The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1896-09-03

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lrifice of a blood offering upon our coun-
try's alters Yes, but | hear one say
There was a principle Yes, a
principle and righteous principles; but
lit would have been no less righteous if
it had been settled by ballots instead
of bullets, by force of reason instead of
force of arms, by christian stratagem
instead of cruel war All honor to the
brave men who saved the nation in
that fearful struggle, for they did a
duty that was forced upon the North.
Yet let us hope that hereafter all ques-
tions involving the nations welfare
may be settled at the polls rather than
upon the battle fields, and that fire.
sides may never again be made desc
late and hearts broken by the cruel
blasts of war.
And to that end let Us follow the ex
amples of our forefathers in performing
our duties as American citizens. Let
us teach our children that the exer-
else Of the ballot is the highest duty OF
citizenship. Let us learn to judge
calmly and dispassionately of our needs
and our dangers, and in every crisis
let us aim to perpetuate the institutions
established and built up by our fathers.
Let us promote a higher moral and in
tellectualculture,b by the encouragement
of our public school system. Let us
cultivate among the people OF every
section and every class that spirit of
brotherly love which will obliterate all
section and race prejudice. Let us
look forward to the time when the
great questions of the day may be
settled by the calm dispassionate
judgment of the people. Then sweet
peace may dwell forever in our land.
Then the pioneer in the glad conscious
ness of having seen the accomplish
ment of his work may go to his rest as
one who wraps the draperies Of his
couch around him and lies down to
pleasant dreams"
John T. Dale, a lawyer of Chicago,
and formerly a school boy Of the little
school house that used to be just south
of Salem station, was present and was
| invited to make an address. The gen
tleman briefly commended thepurposes
and aims of the Old Settlers club of
Kenosha county. He was both sur
prised and delighted to see its large
success and prosperity. He was de-
| lighted to see for himself the large and
handsome structure which it had
erected for such useful and noble pur-
poses, and to enjoy the beauties Of the
grounds and lake and mingle with the
great crowd of people present. He
closed by wishing it greater and unin-
terrupted success, growth and pros
perity.
John Blakey, of Union Grove, and
vice president and general promoter of
the Racine County Old Settlers society,
was present and was invited to address
the assemblage. Mr. Blakey is high
" honored citizen of Union Grove and
has a large acquaintance with the
farmers of this county. His address
was an exceedingly happy effort. The
audience had already sat more than
the usual time listening to speeches
when he was introduced by President
Stocker. But he soon made the audi
ence entirely forget their WEAKNESS in
laughing heartily and loudly at his we'll
told and pointed stories. After telling
several stories he scored President
Dutton for offering to have the table
removed and dance jig with one of
the prettiest maidens in the pavilion if
the audience had any doubts as to his
ability to do it as we'll as he could in
pioneer days. Mr.. Blakey said he was
opposed to dancing and gave his reas-
ons why. He said when he was a lad
he committed some acts of which his
father did not approve and that now
he would hardly approve himself. So
his father called him in to the shop and
to account. Incidentally he remarked
his father was shoemaker and all the
men he had ever known that amounted
to anything were sons of shoemakers.
" Well, John, what have you been do
ing?" said his father. [ Dunno
said John. Well, young man, I will
tell you" And the shoemaker took
the last strap from off his knee and
with it made John dance a realistic and
an extremely lively jig and furnish his
own music. Ever since that event
John has been opposed to dancing.
Mr.. Blakey had finished his stories and
paid worthy tribute to the blessed
ness of work. He thanked God that he
had been compelled to work as he had
when he was a boy. Any boy or young
man was fortunate who was trained to
work and had to toll for his daily
bread. The exercises were closed with
selection by the band.
This eighteenth annual reunion will
pass into the history Of Kenosha county
as one of the pleasantest and most sue
cessful events.