The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-12-26
Mr.. EDIToR:-During the time of peace

and tries or should try to
raise the standard of patriotism to such
an elevation, that this feeling in itself
almost is sufficient guarantee for united
action and the future safety of common
wealth, when the dark hours of danger
are threatening its existence.
These views Mr.. Ed, lay at the foun
datlon of movement, which at the pres
ent time is occupying the minds of
good many of our inhabitants. [ refer to
the intention of erecting monument IN
memory of those men Who left their
peaceful and selfchosen occupation, who
took up arms for the integrity and exis-
tence of their fatherland fell upon the
field of honor and thereby sustained a
country ranking first among the. civil
lized nations of the world.-It is not my
in broaching this subject before
an intelligent public, to appeal to the
pity or mercy of its inhabitants, the
movement stands upon his own merit.
will only appeal to the sense OF right
and justice, to the well known feeling
of patriotism and to the natural feeling
of indebtedness, that every citizen owes
to those men whose death preserved the
life of our republic.
No political opposition, no religious
preferences, no question of nationality
can possibly interfere with the support
of this undertaking, for whatever belief
and whatever enthusiasm We find among
us to-day were felt by those, now hidden
under the sod of distant parts OF our
common country.
The question that first occurs to us, is,
viii and ought the people in general take
an interest in this undertaking? and my
answer is, they will. The time when cltl-
zens, are influenced in thir actions by the
impulse of the moment, when persons
are habitually led astray by the voice of
egotism or carelessness towards their
brethren is gradually disappearing and
reason has become the motor power OF
human actions;-without reasoning in
dividuals as well as nationalities, would
remain at the foot of the ladder and only
sound reasoning is elevating the desires
and real prosperity of mankind. Reason
teaches us to study the past and history
points out to us the lines of future
actions.
It is history that teaches us, that in
dividuality has got to be sacrificed for
national welfare, if not the nations life
might be endangered. But at the same
time only that nation is entitled to the
sacrifice and that self denial that is ready
to accept individuality as an integrant
part of its existence; as soon however as
this right is denied the ties that should
irrevocably unite them, will lose their
power and leave even powerful nation
to the mercy of uncomfortable elements
| of the universe.
| In the present century government OF
its people are not fully satisfied, by ten.
dering their earnest support to the vel
fare of the living, the deserving dead are
entitled to recognition. Look at the
cemeteries of to-day and compare then
with the places reserved for the dead sc
or 100 years ago. What a change! Al
that time hidden spot of ground, rcog
nizable only by small hills and the
wooden crosses, but now we find GENE
terry a garden of pleasure and place
eagerly sought by the rich as well as by
the poor for recreation and repose and {
place where life is enjoyed in spite of the
presence of death. Artificial monuments
attract our attention, the choicest flower!
faithfully delivered day after day to de
parted friends, command our admiration
and beautiful walks and drives enclosed
by variety of trees, which furnish pro
lection to all enable us to feel at home al
place that not more than 50 or Ion
years ago, children were taught to con
slider grounds to be avoided and place
liable to irritate the mind.
Nothing has been left undone to beau
tlfy these final resting places and the
| effect has been that men have more anC
more familiarized themselves with tne
common destiny of human existence anc
that even horrors of death have partially
lost their sting.
If the memory of all our dead is sc
kindly and so sacredly nourished by oul
community does it not become our duty
to ask for special recognition of those
men who sacrificed their life for our vel
| fare.
| Those, who are specially charged with
! the duty to serve their country or those
who in former years have been active in
this respect, will naturally find the great.
est interest in this undertaking and this
very likely is the reason that it happened
to be the Post of the G. A. r. of this city
who first organized itself into committee
to further this purpose.
We earnestly and confidently invite a
patriotic public to assist us in our under
taking and hope for friendly response
We are aware af the difficulties that we
will encounter but trust to the merit oil
our object. Years perhaps will pass be.
| fore our wishes are realized but other
counties o. our state have struggled for
years and have finally succeeded.
Upon the support we find the size as
well as the place where such monu-
ment ought to be erected, must depend;
let us hope that this support will be OF
such character that public place of
this city may be selected to instruct
future generations, in the lessons of the
past and keep in constant recollection
the war cry of the rebellion that carried
the day This Union must and shall be
preserved" 0.
Miss NELLIE DooLIN of Watersmeet
is spending brief vacation with her pa