The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-06-02
PRINCETON COUNTY MINNESOTA THURSDAY JUNE 2sg2


] fdence as they gazed upon his rugged
! form and piercing eye, and they felt
that he was chosen of God to preserve
the land.
The booming of the first gun that
hurled its iron missile at the walls OF
Sumpter, echoed throughout the ma
ton, and wakened the slumberine pat
rlotlsm OF the masses of our people.
The dread issue was at last presented
and dalliance and compromise were at
at an end. A blow had been struck at
the life OF the beloved Union-at the
lie OF civil liberty and the loyal hosts
OF volunteers leaped to arms to defend
their birth-right. From that historic
coast where the vanguard of liberty
pitched it's first camp to where the
Golden Gate opens in welcome to the
orient world, these patriots rushed to
her defence. They left their peaceful
homes, left kindred and friends, left
everything that makes life pleasant,
and marched forth to battle for the ma
ton, to fight against their brothers
who sought to destroy her. They
plunged into the fiery cauldron of war,
that their fellowmen might afterwards
dwell in peace, with equal rights, citi-
zens OF one nation and beneath one flag.
They fought, and nobly did they fight;
not for vengeance, for spoils of con-
quest nor for new domain; but only
that the Union, endeared by all the
memories of the past, might be pre-
served through all the years to come
That as their sires had established lib
erty and Union, so should their sons
enjoy the same blessings. With holy
wrath, from the temple of human lib
erty they drove out them that made
merchandise of human flesh, and broke
in twain the shackles of their victims.
For four long years they fought and
bled for freedom, they passed through
the dark valley of defeat and death,
and at last they mounted toil-worn
and weary to the glad heights of vic
tory, and planted there the glorious ban
ner of the stars and stripes. And, when
the mighty struggle was over, when
their work was accomplished, when
the Union was secure, the rebels van
Iquished and the slaves set free these
heroes with their tattered flags and
decimated ranks, as quietly and peace
fully as waves subside when the temp
est is over, turned back to the homes
they had left and the avocations they
had abandoned. ..,
They left the once naughty and re-
bellious south lying PROSTATE and
bleeding at the feet of the nation. Her
crime had been awful-her punishment
awful yet merciful. The wheels of JUS
tice had passed over her, but her life
was spared and the door of repentance
and atonement opened before her.
Her place in the sister-hood of States
was restored to her, and the protection
OF the old flag that she had once de-
spised was extended to the new south.
Surely. the heroes who persisted in
defense of the Union, and whose graves
we meet to-day to decorate, did not die
in vain. The south herself bears wit
ness to the glorious object they accom-
plished. Not only did they root out
the curse of slavery, but they also
assisted to set in motion the reforming
influences by which all the old love for
slavery has been eradicated in the
south. ,~s
Without a thought of bitterness or
hatred, with heartfelt rejoicing for
this complete reconciliation and re-
union, we are met here to-day, as our
fellow-citizens are met in city and
hamlet all over the land, to pay a trib-
ute to the memory of the men who
fought to save this nation from the
deadly peril Of internecine war; men
who fought bravely, fearlessly but sor-
rowfully against their own brethren;
men who met death willingly, that our
great republic might not be torn asun-
der or her glory dimmed; men who
fought like demigods, who saw the
cause of right and justice triumph; and
then cast off their warlil1e gear and re-
sumed the peaceful ways Of their
former life; and who now sleep in
honored graves.
But let us not forget that we are also
met here to greet and honor their COM
rades who still survive. The full
measure of love and gratitude which
we acknowledge for the dead, we owe
also to the living. While we drop a
tear and garland upon the grave of
each veteran who has gone forward to
the grand review before the COM
mander of the world, let us look with
loving pride and tender sympathy upon
these veterans who, thank God, are
still numbered among the living.
1t is often said that republics are un-
grateful. It is not true. No man,
however lowly his station, who has