The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1903-06-03
MR.. HOWARD'S TALK.
Brilliant Tribute to American Patriotism
and the Old Soldiers.

and the Old Soldiers.
Attorney Charles T. Howard, the
orator of the day, at the Decoration
Day exercises at the court house
last Saturday afternoon, said that
generations have passed since
the scepter of nationality passed
from unhappy Poland Her terri
tory is claimed by three foreign
monarchs; her sons and daughters
are counted as part of the popula
ton of Russia, Austria and Ger
many. And yet the combined pow
er of the three have never silenced
her language. In spite of restrict
ed legislation, of the fogging of her
children and the suppression or
censorship of her press, the love of
the Pole for his native tongue has
grown but the stronger aid holder,
In disregard of laws and DEGREES.
unawed by the bayonetor the sword
her children speak in the same
language and sing the same passion
ate songs as when her sons and
daughters lived under their own
kings.
"The Norman conquest swept
over England as food. 5Slain or
banished were her native princes;
the land was seized and held by the
invader; he held the revenues of
church and state and ruled her uni
versities aud monasteries. But all
the warlike genius of the invader
could not kill the Anglo-Saxon
tongue The Norman might call it
beef, pork or mutton on the table,
but as swine, cattle or sheep the
focks and herds roamed the field
and forest then and now. When
language yields cause is dead.
"Appomatox virtually closed the
war, although, as usual. Texas was
uneasy for some time afterwards, |
believe. The last rebel brigadier
long ago laid aside his warlike trap
pings, the last fort surrendered and
the stars and bars were but men,
Dry of lost cause; from president
to pathmaster the confederacy was
no more. And yet the last battle of
that war was not fought until 1903
in the city Of Washington. The
last ghost of the rebellion was laid
aside when this government decid-
ed that hereafter in all public doc
uments it should be written "The
| United States Is That last vic
tory over the schoolmaster and his
grammar seals and settles the mer-
its OF the whole controversy. Past
all doubt or question the old soldier
who sleeps in yonder cemetery was
right when he followed the flag
right when he shouldered his mus
ket and took his place in the rank
when he gave his life that the ma
ton might live.
Mr.. Howard reviewed briefly the
right of a state to secede, and said
that now peacefully the end has
come. The United States is SUI
preme. The flag could only wave
as the emblem of a mighty nation; it
would be absurd to cheer it as the
Representative of 40 little ones now.
sit came easily because the other
fellows found out you were right
and they were wrong all the time.
Fitz Hugh Lee, at Havana, was com
plimented when he was called a
Yankee, knowing that it was not a
question of Virginia or Vermont,
but of and for America, and that il
needed the powerful centralized ma.
ton to sweep forever from "the
Isles of the Seas" the cruel, crumb
ling power of Spain. In that con.
ception state pride wass gone and
the true greatness Of the govern.
ment he had fought to destroy
| flashed upon him.