Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-07-26
GOV. DAVIDSON POINTS OUT IDEAL
PEOPLE IN DEWEY UNVEIL-
ING ADDRESS.
FIGHT STEALTHY INFLUENCE.
Great Men Can Start Reform Ball Roll
ing, but Common Multitude Must
Do Largest Share.

cord which released the fastenings of the
cover which screened the handsome me-
mortal from view.
State Needs Moral Courage.
The address of the day was made by
Gov. Davidson, who made a plea TOR
good citizenship, holding up Gov. Dewey
as model and an inspiration.
"A great state has been founded
said the governor; upon us rests the
duty Of its preservation. The dangers
which confront republican forms of gov
eminent today are not problems or ply
steal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, not open and easily
defeated movements, but careless, IN
different. selfish and often INSCRIPTIONS
regard for the rights Of the people. This
does not strike openly at our laws. 1t
is not quick and sudden in It's attacks.
Slowly and decisiyely, just as water I'M
dermines the foundation of q physical
structure, so does a weakened public
conscience strike at the foundation OF
the structure of state. Our institutions
are founded on the rule of majority opln-
ion, and if we permit this source OF law
to become callOus and constituencies,
we have dealt our political existence a
blow more disastrous than the invasion
of our domain by hostile arms. Inc
only remedy against this powerful IN
huence, the only weapon ny Which
democracy retains its own, is strong
moral courage.
Ideal Citizen Described.
THE object Of public education is to
teach the youth the value of moral cOur-
age. From our intercourse with one an
other in daily life, we draw the lesson
of moral courage. We cherish every
memorial of our early statesmen; we adj
mire their bravery and unselhshness; we
applaud their self sacrifice in order that
they may teach the precepts of this es-
sentiaI to true character. Our noblest
ethical ideal is the ideal of a citizen who,
whether in his private life or IN public
Office exhibits moral courage in his deal
ings with his fellow men and the prob
lens of state. Its development is the
most important duty of the citizen.
Never in the. history of America has
there been such an opportunity for the
benetiCent exercise OF public interest as
there is in this country today. Never
was there such a necessity for conserva-
tive speech and action, never such
need for purity of motive, the judicial
temper of frmness and high and patrl-
otto aims These qualities are too often
lacking in citizen and official. Many of
our people, Willie uctpIy SLSI OoSCO III IllC
pursuit of wealth, dismiss considerations
of government with a cheerful fatalism
that somehow or other our course Will
be maintained Alright. A crushing ma
terialism and love of money has blinded
men of weight and influence to the sa-
cred principles upon which our enlight
ened society stands. Profound and of
vital interest, as these facts are, they are
transcribed many fold when we remem-
i,N,, +IN,;,, yS,tN &c duo tn hn
growing selhshness and Indifference of
the people.
Rests on Common Man.
'We have need for the greater exercise
of moral courage Proper laws are pos
sibe of enactment by legislative bodies
only when the people awaken to a gen
une realization of their surroundings and
attack greed and discrimination without
thought of personal favor or gain. These
much-sOught ends will not come from
themselves nor from the efforts of a few.
Great leaders are necessary TO point the
way, but the final protection of our lnSti-
tutiOnS rests upon the common man.
Here is the place for thought and indi-
vduaIity. The more direct and sincere
his participation in government, the near
er do we approach a realization of
government by and of the people. Each
person has a duty to perform. Upon all
of us rests the duty to preserve the state.
AS we think individually, so do we act
IN 4 body. Good government springs
from the common man and unless q high
moral regard for the duties of citizenship
distinguishes this fountain head of our
law, you may rest assured that our nsti-
tutiOnS will be treated with apathy and
disdain, and slowly but effectively pri-
vate interests will displace public good"
Grave Is Forgotten
For ten years his grave was forgotten.
Had Il stranger passed through the Ian
caster cemetery, five years ago he would
have seen Il little mound, poorly kept and
unt1owered, with the modest inscription,
Nelson Dewey. First Governor of Wis
cousin. Died July 20. 1899" This was
all that marked the resting place of the
man who was the foremost statesman in
Wisconsin during the territorial days. its
governor while the state was in its in
fancy and prominent member of the
bar for half a century afterwards. For
Il number of years not even this honor
was paid to the dead for there was 4
long period when the grave was so neg
lected that only the tombstone gave evil
denca that therein rested the remains OF
the departed governor
Work of Trentanove.
The likeness of Gov. Dewey is the
Italian sculptor. The cenotaph consists
OF pedestal of granite, upon which,
seated i'll a chair is the image of Gov.
Dewey in an attitude of repose. The
whole monument is about Is feet in
height, the pedestal is Is feet square,
and the base is i feet high.
How the Monument Was Secured.
The work of securing recognition to
the memory of Gov. Dewey extends over
a period of eight years. For ten years
after his death the remains lay in I'M
manuel cemetery with but an occasional
friend to place flowers upon the grave
In 1899 the citizens of Lancaster Started
a movement to have the state erect
monument to his memory. That year the
Legislature appropriated $4,000 for the
purpose. In spite of this the work
progressed slowly, so the old committee
was dismissed and a new committee con-
siStiug of Assemblyman Duncan Me
Gregor. Senator L. Z. Burns and
5fEss- Lga.1L- Ia