessary to the salvation OF the s .ul, but
is necessary to the salvation of a country, an
the living snould never hesitate 10 yield TO
its proper rewards.
IL may De only a nltlng lnhcy OF my brain
Dut nave orten thougnt tnat u once In ever
: year from the time of the Revolutionary Wa
up To the opening of the wal Of the Rebellion
the people Oh tnls county nad covered th
tOmbs OF washington, warren, Marion, Sum
ner and Greene, and every mound that cover
ed the whitening bones OF those who fell Il
the war OF the heVolutioh, win m
OF their love, as we are doing to-day towar,
the dead of another war, the patriotism of tn
whole people would nave become SO SENSITIVE
and all-perYaaing, mat rebellion against
government estapllshed ~ Them would hav
been SIMPLY Impossible. For FEAR that thi
sentiment is not a shadoyy fancy, buta realty
let this continue forever and II
dew will nourish q patriotism thai will oyer
shadow the land.
II may be one OF the sins OF the people, tina
IL did not burn incense al the snrlnes OF thos
who died to ~inaugurate our liberty. Yet tn
myrlads we mourn ana reward today mad
full atonement Tor the hurtful sin and recalle'
More than a million of men, the very fowe
OF the land. hired by all the ambitions aud as
red jaws Of the MoIoch OF war to appease tn
wrath of the demon OF rebellion, and the plac
where they lie whether II be in some nationii
city of this dead, and kept by the aternal gov
eminent they saved, or Wneiner II De IN an I'm
distinguished grave In SOM gloomy morass o
the South, IL is yet the Mecca, to whose shrin,
all those who love the Union and pity or ador
the dead, will make an annual pilgrimage
laden with offerings of sincere devotion u
long as America has a name.
with ~quickened conscience, recognizing th,
highest humanities of mans existence, has Sc
q value on human life, and decreed that /
shall not be spent save iip, the defence of liber
es our civilization from that other Civilization
that would tolerate any infractjOp OF Justice
In the interests of personal power and aggrap
dizement.
In an age when a single man apotheosizet
by his own self-cOnsequenee, could drive mil
lions of men to destructi n end death simpl,
TO crafty the within of his arrogance. bumaI
life was nothing and death was the sport o
power. The living might groan over III,