Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-06-10


the liberty of all in every land. made
possible the overthrow of cruelty and
crime of tyranny and unjust laws. It
babe the outcast and oppressed renew
their eff orts, cherish hope. and never
doubt the possibility of reaching that
high plane where universal brother
hood has taken its abode. 1t placed
upon the brow of every citizen of this
our favored land, the laurel wreath
that tells Of triumph over wrong. of
freedom under every sky where floats
the stars and stripes. 1t broke the
chains that held in bondage millions
who, for centuries had toiled without
reward. 1t placed the stamp OF man
hood on the brow of the black a. we'll
as white, and opened every avenue Of
success to all who bear the name
American. 1t recognized in every
man the right divine to own himself,
TO rise from lowest walks of life to
rightful and deserved place among his
fellow men. The union soldier sue
cess marked the nations triumph in a
battle with its greatest wrong. 1t was
an American victory over American
vice and wrong. 1t was the splendid
spectacle Of great nation rising out
OF It's greatest sin.
The union soldier battled, not for
plumber nor for ambition, not to
crown royalty or to extend our do
minion by the exercise of power with
out principle. They battled for the
rights of the weak. for the rights of
manhood, to overcome a gigantic
evil. to set in the darkest sky Of the
humblest son of toll, the star of eter-
nal hope.
When the union soldier returned
home, when he laid down his arms,
his country was one. his flag was a
glorious waving truth. Slavery was
dead Disloyalty was banished
Government of, for and by, the people
ceased to be an experiment and be-
came splendid success, an accom-
plished fact. Honest labor was
crowned, and the United States of
America took the position we hold
today, as the first, greatest, best,
most generous and most progressive
nation on earth.
The union soldier taught the world
the art of war. and when from the
brain of our sailor boy leaped the
Monitor, the nayies of the world van
ished from the seas.
| am not here today to indulge in
eXtravagant eulogy or offensive adu-
lation, and yet it may not be out of
place to ask; who was this union sol
der who accomplished so much and
to whom this world is so greatly in
debted? Who was this man whose
only demand Of armed rebellion was
unconditional surrender =? Who
was this man whose wonderful
achievements sent a thrill of hope
through the heart of serf and slave, of
the oppressed and down-trodden the
world over? Who was this union sol
dier?
He was not a mere hireling whose
trade is killing men, and whose de-
light is in plundering the weak. he
was not IA royal robber who would
wade through slaughter to throne
He was the peaceful citizen who had
learned the arts Of peace, who knew
the blessings of peace, and who. when
once he took up arms, was determined
to conquer an honorable peace. he
was the Industrious farmer who knew
more about cattle than about cannon,
more about plows than about battal-
ions: but he knew that his country
was assailed. that his dag was insult
ed. and that was enough for him. de
was the skilled mechanic working at
the bench, on the forge, ignorant of,
and unused to. the clash of arms and
the sound of strife, He was the teach
en- in the school, the student at his
desk the preacher in the pulpit, the
lawyer at the bar, the physician at the
bedside of suffering. the inventor in
his garnet, the pioneer in the wider
ness, the merchant at his counter, the
miner with his pick. The union sol
der was the man who loved peace
more than war; who thought more of
his fields waving with golden harvests
than of fields where seI'ied ranks OF
opposing hosts contend for victory
Needless of life and regardless OF sut-
fering. The union soldier was the
product of the Christian homes and
common schools of this country He
was the product of America 5 free in
stitutions. He was the man who took
with him to the camp and the battle
field. the yigor of the farm and the
shop, the culture of the schools, the
morality of the church, and that in
tense IldliltllSiu NlllNii hN'li' 'lils a.
the hearts of those who help 10 make
their country great and free. lie was
the man who left his home TO tight Tor
his home. He was the man who val
ued his own liberty SO highly that he
was willing to fight for the liberty OF
others. He was the man who was OPP
posed to war as trade, but who
could fight as we'll. bear as many
hardships. suffer as many privatlons,
and win as many victories, as those
who make light Of the arts OF peace.
The union soldier was the child of the
republic, proud of his country's flag,
and Jealous of his counWy's honor.
He was man who believed IN the dl-
vine right OF every man to life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness He
fought not only for America and
American Institutions, but for the
cause of liberty and progress the
world over. He was the defender of
the highest civilization of the age.
Opposing the barbarism of the lash,
he gave TO honest labor such VIC
tors wreath as never dected her brow
before. When the last enemy had
laid down his arms free labor was