The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1903-06-25
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Memorial Address
Delivered BY z. D. wAsnsyRs, May 5otn 1908.

sF ~.
THE REPUBLIC, LADIES AND GENTLE
MEN.
From time immemorial, which is ever
since I "a remember, it has been the
custom to introduce a speaker. I think
the custom originated principally for two
reasons. 1st to make the speaker &C.
quainted with his audience and End, to
smooth off the rough places and give
him a chance to get started. In my
case the first reason is entirely super
f1uous for I think We are pretty we'll ao.
quainted now True, I see before me
some strange faces. On the other hand
with a large majority of you I am per
sonally acquainted. Having arrived at
that period in life where there is moth
ing to be gained by concsaling my age I
am frank to confess that I am one Of the
pioneers and for a little moro than
twenty-five years I have watched with
pride the marvellous growth of this re-
markab]e state. I have seen these
prairiss where the Indian and buffalo
roamed at will, where nature in its wild
and picturesque state looked fresh from
the hand of the Creator, changed into a
Yeritable garden of Eden. Where this
thriving and prosperous little town now
stands. twenty-five years ago there was
nothing but green grass. No buildings
no railroads, nc people. Today Hope
is the pride of every citizen and has a
reputation for progress and prosperity
extending far beyond the borders of the
state. All these changes have occurred
since I settled here, and I trust you will
pardon me for telling you that l have in
a small aud humble way contributed to
this grand result.
I am reminded of a story which I
think | had better tell for fear some Of
you might place me in a false position.
There was a grizzly old veteran of the
civil war who was fond of telling stories
of his prowess and adventures but had
fallen into the habit of using the per
sonal pronoun, I, rather frequently. For
instance he would say Il made the
Johnnies got at such a place. l was the
first n over the breast works in a
charge at another time. I did this and
I did that" Ono day he was holding
his little grandson on his lap telling his
interesting stories to a crowd of friends.
After he had finished, the little hoy
looked up into his grandfather's face
and said. Too bad grandpa you was all
alone. Couldn't you get any ore to
help you put down the rebel!ion?" I
didn't know but that some of the new
settlers here, strangers to me, might get
the impression that I settlel up this
country al alone. However. I take this
opportunity to tell you that I did not.
The people of this country have set
apart a good many days to observe, and
the several states have designated them
as legal holidays. Among them is
Memorial Day. 1t was not the intent or
purpose of the originator of this day to
make it a legal holiday. General John
A. Logan, Department Commander Of
the Grand Army of the Republic, in
1868, in a general order to the different
posts, designated May Both as memorial
day and asked the different posts to Oh
serve it by visiting the graves Of their
fallen comrades. offer prayer and place
flowers upon their graves. It was ex
pected and intended that the veterans
should do this; but the people. wishing
to pay homage too to the men who
died for them, joined with the veterans
10 the exercises until the day became
universally observed, and at last the
different states designated it as one Of
our legal holidays.
Now, my friends, each and every n
Of our holidays has a peculiar siguitic-
ence of its own. Some are to perpetu
ate the deeds and memories Of our great
men like Washington and Lincoln
Others are tn commemorate some great
historical event, as the Fourth Of july,
Memorial day is different than any of
the others. The primary object of the
day is to pay tribute to our martyred
dead; to preserve the memories Of their
heroic sacrifice and to honor and per
petuate their deeds and actions. Bu' it
does more then that. 1t inetills into the
minds of these young men and women,
these boys aud girls, each year a lesson
in patriotism and love of country that
they can never forget. 1t imbues them
with the same lofty ideas. the came
spirit of self sacrifice that carried these
men whom we meet to honor to lay to
the highest pinnacle of fame and glory
The lessons taught, the spirit inculcat
I'D into the minds of the rising genera.
tim can be paught but beneficial, for it
prepares them as nothing else can to
meet the emergencies that may arise in
the future. Each generation leaves tC
its successor the affairs of ~govornment
The children of the country today are
being moulded for the future rulers OF
....lJ:o ~ for tbo;r hopoEt