The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-30

Levi Butler Post No. 10, Bernard Cloutier,
Commander.
John A. Rawlins Post No. l2e W. Il. Kellar,
Commander,
(. Commander.
Jacob schaefer Post No. 1853, Matthias KEGS,
william Downs Post No.. IS. william Annis,
James Bryant Post n No. i1s. c. W. Curtis.
.. Commander. ~
Oliver P Morton Post No. III. A. B. Applin,
Commander.
Appomattox Post No. p; John l.. Johnson
Spanish American War Veterans.
Camp A. R. f m No. Minnesota Div
Captain Harry D. Lackore: Commanding.
Fifteenth Minnesota Veterans Association, Cap
tain Charles F. Bond. Commanding.
Automobiles with Disabled Comrades.
= At Plymouth Church.
All the veterans and as many others
as could find places gathered in Ply
mouth church, where the following ex-
ercises were held:
Solo, 'vacant Chair Miss Ethel Flynn
Music, "They Are Marching On, 49,. o,,....t
Solo, "Star Spangled Banner. Miss Ethel Flynn
Grafton ............... .Comrade J. F. Downcy
Music Dropping from the Hanks. Quartet
Memorial of flowers in memory Of our departed
s-.-. comrades
Iaps -. 49,: ....... buSler
america .............. Quartet and Audience
The Grafton Of the Day.
The grafton Of Dean J. F. Downey
of the University of Minnesota, deliv
cred this afternoon in Plymouth church,
was a terse review Of the work Of the
great army of the union, now repre-
sented by the Grand Army Of the Re-
public, with much to make the old
| hoxyc f1u y,rou1 of thar rocord He
| then advanced to the broader ideas of
national tendencies, bringing. out the
thought that while the American peo-
| pie are at heart peace loving, they are
mighty in war; and that while sordid
selfishness seems to be leading char
acteristic, it needs only a call for help
to open the hearts and loosen the golden
| streams.
In Mr.. Downey's own words, some
of his points were as follows:
Calamity Brings Action. :
| "We do not realize men g capability
for noble actions until some great &C.
casion arises to call it forth. When
we see the sharp competition in the
struggle Of life, see men bending all
their energies to the accumulation Of
wealth, see them eagerly Selling every
advantage of their fellows, see them
clinging with close-fsted tenacity to
| their i1-gotten gain when SO many
worthy objects around them need pro-
noting. see large numbers Of them
organizing themselves into combines
mand their own prices even for the
necessaries Of life, we say, The world
is selfish, men care only for themselves.
"But suddenly there is flashed over
the wires to all parts of the country
the news of a great disaster involving
I, ook- - al Il c4o4o t>1y
a tempest of fire, as in the case Of Chi
cago or Baltimore; a district food
weston, where the furious winds gath
cred up the waters of the ocean and
hurled them upon the city, and what
thrill Of sympathy Is awakened! I'm,
mediately people all over the land, and
even in foreign lands, spring to the
on their own interests, and we almost
forget this magnificent display of sym.
pathy and generosity. But swiftly
over the world spreads. the news that
old Vesuvius has again burst forth
with his ancient fury, DESTROYING towns
and ashes and cinders fertile fields and
fruitful orchards and vineyards. The
calamity touches the hearts Of those
/ whose interests are not touched, and
Italy comes nobly to the rescue and
takes care Of the homeless thousands
"But the ipent-up forces Of the earth
did not spend all their fury there. Sud
country the startling announcements
that the fair city at the Golden Gate
had been wrecked by an earthquake
and that fire was sweeping unchecked
over it and completing the ruin, Be
fore the flames We're extinguished
train loads of -four, of bread. Of meats
of fruits and contributions Of money
were pouring into the ruined city fol
the destitute inhabitants. Why, thu
force that shook the solid foundations
of the earth seemed also to shake the
hard hearts of those who had seemed
most immovable, for many Of those
whom we had been accustomed to re
gard as the most selfish and graspine
were among the largest contributors
Such spontaneous sympathy and gener
osity give us additional confidence il
human nature.
fractional Strife.
"we see in our country bitter fac
rather than principle, unworthy poll
ticians and unprincipled demagog
possessed Of many Of the public Offices
those intrusted with the interests o:
the country legislating for their owl
interests, widespread dissatisfaction
, with the government, many of the sol
diers deserving from the army, the navy
department unable to secure enlistment
enough to man our warships, and W.
ask: where is the patriotism Of ou
fathers? Where is the loyalty tina
! has been so much eulogized7' Ant
we half believe that such patriotism
and LOYALTY no longer exist
"But let us remember that the nortl
was never more torn by factions o
disturbed by party strife, and seldom
more afflicted by self-seeking politi
clans than just before the civil war
and honest people were then asking
Where is the loyalty that has been s
: much eulogized9'
HBut there began to be heard in tn
distance mutterings like the rumblin
Of distant thunder, and men stopped t
listen to it. There came the news O
: states declaring for secession, and me,
were amazed at the effrontery of il
They stood on street corners and talke
bin excited tones, and factions that ha
been divided then became united upo
the great issue that dwarfed all els
into insignifcance. Men s pulses bea
fast, and great crisis seemed impend
ing. Suddenly. like lightning from tn
-, heavens, came the startling announce
ment, Fort Sumter is fred upon!'
! All, now! What meant those beat
ing drums in every town2 What mean
those flying banners7 What mean
Z those WeeDinp fareWp1lS? What mean