The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1907-01-24
FOURTH JULY IN 81
Princeton's First independence Day
Celebration as Related by Carl
H. Lindeke, a Pioneer.
From Platform on TreetOps Dexter
Payne Pours Hot Shot Into
His Listeners Below.


Carl 81. Lindeke, who lived in
Princeton in the early days, contrib
utes a story to the Union which
cannot fail to interest the old timers.
The story describes the first Fourth of
July celebration ever held in Prince
ton and is as follows: -.
On July 4, 1861, the settlers con-
sidered it but proper that the day be
fifty celebrated-that a speaker be Sc
cured to Undue the people with patri-
otism. Consequently Dexter Payne
was prevailed upon to address the
multitude which consisted of about
twenty persons-men women and
children. The speech was delivered
in the bottoms north of the bridge
over the east branch of the Rum
river. An improvised platform was
erected between the tops of four
butternut trees and the speaker climbed
to the scaffold amid uproarious ap-
plause. He there delivered the follow
ing harangue: -. ......
"Fellow Citizens: It is we'll that we
meet here today in honor of that glori-
Gus event in history when we gained
our independence from the Johnny
Bulldogs. I love to celebrate this
occasion and would like to shoot off
a quarters worth of firecrackers from
this eminence among the tree
tops, but have no frecrackers and no
quarter to procure them. However
in lieu thereof [ will endeavor to shoot
some commonsense into your noodles.
Go to the war! HE thee to the land
of Dixie, and trample down the bloody
rebels who are now seeking to over
throw our glorious government.
Trample them down! I say. Tear
them to pieces! Go forth, bag and
baggage! I will remain at home and
see that your households are kept in
order. It will be better thus. Pro-
coed to Dixie. fellow citizens; proceed
at once to strangle the abominable
uprising. The British, the blasted
British, are about to send an army to
this country to assist the rebels. Go
south and meet them when they land!
Surround and slaughter them in the
name of Abe Lincoln and of the AL
mighty. There is black cloud over
hanging us, fellow citizens, but it has
silver lining. That black cloud will
be cleared away and America will
progress faster than ever before.
Mark my words, you who are inclined
to hang back and tremble in your
spindleshanks: I have no use for
towards. I want to tell you that you
take no interest in this fight which
menaces your country. All you men
talk about is your OK bows and you
women of your knitting forks. For
all you care the country might go to
the devil and be d.! Some of you
occasionally discuss the negro ques-
ton. You know nothing about this
question. You say the negroes are
black, that they are outcasts. But let
me tell you that some of them have
souls as white as mine or yours. You
can't blame a negro because he is
black any more than you can blame
Ben Soule, who stands among you,
for being a sort of mahogany color.
There are but few people living in
Germany at this time. but it is
shame that out of even that small
number only one-Carl Lindeke-
present. Carl shows by that, how
ever, that he is a patriot; that he will
shoulder the gun, the ak or the crow
bar for his country's sake. All hail
to Carl Lindeke! There are weak
lings among you who are shaking in
your shoes, whose lips are quivering,
who are chicken-hearted. Awake, 90
south and do as I advise you, while I
remain at home and take upon myself
the responsibility of looking after
your affairs. Col"
With this command the first Fourth
of July speech ever delivered in
Princeton came to a conclusion and
many of those who listened upon that
day to Dexter Payne of Maine fol-
lowed his advice, enlisted in the army
and went south of them never
to return. Mr.. Lindeke says that so
severe was the arrangement of Dexter
Payne that his listeners were actually
scared into obeying his commands.
Easy.