Mower County transcript., 1892-06-01
MEMORIAL DAY .
Our Nations Heroes Not Forgotten BY
a Grateful People.

Our Nations Heroes Not Forgotten by
Grateful People.
Fitting Addresses and Other Exercises
at Austin.
Large Attendance and Sunny Day.
The interest in the proper observance
Of Memorial Day increases as the years
bear US on farther and farther awav from
the events of the war of the Rebellion.
1t Is most appropriate that the graves of
those who fought and bled in the defense
of our countrY's flag should be strewn
with flowers at each returning spring time
to show that in the hearts of 4 loval
nation their brave deeds are to be forever
appreciated. The exercises in Austin
last Monday were impressive and most
appropriate. An immense assembly
gathered on the court house grounds to
listen to the addresses aud singing, The
program was outlined in the last TRAN.
TcR1PT. After musics prayer was offered
by Rev. c. E. Wright. This was fol-
lowed by singing. during which flowers
were deposited on number of empty
chairs, each one of which bore the name
Eof dead comrade. McIr:vre Post, G..
A. R., brought profusion of flowers in
loving remembrance of various camrades
who now sleep in the great camping
ground of the dead. After song by the
Daughters of Veterans. the orator of the
day, Rev. Father Christie, of Minneapo-
lis, delivered most eloquent and inspir-
ing address. He held that while war
was never lawful for its own sake, it was
undertaken :for the preservation of q
nations life and for the sake of true
and lasting. peace. Loss of country
and of a national life are greater evils
| and calamlties than loss of blood or
treasure The world will ALWAYS love and
the church will ever honor those who
unselfishlv devote themselves to their
country S service. The orator discussed
! very clearly the doctrines of secession as
opposed to the legitimate powers of our
federal government. The Union soldiers
| fought against doctrine that would have
disintegrated the nation. In that grand
army of the republic. there were no
nationalities; no religious creeds, no dis
tinctions of any kind recognized. All,
as with one heart, barred their breasts as
a barricade against the common foe. And
all, common soldiers, as well as great
generals should have share in the
rewards of victory. He suggested that
our county. commissioners appropriate
$500 as the law allows them to do, to-
ward the immediate erection Of soldiers
monument in this county. He closed
with quotation from Longfellow's noted
poem:
''Thou too, sail on, o ship of state"
After singing, Lafayette French gaYe a
brief but most thoughtful address. He
spoke vividly of the contrasts between
our national condition during the dark
days of the war and these peaceful sur
roundings which we now enjoy. These
priceless blessings are the legacy to us of
the Grand Union Army whose names and
whose deeds we honor today. 1t is to
them we owe our existence as a nation,
so that we are now the strongest, richest
and happiest people on earth. All other
events which we commemorate sink into
insignifcance in comparison with these
which we celebrate today.
At the close of these addresses, the
monument was entwined and with song
and the benedlction the vast throng dis
persed During the afternoon, commit
tees of the G. A. r. visited all the sol
diers graves in the cemeteries and tender
ly covered them over with beautiful
flowers, the emblems of love and life and
immortality. This has been one of the
most interesting Memorial DAYS which
Austin has ever seen. Its Observance is
an inspiration and an education to the
rising generation. We believe that when
the last old veteran of the war joined the
bivouac of the dead. their children, and
their children's children will unite with
free and united people in the universal
observance of this day, kept every year
IN memory of heroic deeds that shall
never be forgotten.
| NOTES.. z..s.... .
Rev. C. T. Hallowell, pastor of the Baptist
church, and veteran of the war, delivered
an interesting memorial sermon before Nc
Intyre Post G. A. H. last Sunday afternoon at
3 o'clock in the court room. A large and at
tentive audience was present.
Among the veterans present at the memo.
rial day exercises at the court house was Com
rade w. i. Sutherland, who was able to listen
to the exercises from the county auditors
window. Everybody was glad to meet him.
Farm laborers are so scarce in eastern
Pennsylvania that an endeavor has been
made to procure some Of the German
immigrants who land at New York