Mower County transcript., 1904-06-08
continent and there came to us islands
of the Pacific pe0paed by q different

them they by virtue and intelligence
may become self governing people
If our influence with and government
over them,: shall raise them to vita
understanding and adoption Of tht
cardinal principles of our constitution
of which it has been said, that it is the
most wonderful work ever struck of
alta given time by the brain and pur
pose of man, then we have rolled away
the stone and given to that people pro
found hope for the future. Their past
of slavery trembled and fell before the
liberty of the present when the sun
dlspelled the smoke of our guns whose
roar like thunder over an earthquake
in the harbor of Manila destroyed
Montejos ships. Veterans, when the
waters of Charlestown harbor trembled
under the shock of the shore batteries
directed at Fort Sumpter and the flag
of our country was lowered by the
little band who had gallantly striven
to defend it, many of you had lately
come from foreign shore. The de.
claration of your intention to become
| an American citizen was hardly crum~
pied in your pocket before you we're an
American soldier. TO better your con-
dition you had left the home of your
birth for the board prairies Of this then
young state, then the youngest state in
the union. Its star L'Etoile du Nord
was set as a gem upon the blue field of
our flag last in the galaxy Of states.
Here in this land of vast prairies, ex-
tensive forests, rich and exhaustless
veins of minerals, large inland lakes of
crystal water, with soil none more
fertile, with a climate none more
healthful, you had come to make a
home. Then within her borders was no
city of any size or commercial import
aDce, no iron or steel highways, the
great pathways of trade and travel. No
wheels of great mills and factories were
turned by the pent up power of her
great rivers; then it was the claim
shanty, the OK team, the stage coach,
then we were poor. But Thank God,
when the country was in peril, when
the storm came, the same undaunted
courage that had sustained you to
endure the hardships Of pioneer life
made you as brave to rally to the
rescue, and l believe it is a matter of
fact and of history that Minnesota
though the last state admitted into the
Union was the first to tender a
l.
we had no national militia which might
suddenly have been moved to the front
without experience, but with an
enthusiasm that knew no limit, trust
that did not sfalter, q patriotism that
does you imperishable honor, you en-
rolled to your country's call. It was
not the enthusiasm of excitement, not
a fool hardy va]or, not with mercenary
motive, no striving fer preferment, but
the cool, quiet determination of men
who saw that the time demanded heroic
action, that the union must be pre-
served. Can we comprehend your
sacrifices, can we appreciate the hopes
you abandoned when you left home,
wife, children, farm or workshop, the
expectations of a life Of peace in this
young state? A state whose opportun-
tiles had awakened an ambition in you
to aspire to higher conditions. A state
where the pure air gave health and
bloom to the cheek, where no grass was
so green as clothed her prairies, hills
and valleys. no water so sweet as
bubbled from her springs, no soil more
yielding in bounteous harvests. But
however great all these blessings you
not counting the loss, shoulder to
shoulder with your comrades, many of
whom sweetly sleep, became soldier
to uphold your country's honor and save
its lite. l think history records and
with no disparagement of the brave
men from the eastern states that the
western troops we're perhaps the most
hardy men to sustain long hard
campaign and that their outdoor life
as farmers, loggers and trappers had
made them less liable to suffer from tho
fatigue Of a long march or to disease
from exposure, and as my old friend
Col. Colvill says you were handy men
could turn your hand to any thing as
the occasion offered, you Were earnest
thoughtful men. When you could rest
you did it with care, when you fought
you did it with unyielding purpose to
win, you never stirred except with
design.
You surmounted difficulties because
necessary and difficulties were the
nurse of your greatness. From the Pa
tomac to the Gulf::in that terrific and
bloody conflict you were where it was
tiercest, the bullets thickest, the noise
of battle loudest. Veterans, the man
that cannot Join you today in deep,
heartfelt gratitude for your valor and
solemn hush of soul approaching reyor-i
sence for the dead is not worthy the
liberty and it's countless blessings which
he enjoys. It is sweet, Yea, IL ennobles.
us to remember THAT cold in the dust:
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