Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-09-03
CELEBRATION OF THE BATTLE
OF oSAWATOMIE.
VICE PRESIDENT SPEAKS
He Reviews the Bitterness and Acri-
mony That characterized the
Times of so Years Ago-Great
Crowds Attend-TWo Troops of
Kansas Cavalry Camp on Grounds.

Osawatomie Kas Aug. 31.-This,
the home at one time of the anti
slavery martyr, John Brown, is hav-
ing a monster semi-centenial celebra.
ton which is attracting visitors from
many points in the west. While the
battle of Osawatomie was but a
skirmish when compared with the
many conflicts that followed, it was
here that the advocates of abolition
made their first stand against slavery,
and more than the ordinary interest
therefore surrounds the place. Bust
ness houses and residences are decor
ated with flags and bunting, troops B
and G, Ninth cavalry under COM
mand of Col. George Morgan, are en-
camped on the famous battlefield, and
hundreds of persons are here to attend
the affair. Vice President Fairbanks
was the principal speaker yesterday
and addressed large audience. He
said in part:
This occasion takes our minds back
to a period of dramatic interest In
American history; to a time when the
passions among the people were
deeply stirred. The times then were
ominous. The people could see the
fast gathering clouds of an impending
contest-a contest between the friends
of freedom and slavery for ultimate
supremacy. 1t was a day of acri-
mony, of bitterness, of sharp impeach-
ment of the motives, the purposes and
patriotism of men.
I'VE have not come hither to
awaken in any ungenerous sense the
visions which made this spot mis-
tory. but rather to connect the present
with the past; to recall the heroic
sacrifice of men in the interests of
home and country; to kindle anew our
patriotic zeal and to glory in the tri-
umphs of freedom in America. The
contest which followed the passage
of the Kansas-Nebraska bill on the
soil of Kansas was unique in our ma
tional experience. The war which
waged here was It's natural suit. The
engagement was a sporadic Outburst
"a stray shot upon the picket line,
and truly presaged the larger engage
ments of the mighty armies of the
north and the south"
He declared that the day of slavery
is fast receding. It's stories and trag
edies SCI IN now almost to be part of
NEUROLOGICAL lore. The present wears
such a different aspect from the
strained and tragic past. The sad
shadow of disunion has passed, and
the north and the south are knitted
together by mutual respect and love
of common country and a common
flag. Those who opposed each other
in the great conflict glory in it's pro-
vidential issue. The past has trans
mitted to the present it's burdens and
its great rsponsibilities. 1t were the
irony of fate if we should not pre-
serve and secure to all the fullest
possible enjoyment of the blessings of
liberty which have been vouchsafed
to us through the sacrifice of those
who have achieved it. The weak
must be safeguarded against the un.
just entertainments of the strong. All
must be protected to the utmost in
tie ppUrtt nifty to enjoy the privil-
eyes which were intended to be and
are of right theirs, under the genius
and spirit CT American institutions.
I'VE face the future radiant with
golden promise, resolved to make our
country greater than it is, greater in
material power, but greater than all
in the splendid character of it's citi-
zenship; a country where the domin-
ant note shall be fair play for all the
forces which make for the advance
ment of a great, righteous people,"