The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-06-11


time to cultivate fervenJ and intelligent
| love of our institutions. The Republic
need not concern herself about enlisted
men if she can early enlist the souls of her
children. Without some such timely in
struction there is grave danger that the
growing commercial spirit may choke out
patriotism in the hearts of the rising gen.
Grafton God forbid that our schools
should become recruiting stations for the
hosts Of Mammon who rally under the
dollars sign anu offer homage to the gol-
den calf If for no other reason than to
counterfeit this dangerous tendency, let
us adopt the suggestion of the old soldiers,
and teach the salutary lessons of the old
flag
We must not permit this memorial day
to pass without ansatfectionate mention of
another class Of benefactors-Who carried
no flags and had no drum corps, but who
in their quiet, modest way, did valiant
service which entities them to honorable
mention and profound gratitude. The
Pioneers Of Southport! There is every
reason why on general principles we
should remember them With grateful at
fiction. They transformed a wilderness
into garden. They cleared forests, built
roads and prepared the way for civlliza-
ton. For this inestimable service we
should commemorate them. But these
men laid us under obligations of a higher
order than attach to the labor of the ordi
nary pioneer. While they were yet
building their log-huts they planted a
school-house They pledged the infant
settlement to the free school system, and
at an early day took the advanced ground
that education should be as free as God S
sunlight.
1t is not generally known, but it is
fact, that the first graded school in the
Territory was established here in District
No. /, of Southport To accomplish this,
a special act of the Territorial Legisla-
ture was passed in 1915, authorizing the
expenditure of $4,000 for school purposes,
and the appointment of three superinten-
dents to grade the school. By the terms
of the act, the popular endorsement Of the
scheme at the ballot box was made neces-
sary. A spirited campaign followed,
wherein our sturdy ancestors waged
gallant fight, and won notable victory.
This vigorous agitation and the early es-
adjustment of this school had CONTROL
ing influence in shaping the educational
destiny of a great state. These modest
heroes of the Olden time have nearly all
passed away, but the work OF their hands
shall never perish. Here in this magniti-
cent building-through the state, in it's
educational policy; we find abundant evil
dence that their spirit abdes with us
still. 1t is fortunate that we have one OF
these early pioneers still with us in the
flesh. He was intimately associated with
the free school movement and gave it the
influence and energy Of his early man
hood He it was, who, as a member of
the territorial legislature, introduced the
special act of AS to which we have re-
ferred He it was, who, as one of the
revisers of the Wisconsin Statutes penned
the common school code which has
brought honor to Wisconsin and has
placed her in the front rank among the
states. The man is Col. Frank How
often the scholars Of the old times have
heard his voice from the platform; he was
ever the loyal defender Of the free school:
his portrait should have prominent
place on the wall of your new school and
his memory should be cherished in this
spot for all time. We rejoice that he has
lived to see the marvellous success of his
early endeavors. May the fruitage Of his
early hopes quicken his pulse and glad
den his heart in his last days; and let us
hore that through the gloom of advanC
ing age, the benediction Of the present
generation may CLEAN like rays of golden
sunshine 10 comfort and console him,
until his face is touched by the ineffable
light Of the eternal morning.
AND NOW, MY YOUNG FRIENDS,
with these earnest sentiments we commit
TO your keeping, the old flag, without one
stain upon it. We expect you to defend
it against all the world, and hand it over,
untarnished, to your children as the
proudest emblem, and the grandest herl-
tage Of free Americans.
Let it wave over every schoolhouse in
this broad land as free as the winds thai
fill its graceful folds; let it be a standing
admonition to the young to be brave,
manly and patriotic, and to emulate the
heroic virtues Of their sires.
AS the bright eyes of our children rest
upon it day by day, may they lend it
deeper meaning and purer sympathy,
even as the glances Of the morning sun
impart to it fresh beauty and color.
RED Of the sunrise light
White of the starlit night
Blue of the MONDAY sky
Wave where our heroes lie,
Red, White and Blue.
"Roses with hearts aglow,
Lilies of spotless snow,
Violets moGestly blue
Weep DER them tears of dew,
Red White and Blue.
Our Old Fire Company.