The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-05-28
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talns and the Rockies, the lake coun-
tries and the prairies, all the north
from the ''Hub'' to the Golden Gate''
pouring in its men of all ranks and
from all stations in life. Some who
knew more about ''hayfoot'' and: straw
foot" than about fright foot'' and cleft
loot, }" and others from our highest in
situations of learning. Some hardened
| to rough service, others delicate from
shop and store. But all with too proud
spirit and strong a will to acknowl
edge themselves in any way disqualified
Tor service in the hour of their conn
try's peril. See them coming from the
humblest homes and from homes of
luxury, with the same uniform on, thew
stand shoulder to shoulder a mighty
army for the nations defense. The
nations of Europe may drill their stand
ing armies and keep them year after
year IN perfect readiness for instant
action, but as long as our country has
such resources to draw from as came at
her call in the last war, she need not
fear for her safety. Tongue can not
speak and pen can not portray too
strongly the honor due the heroes Of
those memorable days. Let US initiate
| thelr virtues and do honor to their
memory by serving our country as we'll
in the days of peace as they did in the
dark hours of war.
Our nation has its problems to-day
as trul y as in the Cos. And in no wav
can we honor the soldiers of those DAYS
so we'll as by making the country for
which they fought the freest. the
purest, the grandest, the most pro-
gresslve OF earth's nations. It is we'll
to look back and study the history of
what has been, but our faces must be
set to the future. The past may teach
US wisdom, the future will test our
ability to apply it. We are on battle
field where issues are being settled that
are OF the greatest moment To be
sure our weapons are not Winchester
rifles, or cannon balls, but they are
weapons that may do effective work.
The ballot, the press, the platform and
pulpit, free speech and personal in
fuence, these are mighty weapons for
good if rightly used.
Before the solid shot of public senti-
ment every foe to our nation must go
down. Is Mormonism cancer. in our
national body? It must be cut out. Is
gambling barrier to our highest pros
perity? It must fall. Is the saloon
system foe that threatens the nations
life? 1t must receive it's sentence at the
bar of public opinion and then be de-
stroyed. Is capital being massed in
the hands of the few to the great injury
OF the masses? Our ''standing army''
of patriots and statesmen must find a.
just way to meet and overcome this
evil. A glorious future is before our
nation if we but put christian principles
into our craftsmanship.
Veterans of the war, citizens and
friends of our country, shall we prove
ourselves worthy of the honor that is
ours as subjects of so grand a govern
ment? We are making history. Shall
it enrich or impovish our children?
Shall we give to our children country
hyr viz l,,-
righteous laws, rightly enforced? Shall
we put a premium on vice or virtue?
We need men of courage now as truly
as when the government called for vol
unteers in the COS. Many man would
face cannon and rife that will run and
hide if called a ''cranl1'' by some politi-
cal boss.
The spirit of unrest is in the air;
there are wrongs to be righted; there
are real problems to be solved. Give
us intelligence, honesty and courage
among the masses, and it will not be
long before right laws and righteous
administration will follow Perhaps
no one danger is so great as that the
we'll disposed citizens will by neglect
leave the control of our nations affairs
to the ambitious self-seeking politician.
The means for an intelligent knowledge
OF affairs were never so available as now
Every citizen is by virtue of his citi-
zenship king in this country.
Let us read our duty as citizens in
the light of this memorial season when
| the heroism, the valor of our soldiers
is before us that we may be able to dis
charge the high and important duties
of citizenship in such way as to in
sure our country's future greatness,
and to be able to bequeath to coming
generations a country in which all the
conditions shall be the most favorable
for the highest development of charac-
ter. May the God of nations give us
love of country, love for humanity, give
us to know Him as our father, and