Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-06-06
The Gift of
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert E. Lewis
May 80, 1899.

The Gift of
Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Lewis
May 80, 1899.
The monument was designed by
Jones Bros, of Boston. and was built
by j. j. Archie & Sons, Of this city,
at a cost to the donors of something
over 50, 600. II is without doubt one
of the handsomest and most substan-
tial soldiers monuments in the state.
Both Governor Scofeld and Mayor
Rose spoke some gems of thought and
their addresses were listened to with
marked attention. The governor said:
Ny Friends: Memorial day is coming to be
so familiar an anniversary that we are Liable
to come to It's observance IN a perfunctory
manner, and in danger Cf forgetting the spirit
which instituted it and the duties which it
should recall. Merely to remember our dead
kindly is not the duty, of the day; that is, no
duty at all We do that without the aid of
statuatOry enactments, and when death has
come near, as it has TO most of US, we even
doing. But this day brings with it a sense of
obligation to the Power that has guided the
destiny of our country. better appreciation of
our responsibilities as citizens, and a clearer
understanding of the meaning of patriotism.
The day should be sacred to US for the memo
r1es which cluster around it, and for the les
y
In view of this it is worthy of special notice
when one IN a community is so impressed with
the Importance of the day and its lessons that
he gives of his substance TO erect a stately
monument to stand as an object lesson of
patriotism for all time This is an act of
patriotism itself worthy of an enduring monu-
ment. 1t should be, and have no doubt is, by
all counted an honor to participate in the
dedication OF this noble monument in connec-
tiOn with the Memorial day exercises. 1t is
not that this marble shaft will make lighter
VIn fC,rl love- Dr,pS
nor that they who gave their lives for their
country have need OF 1t; but that we, and they
who come after, may learn of the bravery of
our soldiers, and the spirit which prompted so
graceful a reminder Of it.
The people of this section of the state have
reason to feel pride in the bravery of the
men VINO went to the front from here between
lo6l and 1865; and they have reason also to
feel proud of the. public-spirited citizen who
has caused to be erected this enduring monu-
ment to the memory of those soldiers
We all have reason for pride and thankful
ness Tor the spirit of patriotism which has rs
tanned ous county IN the past and which is
abroad today We should be thankful and |
pfoud, too, that the sentiment of the people Of !
this nation has caused to be set apart, by law !
day especially sacred TO our dead soldiers; |
end glad that il is our privilege TO come with |
our tribute of flowers and grateful remem- |
brtnces at this time.
The American soldier is as brave today as |
the American soldier of the Revolution or of |
the Civil war, as was we'll shown during the |
brief war OF last year, and is now being signal
ly demonstrated in the struggle in progress in |
the far Islands of the Pacific There are none |
of US, however, but look upon war with horror;
none but would be happy if the contest of last |
year could have been aVerted. and be glad if |
the present struggle might be hOnorably and |
quickly ended But there are some things |
worse than war, and one is for nation to neg
lect plain duty, to attempt to evade re-
sponslbllty for its own acts. There were those
when war was imminent last year who thought |
they fOresaw some such consequences as have
come from it. and sought to point out the dan
OtryI
was forced into war, and like a wise and brave
people we did our best while in it. What war
3as ha brought to us may not be TO- OR liking.
No one was ever wise enough to forecast the
consequences of war. But for Us to attempt
now to evade responsibility for our own acts
would be dishOnorable and cOWardly Even
if it be said that we were unwise in entering
upon wax, let 1T never be charged that we were
not brave and wise enough to accept its con-
sequences having taken the first step.
Let US take from this day and this occasion
the lessons they present and bravely and cheer
fully perform our duties as they present them
selves to US.
MAYOR ROSES ADDRESS.
The shadows of time grow longer as the sun
of another generation sinks into the hills of
eternity: Today With willing hands rear
this shaft, shapely, symmetrical, the emblem
OF our sympathy and gratitude, and at its base
we chlSel In enduring letters, the inscription
that speaks our tribute. Tomorrow other eyes
will read and wonder what artist mind con
ceived, what skilled hand carved.
hallowed earth. Today it is consecrated in
patriotic love. Yesterday this granite was
cold, 1nanlmate; today, dedicated as an altar
to human freedom it burns its image into our
hearts and breathes the spirit of loyalty into
our nostrlIs like the fragrance of a beau
t1ful Hover. 1t stands here by the wayside of
men to quicken memory while memory lives,
to awaken recOllections while the actions re-
main and to authenticate history when the
events 1T commentaries can be proved by no
living lips.
The growth and development of this repub-
llc nave been divided into periods successive
Iy carved out of destiny by the iron hand of
war. The bayonet and sword have blazed the
pathway Of progress from the birth of the ma
t1on to the fullness of her maturity Monu-
ments to her patriots are milestones along the
avenue OF the past, and retracing the broad
pathway to Its source we may read the story of
our advancement from the epitaphs upon the
neadstones that mark the grayes of our soldier
dead.
War is the penalty of barbarism and the re-
quital OF civilizati- Il. It took the world more
than $50 years u learn that slavery was
wrong. governments rose and fiourished, fell
ana cru,n 548d, and were succeeded by new in
mat rose from the ashes of mistakes
and errors; but kingdom and empire were i'm
perV1ous to the dlvlnely inspired truth. 1t re-
manned for :: republic, fearless of all temporal
powers, but lrJd-Tearlng 0:GOre heaven to as
sert the lnlQ4ify Of a custom that had found
observance iron! the organization Of society
Truth is only ) the cornerstone of right and
right decreed that the millions of enslaved
humanity should be elevated TO the plane of
human freedom in consonance with the Divine
economy. To Chez the current of a time
honored and long observed policy that ap-
pealed with greatest vigor to the avarice of
man, was like stemming the tide of the ocean.
Reason forgot her logic philanthropy drew
her mantle around her and sunk into obIivious
Der, and appeals in the name of human
freedom were strangled in the iron grasp of
selfiShneSS.