The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-31
MIR. KANE's GRAFTON.
Brilliant Address by the Young St.
Paul Attorney.
Mr.. Thomas R. Kane said:


Mr.. Thomas r. Kane said:
There can be no higher tribute paid to
the virtues and the heroism of men than
the enduring gratitude and the loving
remembrance of a great and free people.
And it is in the payment of such tribute,
irrespective Of differences of political
opinion and without distinction of race,
color or creed, that the citizens of the
Great REPUBLIC from North to South and
from East to West join today in one uni
Versal anthem Of praise for the military
valor-the martial heroism and the patri-
otto loyalty of the American soldier.
But this tribute, the annual installment
OF which we most cheerfully and enthu-
siastically render on this occasion, is not
one that can be fully or completely paid
by the present or by any future genera
ton of the American people. We can
only be expected to do our part, and we
shall endeavor never to diSappoint so just
an expectation, but, as long as our coun-
try continues to expand and to increase
in glory and in power, as long as 1T con-
tinues to be the pioneer and the guiding
star of an advancing civilization, as long
as we can truthfully say that wherever
the American flag extends it's projecting
folds freedom smiles and oppression in
every form passes away forever, just so
long will the American people look back
with reverence and love and gratitude
on the heroes, to the memory of whose
life sacrifice in behalf of country and Of
| liberty this day is most reverently dedi-
Gated. ,-,.. - ss5S4ra
1 would perhaps be justly open to- the
charge Of tnsincerity If 1 claimed that the
history of the world presented nosexam-
pie of soldier who could compare favor
ably with the Union soldier of the Amer
lean rebellion. In extending the just
measure of his reward and his fame to
the soldier of our own land it is unneces-
sary to minimizesthe glory that history
has accorded to the departed of other
ages. The record of the rise and fall of
nations is replete with instances where
men have sacrificed their lives in behalf
of their country. More than once and on
varied fields of action the common SOL
der exhibited a
COURAGE AND A LOYALTY
to his flag that for transitory. moment
cast "a shadow of virtue over the injuS-
tice of the cause for which he fought. In
most cases, however, the jealousy of his
prince, the ambition of his king or the
interests of a military chieftain were the
transitory and unworthy causes that in
spired or compelled him to action, but
with the Union soldier it was different.
To him the spirit Of liberty appealed for
protection and preservation. To him the
genius of civilization called in clarion
tones to turn back the spectre of human
slavery, that for more than a thousand
years had thrown its dark shadow over
the brightest hopes of the human race.
To him the nobleSt impulse of his nature,
the memory of his illustrious ancestry
at Yorktown and Lexington and Val
ley Forge; the pleading voice of en-
dangered posterity appealed to preserve
in its integrity the supremacy of the self
! with equal rights and equal privileges
and were entitled in the administration
of the law and the government to equal
| protection in the enjoyment of life lib
| erty and the pursuit of happiness And
| added to all came the appeal of his be-
| loved country, torn and bleeding from
the effects of that gigantic struggle that
marks the dividing line between the
| child's history and the maturer destiny
| of the American nation, asking him to
! uphold the flag and to preserve the
nj fr-lr0
| paired and unbroken that heritage that
| had come to him under happier auspices
and brighter hopes. To see to it at the
| peril of his name, his fame and his ex-
istence, that this blossom this fruit, this
realized hope of an expectant civilization
for three thousand years should not per-
lsh on its native soil. That this new
world ofo urs with it's free institutions
and its glorious promise should not be
relegated to those conditions of servitude
that that, drove sH tn the pilgrims of Plymouth
phere of the nations of Europe.
AMERICAN vALoR TESTED.
On the imposing stage of the greatest
became conspicuous actor in the most
awe-inspiring drama of the century now
closing the last chapter of it's wonderful
history. On that stage American valor
was tested and proved. On that stage the
principles of free institutions and repre-
sentative government were fmperiled. On
erty suffered assault. On that stage the
die. was cast between a nations honor
and glory on one side and it's ruin and
/ degradation on the other; and history
will give testimony to the last syllable
| Of recorded time that the American SOL
der most nobly, most magnifcently and,
thank God, most successfully rose to
| the most eXacting necessities of the
great occasion.
How feeble must appear our eff
| forts on such occasions as this to express
! our appreciation of their services and
the noble results that followed them
| Taken from the peaceful ranks of civil
life, without previous military training,
they transformed in an hour the plow-
share of peace into the sword of liberty
and became as effective in the field,
where nation fought for it's existence,
| as they had been before in the fields of
progress and progressiveness; and when
they had served their country faithfully
! and well, when the clouds Of war faded
away, before the cheering light of the
returning angel of peace, when the con-
| test had been won and the Union had
been preserved. they returned to the pur-
suits Of civil life, there to inspire the