Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-05-31

graph lines, bind the different sections
of the country together. If these are
the only bonds of national life, what
becomes Of that life when one section
of the country feels that another sec.
tion is getting more than its share of
trader Commercial interests are very
selfish; and will not that section which
feels this, forget all about its patriot
ism, and its national dutys What
would you give for national unity If
you could blot out the history of the
country, and the memory Of its bat.
ties! The men who have fought to.
gether, aud suffered together for a
common cause have a feeling of
brotherhood stronger than any com.
mercial interests deeper than any
political or religious difference. And
it is out of such sentiments, which
have their inspiration in the history Of
the country, comes the real and the
strong bond of national life. The
speaker here enlarged upon the fact
that all the enthusiasm which we need
at this time to call forth the splendid
qualities of humanity, was the out
come of sentiments which were
linked with the thoughts of this day.
And as an illustration he went on to
speak about the flags in the memorial
hall in the Illinois building, and how
they seemed to be the background of
the foreground of the Worlds Fair;
andhe could not see how that Fair could
have been possibility without the
history which was represented by these
battle-stained flags. Some call this
sentiment; but it is fact; and it
only shows what power, what mo-
tives, what dreams come to us from
the past
The speaker then touched upon the
sympathetic relationship which existed
between members of orders, and
churches; but he seemed to think that
it was the strongest between those
who had been soldiers together, shar-
ing common dangers and trials; and
to show this, he referred to story, as
told by one of the members of this
post, when, some years ago, he found a
G. A. Il. man, in his wanderings, in
Paris, France--and how this stranger
and Mr.. John Martin, (for evidently he
had him in mind,) from that chance
meeting in strange city became
friends through the sympathy they
felt for one another; out of their
common danger in the great past.
Further, the speaker said the day
brought before us the fact, that our
army was one of might, men and
brains. There were men in the ranks
who could build bridges, manage cleo
trio batteries, write epics, measure the
heavens professors, doctors, lawyers,
preachers; men who had skill of brain
and hand-sons of millionaires fought
side by side with the sons of toll and
soil. And when the end came,
the great army was disbanded, and the
men went quietly and peacefully to
their homes. You say it was won
derful thing! Not so, when we re-
member the men who composed the
army. The wonder is not that Shaks-
peare wrote such plays; but that there
should be such man as Shakespeare;
but being Shakespeare, there is no
wonder that he could write as he did.
So the wonder is that we could organ
ize such an army-could get such men
together; but having done that, why
there is no wonder in the fact that its
history is what it is, of heroism vic
tory, and peaceful return to homes
and callings.
The speaker also added that he
must say something about the soldier
as the savior of the country; and he
explained how that he might be pa
triot and hero, and yet not of neces-
essity savior; but no one could be a
savior without being the former two.
He gave illustrations of this idea, and
said that one who through the good
fortune of war, came back alive, and
sound in body, IL he discharged
soldiers duty, had won his title as one
of the sayiors of the land. At this
point be paid just tribute to the
women of the war, as the mothers,
and wives and sisters of the soldiers;
and closed by stating. that the time