Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1895-06-06
MEMORIAL DAY EXERCIS.
TIC

0lcc CluD. MA VI LduiOOi SUI AAie'u0
a neat little speech OF welcome and
then introduced Rev. j. M. Brown
who delivered an eloquent Grafton,
replete with noble and patriotic.
thoughts and sentiments. Judge
Grindeland was next introduced and
spoke substantially as follows:
VETERANS, LADIES AND GENTLE
MEN;
The Americans are busy people,
but busy as we are, we cannot and
must not forget the boys in blue
and to-day we pause to pick the
choisest flowers Of spring and in sol-
emn procession so forth to decorate
the graves that contain the sacred
remains Of our country's defenders.
This day is tittingly called Memoir
ial Day. and as the years roll by, this
day, j properly observed will always
impress useful lessons upon the pres
ent and coming generationss
We have swing from the rigid for
mality OF Europe to the frivolity of
America. Is not the Fourth OF July
a day of carousal and sport rather
than u day OF patriotic demonstra-
ton; is not Thanksgiving day OF
dancing and dissipation rather than
a day OF Thanksgiving; is not the &C.
LIBERATION OF Christmas unchristian
rather than christian? But God for
bid that Memorial day, dedicated to
the sacred memory Of the heroes
dead, and heroes living, shall ever be
desecrated by horse races, base ball
games, dancing and drunkenness. Let
nothing take place that will mar the
dignity and solemnity OF the day.
1t should be a holiday in it's strictest
sense.
The orator in the pulpit or
on the rOstrum loves to dwell upon
the conflicts and heroism recorded
in history, but strange to say that
he draws mostly upon ancient his
tory. The college graduate during
the next month will spend most OF
his energy upon ancient Rome and
Greece.
But why go across the stream for
water? What chapter in history is
of more significance than our civil
war Lincoln truly said in 1861,
1.-The struggle OF to-day is not alto
gether for to-day-it is for the vast
future ALSO" We hear frequent refer
ence to the soldiers of Leonidas, Mil.
tiades, Philip of Macedon, Hannibal,
Fabius, and to the Spartan and
Trojan warriors, but they were fight
ing under the gods Of war-gods
stained with the darkest Of crimes.
The people were daily accustomed
to see blood flow and their hearts
were scared and callonsed to the
horrors of war. War was the pro-
fession. Not SO with our soldiers of
1861; they came from the farm. the
factory, the pulpit and from every
vocation OF life, accustomed not to
blood, but to the peace and happi-
ness OF ''home, sweet home
Veterans, when you responded to
our country's call you went forth
not under a grim god Of war but un-
der the pure God of Christians; went
forth not for blood, plumber or con-
quest, but went forth in defense OF
home and country, and in defense OF
human liberty. Yet, what instance
of bravery will outshine that OF
yours at Missionary Ridge, Gettys-
burg, charlottesville, Fort Donald
son and Atlanta?
With you it was not snperstition;
you did not wait for the favorable
omens, nor blindly follow the oracles
Of pagan gods, but with you it was
love OF country, true, pure God-like
patriotism, that let duty and not SUI
perstition lead the way. When you
enlisted youknewit tsomething
more than q parade, something
more than to quell u mob. You had
to meet the determined South, whose
leader declared the North and not
the South should be the field of bat
tie, and it was defiantly boasted
that one rebel could fight five yam
KEGS.
On one side it was perjury, muir
der, slavery and disaster; on the
other it was honor, freedom, and
Union.
Free government was upon trial.
The world focused her attention up
on the scene OF confict. England
said "Neyer for many years can the
U. S. he to the world what they have
been" But behold! The Republic
came through the terrible ordeal
brighter than ever. Your victories
made it possible for the immortal
Lincoln to issue the emancipation
proclamation that erased the dark
spot OF Slavery and relegated to the
past the last vestige of barbarlsm,
and carried out the great principles
of the Declaration Of Independence,
that all men are created equal and
have a right to life, liberty and pur-
suit OF happiness.
Honored Veterans, yon are the on
ly remaining actors Of the great
two nodv ond soon o1l nf va, Mill