The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-06-05
DECORATION DAY.
Rev. Father Prior Delivers an ElO-
quent Address-The Parade.

Rev. Fatnef Pfl0r delivers an ElO
quent Address-The Parade.
| A good many stores were CLOSED
Saturday afternoon, and the time
given over to the observance of Mem
orial Day. In the forenoon the yari
Gus committees bedecked the graves
of old soldiers with floral tributes. Al
promptly 100 O'Clock, the procession
formed on Second street, the head OF
the column resting on Jackson street.
DR.. FriSbie and d. w. Selleck acted
as marshalls. The line was composed
of the Concordia band, G. A. r. Drum
Corps, Sons of Veterans, a number of
school children bearing green en-
blems, and the veterans of the city.
The line of march was taken up as
previously announced, and ended at
Geo. E. Brett's lot, next to the NJ. E.
church, where an interesting program
of exercises was carried out. The
band played selection, and several
songs were rendered by the Amphion
male quartet. Rev. John Prior was
then introduced and gave an eloquent
address of which the following is a
synopsis:
The speaker said the occasion
was one which appealed to the nobleSt
instincts and evoked the deepest and
tenderest sympathies of every Ameri-
can. The man who gives his life for
his country earns the gratitude Of
posterity. The garlanded graves this
day prove to TIE world at large that
the names of the old soldiers are not
confined to monuments however
mighty nor pension lists however long,
but written in unfading characters on
living, throbbing, grateful hearts. 1t
was most gratifying spectacle to see
the nation pause to watch the Surviv
ing veterans of the G.. A. r. march to
the graves of their departed comrades
to deck them with the fragrant flowers
of May. As the recruit takes his step
from the disciplined soldier so from
the lives and deeds of those who fell
in the civil war we can take our step
and learn our lesson of how to perpet-
uate heritage which they sbequeathed
uS-a united North and South. 1t
was hardly thirty years since the life
of the republic trembled in the bal
ance of doubt but to-day it outstrirs
all other nations in the race for SUI
premacy. The secret of this uneX-
ampled success could be found in that
article of the civil creed which says
sail men are born equal, they are en-
dowed with certain inalienable rights
by their Creator: among these are life,
liberty and the pursuits of happiness"
The cancer of slavery threatened the
national life and could only be re-
moved from the body polite by sur
gical operation. This result alone of
the civil war sheds a halo of glory
around every federal volunteer bright
er, broader, and more lasting than
any ever before won on the field of
Mars. And while memory lives Shiloh
and Gettysburg and Malvern Hill
shall be held sacred for the deeds
there done and because of the dead
who lie in a common grave the blue
uniform of the federal and the gray
cloth of the confederate commingling
in the same dust.
Turning to the members of the G.
n LIZ. UllC
You, members of the G.. A. R., are
the orators of Decoration Day, no
matter who may be the speakers.
You and your empty sleeves thrill our
hearts with emotions of pride, patri-
otism and affection. While you can
carry a musket this nation has sure
defence and we have guarantee that
neither the red flag of riot nor the
black flag of destruction shall ever
rise on the breeze that floats the stars
and StipeS. Shame on the man who
would belittle your sacrifices or raise
his voice against the slender pittance
that is paid you. For such treason
to justice Cato the Censor earned the
deteStation of centuries. You are
not old shoes nor dishes to be thrown
aside when worn out or broken with
service. "TiS time you contracted
with the government for food, cloth
ing and transportation. but neither
you nor those whose graves you decor
ated to-day contracted for their lives
You freely gave to the United States.
Every man who fought in the war
should be life pensioner. The Saw
or of the treasury is entitled to some
recOmpense. The pangs, losses and
privations of your mothers, wives and
families could never be bought with
gold You are the best qualified
teachers of patriotism. We can learn
our noblest lesson from you. There is
no eloquence like death, no reconcile
alton like that of the grave, no reward
higher than love. To the victors in
the Olympian games was given a little
crown of parsley and olive; to the vet
eran of the Union is given a bronze
cross cut from his own gun as the SUI
premest sign Of his country's affection.
For the self-respect of those who
witnessed the war, for the inspiration
of those who were unborn when the
last shot was fired for the honor of
humanity and the glory of America
we will honor and cherish the memoir
les of the old soldiers while gratitude
lives and flowers bloom.
Attention! Fall I'M! Forward. March!!!