Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-06-03
Rev. Q. S. Cooper, Delivers
Memorial Day Address in
This City.
is A BRILLIANT EFFORT
Presiding Elder of keokuk District
Euloszes Soldier Dead at Rest in
the Cemeteries of ottunnwa and of
the Nation.
[From Fridays Daily.l

[From Fridays Dailyl
Rev. G. S. Cooper, presiding elder OF
the keokuk district of the Methodist
Episcopal church, made the address of
the day in connection with the Memo
rial Day services at the Ottumwa GEM
atery this afternoon. Mr.. Cooper, who
resides at Keosauqua, is we'll known
throughout southeastern Iowa as an
eloquent and forceful talker and
loyal veteran of the Civil war. Today
he was in splendid voice and his adj
dress was inspiring and uplifting. He
held his hearers undivided attention
while. with eloquent oratory. he told
them of the deeds which We're enacted
by the noble defenders of the Union
in the Civil war, whose memory is held
sacred and was honored by Ottumwa
and the whole country today.
Rev. cooper's Address.
Mr.. Cooper's address was in part as
follows:
Comrades and fellow citizens, all
whose hearts beat in sympathy with
the spirit of this occasion: congrat-
uate you upon this day. In obedl-
ence to orders of our commander-ln-
chief, General Torrance, and in re-
sponse 10 the promptings of American
hearts we are assembled to do honor
Ito the nations dead To those upon
whose graves rest the pillars OF our
Icountry with her glorious institution.
In is the most sacred day in our ma
Itional calendar: devoted to those VINO
ldied that. the nation herself might
live To many of us it is a sad YET
Iglorious day. Sad because OF tender
memories awakened Glorious for
what it brings to us aild or i. !
.Icommander calls it Our National
ma ster Day," witnessing resurrec-
tion of the virtues of those whose he
roic deeds are commemorated. AS we
4 gather about the affairs OF our coun-
ttry this day renewing our devotion TO
.f1iberty in union our thoughts should
indeed be tender and our words ex-
Ipressive of sacred memories. rms IS
one of the greatest of memorial days.
How the spirit of this day has ex-
banded. comrades since May 1920
4 when our first commander. John a.
Logan. established memorial aas III
general order No II. We nave ilye e.
10 see it include the soldiers ana san,
ors of another war for humanity ana
our country expanded by divine ffoy-
tidence until memorial day mas pc
come forty-four hours long
There are those who say l.ce me-
mortal day be now used only fof me
iincnlcation of lessons OF patr'cslsIn y
rather than for reviewing memories
of the past But we think we owe u
10 the memory Of our fallen comrades,
fto our nation and to ourselves tnat
the struggles for union and hpeftg
shall never be forgotten. we need 10
remember them as incentives TO hros-
lent duty and what an lnspiias.o I.
there is in the mere recollectlon OF
! the fact that we were personally ieeh-
tiled with the great events OF tnose
.vears-that We still survive TO per,
form oir part in sharing the fhtare
4 of our common country,
Where is the man whose hear docs
, mot beat LITTLE faster,his cheek f'ush'
his eye grow bright as he remembers
: he was ono along with sherman IN
. his march to the sea. Or with Grant
!, at ,Appamattox where the. most WICK
ed and gigantic rebellion received Its
!, Just reward.
!, .Or where is he who does not think
all the more Of his country and ali
t the more OF himself and rcailz2 a
| strong determination to stand iol the
| right when he remembers that ne
| once formed part of that old Gnlon
army. And comrades. although we
performed a most humble part III the
individual service Of that grand army
vet We would not consent for anything
S VIC. can think Of to los" all recolles'
ition of the same Nor would we sisn
+ away 6ur right and title to !, JUST
, share of reward, But | believe we
rlcotld each stand in the presence OF
rtthe Goddess of American liberty and
: ireperes.lv v-'th uncovered head. say:
ssEIet nv ..s~cre cleave to the roof OF
! my MOI ct my right hand forget
!. her cup,ai'... should ever knowingly
q Tor Willingly fail to act in harmony
4 with that hour Of my early manhood
in which dedicated my body and
y blood to my country's call
o ..Where is even the boy who does
s not exhibit more manly feeling and
a upright bearing as lie remembers his
It father was soldier for the Union
a and liberty.
.Or where is the loyal woman whose
heart is not all aglow at the remein
brane of husband. father OF son, broth,
er or lover. who We're there. And. al
S though she has never again beheld
him since the day he so gailS march
il ed away with the boys in blue; yea
: though his shattered body quietly
sleeps in some unknown grave in the
J far away southland: yet shall she be
II -