The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-06-14
DUTY OF THE CITIZEN
Governor Johnson's Speech in Accept
ing Custody of the Flaps.

. ~ WAN = 4eSG5ns 81
In accepting custody Of the battle
worn fags,, Governor johnson said that
he approached the responsibility with
cordiality which finds no expression in
words. He referred to the character
OF the recollections Of the soldiers who
Fought under the emblems and so heroi-
callys sacrificed themselves for their
country. Continuing, he said:
You nave bequeathed to us most
wonderful inheritance-the legacy of
American citizenship, and we can best
discharge the duty imposed on us in
this bequest by being true to the prin-
c1ples on which the prosperity of our
nation depends.
Ours Is not and never has been a mil
itary nation, and our duty is not to fos-
ter military spirit, but rather to Gull
tivate the patriotism of peace and kim
die In this country, not the campfire
but the lights Of civic virtue, CONNER
cial honesty and political integrity. Our
duty today is to consecrate ourselves to
the work Of realizing an American citi-
zenship that demands and secures the
best and highest form Of government for
all the people, to protect the nation from
assaults Of assassins whose treason may
be of that form which strikes at the
| heart, while making no open declaration
| Of war. He who purposely is untrue. to
| a public trust is as dangerous an enemy
to the national body as he who fired upon
| the flag for which you offered your life.
The history Of nation and state Is one
Of which we can we'll boast, but we should
not forget that danger turks where we
least expect to find it. The war of the
rebellion proved the fallibility Of the
doctrine Of states rights. It proved that
the whole people constituted the sover-
! eighty. A nation is no better and no
| worse than the people who comprise the
! nation, and nothing is more certain and
| undeniable than that honesty is essen
tia1 to good government; that honesty in
the governing power is impossible when
mot reinforced by an honest and upright
| people. The sovereignty Of the people
| and the honesty OF the people is the basis
Of our government and it's only lasting
| hope. Let us see to it then that we fail
not in our duty as citizens Of the state
and be as steadfast in the performance
Of that duty as was the soldier at Look
| out Mountain in his fight for the preser-
walton Of this government for the people
1 who live to reap the reward OF his heroic
action and sacrifice. =. a
Turnout the world the love of liberty
exists. In our country it finds It's fulfill
| nent by reason of the fact that there
have always been patriotic men who were
| willing to sacrifice life itself that pos
terity might enjoy the full fruit OF the
highest and best form of government. II
the volume Of history were now to be
sclosed forever. there would pc written
there no brighter page than, that de-
| voted to the cause of humanity by the
American soldier. .| .'
The American Soldier.
There is no need to dwell upon the per-
sonal characteristics Of the American
soldier In the war of independence he
endured every hardship and was as res
olute as the old guard Of Waterloo. IN
the war of the rebellion his patriotism
!, and courage never faltered. In the late
war the son proved the worth OF those
, who had gone before. The American sol
Il der Is peculiar to America. He never
went to the war for wage. He was NO
hired man, paid to slaughter a weaker
foe. He never fought except for the
cause of humanity. His wisdom his
courage, his elaboration, his respect IoI
authority. have all marked him as the
!, ideal soldier-the soldier with q heart and
soul and conscience; the. soldier who
thinks. and whose inspirations come
from the loftiest ideals, based upon a de-
yotion to duty and to right which
prompted obedience to that law which
was based on the right OF the people C
besfree in the exercise or every na'uia
) and independent right.
l monuments might ICAA SAAS :.
ivo,,r patriotism, but no marble shat
r could so we'll tell the story OF your valol
: and chivalry as these dropping STANDARDS
: under whose folds you marched into Ihe
g yery laws of death, that this land mlgn'
' be ..the land of the free and the home
5 of the brave" And whatever may oetloe
: 1.-the people Of this land, you are at ieas
: rewarded by the consciousness OF auts
e I well done Your happiness can at ieas
come in the satisfaction that you nave
contributed your full measure TO IN
glory of the age. I could pay you NJ
q higher tribute than to say that you come
), With, within the meaning Of the words :, Q
$ washington. when he declared for in Ind,
s pendence: Happy, thrice happy sna'
). they be pronounced hereafter VINO nav
' contributed anything, who shai nav
performed an office in erecting this stu
pendous fabric Of empire on the proa'
basis Of INDEPENDENCE; who have assisted
In protecting the rights of human natur'
and establishing an asylum for the poo
: and oppressed Of all nations ana reng