The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-12-06

lead our ragged and discouraged army
against the British and their hirelings;
and, altho one of'the youngest leaders
of the world, he was able to free our
land from mighty Britain's sway" and
how those victories, are today cele-
brated by one hundred and eighty
million of thankful people.
Why head the list on the scroll of
military fame with the name OF that
great Roman dictator who made the
"bravo's trade" his profession? He
never drew weapon but to crafty am
bition and further his own selfish ends
and who, under a warm Italian-like
sky, in open defiance of his country's
laws, spurred his horse across the
"Little Rubicon" to satisfy his remorse-
less thirst for conquest; and then give
an inferior place to- that hero OF the
revolutionary struggle who never drew
his sword but in a noble cause, refus-
ing to further impoverish his country's
treasury 10y accepting the pay of his
rank.
Napoleon's march into Russia in 1912
is declared the greatest military array
the world has ever seen. Yet, the as
sertiOn of a prominent foreign writer
that Washington, who was able to &C.
compllsh so much with what little he
had at his command could not have
gotten that mighty force into Russia,
does not diminish the luster of his
military career, any more than does
he fact that Napoleon could not get it
out again increase the brilliancy of his
military achievements. Josephine was
he power behind his sword. 1t was
Ter love and confidence that spured
im on to conquest, aud brought him
lito military fame; when he put her
aside he was as ship without rudder
cooling away the scepter of universe
dominion In one nights debauch, and
lis star went down forever. 1t was
love for his fellow men and a desire tt
Tree them from the yoke of British
bondage that inflamed the soul OF
Washington, and led him on to victory
and his star shines with brighter
ulster as the years roll on. In the
words of Lord Byron: washington:
name is a watchword such as ne'el
shall sink while there's all echo left t,
air"
The world has produced many grea
statesmen but none greater or more
beloved than Lincoln. No presiden
ever entered upon Office with sucf
small means at his command or unde
such discouraglng conditions. Amer
lea, as you all know, was divided
against itself; yet, with perfect faith il
God and guided partly by events, hi
led this nation thru the Great Civi
i, War, disengaged us from diplomati
entanglements and brought forth {
reunited America. He had not tn
!, silver tongue of Douglass, that mislea'
the ignorant and superstitious, but h.
> did have the gift OF clothing hi
thoughts in a language that all coul'
understand, and which drew the who'll
: nation to him in love and confidence
His speech at Gettysburg, and that o
John Brown at Charlestown, are sal,
. to be the two best specimens of elo
:, quence we have had in America, and
believe they are unequaled in the his
tory of worldly affairs and in purity O
: thought and simplicity of Language
: Many pages more could be written o
:. this subject but will conclude by say
ing that, to live on the threshold of tn
twentieth century and be citizen Q
= this grand and glorious republic
= better than to be ruler of any othe
!, country. 100.