Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-06-06
Ex-Governor Foraker's Speech.

II would be interesting to recount the
daring exploits of those who escaped and
set forth the eventful experiences of those
who remained prisoners, but time and my
particular duty admonish me to confine
myself to the dead. When the war ended
and the stars and stripes did once more
wave over the spot occupied by that loath-
some scaffold, and the great nation for
which they had given up their lives cast
about for her broken and scattered jewels,
that trench was remembered, and with
loving hands its occupants were taken up
and borne to this spot, that they might
here sleep in honor with that nations
dead.
Under all the circumstances, that act
might well have been the last tribute. But
now, after the lapse of twenty-nine years,
comes this days work. And what years
they have been! Since these men died,
the greatest part of that which is best
most brilliant and most glorious i'm our his
tory has been written.
At that time Lincoln had not yet issued
his emancipation proclamation. Vicks-
burg, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, Lookout
Mountain, Mission ridge, Atlanta, the
march To the sea, the wilderness, Apo
mattox, reconstruction, universal liberty
and political equality for all men were yet
20 come 1t would not have been strange
IL these great deeds had forever diverted
attention from the event under considera-
ton, or had destroyed appreciation for it
by contrast and comparison.
II these men had been great command
ers, great scholars, great statesmen. or
great citizens, in any ordinary sense of the
term, our presence here would need no ex-
PLANTATION. But they were the very oppo-
site. They were simply typical volunteer
Ohio boys, hardly out of their teens, with
out name, family, influence or station, to
as they are remembered and honored to-
day.
Why is IL then, that we arc here2 What
purposes are we seeking to promoted Why
should the general assembly of great
state turn aside from its ordinary cares
and duties to take such action as has been
mentionedi Why should a justice of the SUI
preme court and the two distinguished and
honored citizens who are his associates on
the commission labor. as they have, with
jealous pride to discharge the duties that
have been intrusted to themi
The answer is simple and plain.
In the first place there is no bitterness,
vain glory, or unworthy spirit of any kind
involved 1t is but stating the exact trutt
70 repeat, as fairly applicable TO the whole
of that great army who wore the blue. the
dying words of Wilson, that he had no
hard feelings toward the south or her peo-
Pile That he loved the union and the flag,
and was fighting to uphold them, and not
70 do unnecessary injury to anyone
Even In the midst of that great struggle
they did not want TO kill anybody, except
only rs IL became necessary to kill some
body TO kill secession. They believed In
the union of these states. They believed
the highest interests of the south, as well
as the north. required Its preservation. and
believing slavery to oe the disturbing
cause Of all our differences, they gladly
struck IL down. But with II all there was
no malice.
And as IT was then, so IL Ia now.
The one great thought that lies ut tho
bottom Of every demonstration as this, La
that of profound gratitude To the men who
saved Us, and supreme thanhfulncss
to Almighty God Tor the great
blessings that have come TO our whole
country through the victory Of the union
armies. This sentiment grows with the
years and with our increasing greatness
and prosperity as a people. Time, there
| fore, but makes more manifest our duty to
| all who periled and sacrificed their lives
| for these priceless results. But upon these
particular men fell an uncommon misfor-
tune. They not only lost their lives, but