Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-06-01

crushing machines; the bitches that
drain your farms; the great canals that
join the waterways of different slopes;
the peat for fuel taken from the marsh
in the rear of the settlers cabin; the
millions of tons of coal from the great
coal mines; the railroad of easy grade
across the slightly rolling prairies; the
mountain track that tunnels through
mountains or sinuously climbs the
mountain side, bridging deep canOns
in its course; every telegraph line
whether to be used as your errand boy
or to carry the power of scores of en-
quiries to where it can be utilized; your
cottage homes and your mansions of
magnificent architecture and beauty of
finish; aye, the food upon your tables,
and the filled warehouses. Ifany or
all We're challenged with the question:
From Whence CONTEST Thou" They,
raise the callOused hands of labor and
say: Behold the creator of the crea-
lures" Verify all progress are mOnu-
ments to peaceful labor. Oftimes, how
ever. fiery trials have been necessary
to make such results from peaceful
labor possible. The lurid midnight
sky that borrowed its hideous colOring
from the burning cabin home; the
ghastly features of the tortured and
scalpless victims of the Indians hatred
and revenge called men to a duty that
could not be performed with axes or
.plOws nor planes or saws, but the ever
ready rifle of the frontier's-man. In
colonial times we seq the national
mother through her representative,
sending that stalwart young Virginian
surveyor through painless forests to
ask her rivals to make no further en-
croachments upon her territory. We
note his return through hostile foes,
across swollen and ice-gorged streams,
with the report that peaceful overtures
were of no avail. Later we see him as
he rises above taunt and overloOks re-
flections upon his ability as soldier
as with the aid of his Virginia COM
ades he covers the retreat of Brad
docks defeated, disOrganized panic
stricken, trained soldiers. Loyal sons
from their forest homes strike constant
and telling blows until the invaders
are conquered. What q reward for
loyalty we behold as those sons who
survive the conflict return to their
peaceful vOcatiOns and ere they have
fully cleansed their battle stained gar
ments the mother whose interest they
have so nObly defended rises in her ar
rOgance and threatens them with q
slaves portion if they refuse to pay for
the spOilatiOn caused by her defeated
enemies. Those sons have tested their
strength in her behalf and they are
not weaklings. With courteous but posi-
tive refusal to her unjust demands they
say to that proud, naughty mother:
"Gladly will we be loyal to you if you
are just, but any coercion tending to
destroy or sap our liberties, we will
resist unto DEATH" The instruments
of coercion are upon the grounds and
the order to start them into action is
issued. A solitary hOrseman walks
back and forth by his horses side with
expectant eyes fixed upon the tower of
the old north church in Boston. He
sees gleam of light and with greater
alertness gazes a moment longer when
a second gleam falls full on his sight.
A touch of spur and the ready horse
bounds away. The ride of Paul Revere
has begun. On the morrow the 10th
of April, 1875 will pass into history. A
day frOught with great events for on the
green at Lexington the tree of liberty
is fertilized by the blood of patriots
hearts and ere the month of May passes
the branches dressed in beautiful foliage
and invigorating flowers reach from
Maine to Florida and from the Atlantic
across the Appalachian mountains, and
the clash of arms shakes fruitful pollen
from the blossoms upon the receptive
stigmas of all loyal hearts in the colo
nies. The return from Concord and
Bunker Hill are erected monuments to