The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-05-31

gOOU time, Will DrlQg lOrWdrQ UQo
men and the conditions of public vir-
tue which will insure the preservation
and onward march of the nation
which your valor saved. We do not
despair of the fortunes of our coun-
try. Patriotism is not lost virtue.
Pessimism has not yet become ten
ant Of the true American breast. For
thousand years the Anglo-SaXOn,
with just aspirations and tireless en-
ergy, has ever improved his condition.
In this new and better land his ex-
allied star of destiny will not forsake
him. Above all, and through all, we
possess an unfettered Christianity,
whose advance never tires, and whose
conQueSts never halt; and our mission
on this continent will never cease to
find its fulfllment till we realize that
lofty hope of the poet,
when the war drum throbs no longer, and the
battle flags are furled,
In the parliament of man, the federation of
the world.
Comrades, such was the work you
performed in making the republic
superior to all the nations of the
earth, in liberty, in area, in progress
and IN promoting human happiness.
Ii God uses men to work out the great
drama of human affairs, then you
were his chosen instruments for the
highest purposes. You were the I'M
seen powers which, like the gods in
Homer, were moulding the lofty des-
tiny OF men and nations.
Sometimes / sadly fear, the services
Of the soldiers in the war for the
union, are but lily understood and
lightly appreciated Their sacrifices,
their sutferings, their tolls, and their
deeds should Efndle the liveliest sense
of gratitude and respect. The cOun-
try owes the grand army an obliga-
tion it can never fully repay. Money
nor pensions, can never cOmpenSe
them for what they so freely gave.
But for the achievements Of that
army, where now would be your bust
ness, your happiness, your jubilant
population? Especially men who
have become prosperous and rich, who
live in ease and luXury.out of the,very
abundance that came from your hand,
should be the last to complain of
what the aged and debilitated veteran
now receives. In what manner have
the GOuldS, the Vanderbilts, or the
Astors, ever shown sympathy or re-
spect to the brave of sixty one? What
monument or mausOleum have they
ever erected to the patriot dead? The
unfinished tomb Of Grant still salute
the wealth of New York, as the mil
liOnaires Of that city pass it daily to
their palaces on the Hudson. They
reap when they have not sown; they
enjoy where they have not planted.
1t is the great middle classes who
cheerfully support, the government,
pay their taxes, who love and defend
their country, and tenderly honor the
nations dead. l do not fear but that
in general way, the veterans Of the
war will be suitably honOred; but
great wealth has never yet borne part
in that appreciation. The spirit that
Webster manifested at the laying Of
the corner stone of Bunker Hill monu-
ment, gave lofty and tender express
sion to the feeling Of true and noble
hearts. The survivors of the RevOlu-
tion were gathered about him upon
the stand and in language classic and
immortal he addressed them: "Ve ner-
able men, you have come down to US
from a former generation" The
there ito receive the overfiOWings Of
a universal gratitude" With fervent
voice, he said ''God has allowed your
sons and cOuntrymen to meet you
here, and in the name Of your country
and in the name of liberty to thank
you" This grateful remembrance
of their services filed their hearts
with joy, and smoother their pathway
TO the grave. This noble and illus
trious example might well be follow
ed by the men of this generation, for
you now stand where the survivors
of the resolution then stood. The
first were the founders, and the last
the preservers Of the union.
While private muniticence does
nothing, it is pleasure to note that
the state and nation are by no means
insensible TO their duty to their dead
heroes. At Gettysburgh, at Mission
Ridge, at Washington, and elsewhere
statues and monuments arise to the
gallant chiefs and brave men who
taught their countrys' battles. At
Arlington. standing by that great
monument,
$50 the Unknown Dead"
WHERE UurG0 UuOuSduu, WuOSC udueS
and regiments are-lOSt, now sleep their
last long sleep, the heart swells with
gratitude at that noble remembrance
of their sacred dust.
Our own state is manifesting a just
and noble spirit. At New Ulm, at
Birch Coolie, the state has placed
monuments worthy of the merits they
commentaries Here, where we now
stand, is noble shaft erected by pri-
contributions, as local testi
moniaf TO the memory of the Union
soldiers. Everywhere in the old world
from classic antiquity to modern
Europe, they have erected statues OF
monuments With great pomp, TO honor
those whe fought great battles anc
won great victories.
Ii the deeds of armies and chiefs, as
they revolve around thrones, or follow
the standards Of ambition, are worthy
of such commemoratiOn, how mucf
more should we celebrate and perpetu
ate'the memories of those who fought
only for liberty and the rights of man
kind. The eyes Of the citizens of al
time should be permitted to rest upor
these national structures, for they
will serve to recall the noble men WhC