The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1894-05-31

we decorate the graves of both. AS we
stand amid these graves era to-day we can
never quailed in mortal combat, who offered
their lives upon their countrys altar, which
they gave us and redeemed"
And may these fallen heroes live,
Within our children's breasts:
And stfll immortal lessons give
Though they have gone to rest
Had it not been for this great, this fearful
sacrifice of the best blood of the nation, the
fragments of this glorious union would have
been shattered and broken into feeble, hos
tile and Earring republics, perhaps petty
principalities, and naturally the hopeless
prey to ambitious European monarchs.
globe. We are our own ruler. Every man is
eligible to every office in the gift of the ma
ton; the highest place of trust is open for
universal competition, thus giving every
person chance to rule. A stranger wander
ing through the forest of Ill. in 1880. might
have met a verdant young man. some six
feet four in height, showing remarkable
look upon him, who in the sixties, was destin-
ed to fill the presidential chair at Washing
ton, and to carry this nation through one of
was ever subjected. and live Just long enough
to see the triumph of his policy. then to fall
by the hand of the assassin, j. Wilkes Booth.
James A. Garfield, Graded in obscurity, left
fatherless when but two years of age in a
poor wilderness home. AS boy he served
on the tow-path of an Ohio canal Struggling
against poverty he secured an education,
supported a widowed mother, stood forth as
a leader in his state, led the boys in blue to
meet the nations foe, then by the choice of
the people on March 4th 1881. he became
the first citizen OF the republic, the i Ghief
trious Lincoln. fell by the hand OF the assas-
sin, Charles julius Guiteau The right to sit in
seats of power and hold offices OF the nation
is not transmitted through royal veins. but
shall be his whose heart and brain demand it.
There is no other such country as this:
You NAV stand upon the Atlantic coast and
watch the sun as he rises from his ocean bed
and rejoices as strong man to rim race.
Hour after hour he chases the shadows over
hill valley. plain and mountain Eange-one
hour, two hours. one thousand, two thousand,
yond the shores of the Pacific. Or you may
stand upon some of the mountains of our
northern border, where the storm king with
watch his workmanship as it glitters in the
sunlight. until it melts and drops like pearls
from twig to twig, and crag to crag trlckles
down the mountain side. forms into rlVulets
the rock, and down the gorges into the val
leys below; on through the meadow and foW-
ery wales. swelling into broad rivers wash
their bosom the commerce of the nation, and
on to the land of the orange and the hg: ana
it is all from the east to west, from the north
to the south one country under one nag:
The great republic extends its scepNer of
protection and power over ALL No other
people have such a country, the home of
christian civilization and civil freedom
enlogy. that stand here on this occasion.
We assemble not to-day because their fame
requires the praises of song and oratory but
that we may dedicate ourselves anew to the
cause for which they died, and keep alive in
the hearts of the people from generation to
generation the glorious principles TOR which
they gave their lives. May greatfui nation
never forget 10 garland the sepulchers OF
those who went forth in her defense. There
is nothing too good for their memory. AS
long as this land shall enjoy the blessings tor
3Oth. let every private tomb. and National
cemetery be turned into gardens and every
| soldiers grave receive floral Offering.
Happily the national strife is ended. and in
olinas, as well as the great West and New
England, men who wore the blue, and men
who wore the gray, unite together in one &C
cord in singing. peace on earth to men OF
good will. would not to-day be guilty of
opening old wounds. God hasten the time
when all wounds shall be healed. and all
ferent sections of our common country shall
be forever obliterated.
Thank God the south is grandly submitted
not to the dictates of the north, but to the
nations will, and the verdict of mankind
They were wrong and they begin to see it.
Freedom conquered them and to-day free
mines, making their valleys alive with hum
ming machinery. and filling their land with
wealth and happy homes. The soldiers of
the union saved the south as well as the
north. No man 'hOnOrS more highly the
soldier of the Confederate army than the
soldier of the union. Drawer truer men men
never looked along the barrel of rifle into
| the face of foe. Many of them believed
they were right and fighting for their homes.
Nevertheless they were wrong. and permit
me to say with no spirit of animosity but
with heart of patriotism, and lips that in
| 1862 swore allegiance to the land love. with
the stars and stripes waving above my head
and surrounded by the boys who are loyal to
| it: allow me to say. yea, will say, treason is
| treason and no amount of sentiment can
make it anything else.
evidences of the strife have passed away land
| with it may all animOsity die. To-day we
are one nation and one people, and we are
destined to make this grander country
glorious present, and future prospects, let US
ever remember we are indebted to the sol.
| diers of the union. Again great and united
| nation pauses amid its teeming prosperity
tenders to strew the garlands of remember
Of its heroic dead. The swift chariot Of time
has borne hepeople of to-day one year far
and has added twelve months to the distance
of time across which comes the echo OF the
last shot at Appomatox. May God grant that
the sacrifice and glory of those years OF
deadly strife may not Hs n dmmed by tme
ed with the dead The members of the GAR
whose name is death
sThey fade from our vision that veteran host
Their names from the muster of earth must
| be lost;
But while freedoms stars in their firmamen,
! blaze,
One bright consultation shall draw the
/ t. 1,a1