The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-06-01
HONOR TO DEP ART'ED.
The Veterans and Their Friends Paid
Tribute to the valor Of the
Departed Heroes. vi
Hon. R. P. Brewer, Of st. Cloud, De-
livered the Grafton at the
Jesmer Opera House.

Jesmer Opera House.
| Memorial Day dawned clear and cool
There was a good breeze blowing and
the sun smiled on the preparations Of
the old veterans to revere the memory
of their departed comrades. The boys
of''61 were early astir. The flags were
displayed at half mast and by the time
the morning train arrived the Riness
Post had every preparation completed
and headed by the Jones drum corps,
marched to the depot to greet the
orator of the day, Hon. R. B. Brewer,
of St. Cloud. After escorting him to.
the Commercial the post returned to
its hall, where the boys broke ranks
until they should assemble for the af-..
ternoon exercises. 49,. 49,, 4 ~: = E
Promptly at o'clock the procession
formed on Main street and escorted the:
speaker to the opera house where the.
exercises were to be held. r. 7 ~
The program opened with Gamer
lea" followed by a prayer by Rev.
Roberts. A song by the choir, the
reading of Lincoln's Address at G ettys-
burg, and then the address by. Hon.
r. B. Brewer which was substantially.
as follows: -. ~, =: ..- ~.
Nh. Commander, members Of the G. Il.
r. and Ladies and Gentleynen:: . &..a,%
I desire to tender to you and to your
patriotic organization my sincere and
heartfelt acknowledgment for the cour-l'
teous invitation to be with you on this.
occasion. It is always pleasure rare
for me to join in the commemoration
of Memorial Day and to add even
though but little to the words Of honor
and of gratitude, none too glowing and
none too expressive, which are pro-
nounced this day amid impressive
scenes in all the great breadth Of coun-
try from the Atlantic to the. Pacific
and from the wave kissed shores of the
great lakes to and over the cleaning
gulf of the southland. (, III ss >1z.,,
q This is day beautiful IN sentiment
( and sad in memory. 4 t is one Of peace
and for reflection, and as the sunlight
of the soldiers Sunday shines upon
waving flags and the wreaths of ever
green and the purity of beautuous
flowers adjoining the graves Of brave
men, we may pause in the rush of busy
life and give fervent accent to the en-
during realization of our obligation to
the patriotic valour of the American
soldier and sailor
TO me, there comes the thought that
never before in the history of Memorial
Days has there been one like this.
We are to-day, as never before, one
country, without section without divi.
sion and with a common purpose. II
is day upon which can be celebrated
and properly, the re-uniting of the
United States, and the reunion in
close compact of the various common
wealths that make up our splendid
political body. To-day, the spirit O.
the South is that of the North. AS 6
nation we have been drawn closer anc
closer together for in the war with
Spain, now closed, our sympathie:
have been in common and our actor
in accord. NJ
Until not long ago, we heard ant
read much Of the clinging bitterness
of the South and the sentiments
prejudice that survived the civil war
and the passion of almost hatred tina
was aroused in the southern breast b,
the thought of losses, sustained in 81
of treasure and the sacrifice of heroi,
| blood. Can it not now be said that al
| this is now changed? The slow process
| ses OF time, bearing forgetfulness t,
| our people of the grim past, have give
| way to the rapid welding OF all state
| and of all people for common pur
! pose. Mason and Dixon's line mark
| no longer the boundary line of sentj
/ ment and the inspiring strains of tn
| ''Star Spangled Banner'' and 'tsDixie
| commingle as the boys in blue marc,
| from the North and South 70 fghtfo
| the institutions Of our country, for th
| redress Of our wrongs and 4 for: til
Il teachings Of American civilization.
:. +. The example Of the father who.i
q 1861 took up arms to defend the stabi
s ity Of the union his deeds his sacr
Z fees and his achievements have bee
: the Inspiration Of the son who in 1Se
s and 1899 fought, and is fighting, in th
Z name of America, and who will, eve
: for any worthy cause, do and die whe1
s. ever the demand may come. Fc
$d within the year, America has demon
strated TO the world that her sailor