The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-06-03

but their idea of liberty had little to
suggest the great freedom we now en-
joy. Our soldiers made this possible.
The soldiers of the late war wiped out
the last vestige of slavery on the Amer
lean continent and to-day our flag floats
over and protects all classes of citizens,
regardless of race, color or previous con-
dition.
The speaker then called attention to
the fact that Fred. Douglass was once
slave and later occupied the seat of
his former master in the Congress of
the United States, and he also said that
our soldiers are entitled to the same
consideration we show the memory of
those of other ages and countries. Let
soldier who fought under Hannibal
appear in our midst and relate how his
army crossed the Alps we should con-
slider it one of the greatest events of our
lives to be treasured up and repeated to
our children. We admire Alexander
and Napoleon, but they would have
been learners and subalterns with Grant
or Sherman. Somehow we love to turn
the musty pages of history or explore
the obscure inches of antiquity when
looking for heroes. We overlook the
men of the present. We did not ap-
preciate Grant until he was gone and
Lincoln's genius grows brighter as the
years go by. There are heroes all
around us, if we could but see them.
If the noted generals of the late war
could be with us to-day they would re-
ceive an ovation at our hands. Their
| journey among us would be strewn with
flowers. 1t is not possible for these men
to be with us in the body but the men
who fought with them, who were just
as brave, who suffered just as much and
who are entitled to just as much honor
are with us. Let us treat them accord
ingly.
The speaker then called attention to
the fact that certain individuals are
wont to find fault with the old soldiers
because they meet on this day to cher
ish the memory of their dead comrades.
He then showed that the veterans were
justified in having this day set apart
for this sacred duty and that all loyal
citizens should assist in the exercises of
the day. He then briefly followed
young man from his home in the north
to the war; took him through his first
battle and then described his course
from that moment to the close of the
war and then to the present and point
ed him out as one of the gray haired
veterans present.
The subject of pensions was next dis
cussed and he showed that no loyal cit
izen is opposed to pensions for the old
soldiers and that the objection to pen
sions is an echo of the teachings of trea-
son and does not belong to this lati-
tude. The speaker continued "that
voice is an echo now, but say to you,
sons and daughters OF veterans and 10y
al citizensSof the north, crush it out and
never cease your efforts until no man
shall dare to raise his voice against the
person who is the possessor of an hon.
estly obtained pension certificate. Away
with the disloyal individual who, at
this late day is traitor enough to raise
his voice against a pension for the old
soldiers. Would that every old soldier
had pension large enough to support
himself and family. What is pension
when it's cost is considered? A mere
bagatelle! Take the scales of justice and
lay pension on one side and the phys
cal suffering and the mental anguish
on the other. Increase that pension a
thousand fold and it will not lower the