Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-08-02
UNVEIL DEWEY STATUE
MEMORIAL IN HONOR OF VISION
SINS FIRST EXECUTIVE
AT LANCASTER.
Movement Started Eight Years Ago to
Pay Tribute by Erecting I'm
posing Monument.

LANCASTER, Wis, July 23.-[Spe-
cial. THE monument of Nelson Dewey,
first governor of Wisconsin, was un-
yelled i'll the courthouse park this after
noon. Miss Grace Davidson, daughter
Of Gov. James o. Davidson, pulled the
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 for
good citizenship, holding up Gov. Dewey
as Il 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
erEment today are not problems OF ply
seal uggrandlZemeut not open and easily
defeated movements, but careless, IN
different, selfish and often unScrupuiouS
regard for the rights OF the people. Tins
does not strike openly at our laws. 1t
is not quick and sudden i'll Us attacks
Slowly and deciSlyely, just as water IN
dernlncS the foundation OF Il pAyolcal
structure, so does Il weakened puDuc
conscience strike at the foundation or
the structure of state. Our institutions
ion. and if we permit this source OF law
to become calIous and constituencies,
we have dealt our political existence Il
blow more disastrous than the INVASION
of our domain 10y hostile arms. The
only remedy against this powerful IN
fuence, the only weapon by 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 lite, we draw the lesson
of moral courage We cherish every
memorial of our early statesmen; we ad-
mire their bravery and unselfshness; we
applaud their self sacrifice III order that
they may teach the precepts of this es-
sential to true character. Our noblest
ethical ideal is the ideal of citizen who,
whether in his private life or III public
office, exhibits moral courage III 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
bencGcent exercise Of public interest as
there is in this country today. Never
Was there such necessity for conserya-
tive speech and action. never such Il
need for purity of motive, the judicial
temper of frmness and high and patri-
otto aims. These qualities are too often
lacking in citizen and official. Many Of
our people, while deeply engrossed i'll the
pursuit Of wealth, dismiss considerations
of government with 4 cheerful fataIism
that somehow or other our course will
be maintained Alright. A crushing ma
teriaiism and love of money has blinded
men of weight and influence to the sa
cred principles upon which our enlght
ened society stands. Profound and of
vital interest, as these facts are, they are
transcribed many fold when we remem-
Der that their existence is due to the
growing seIishness and Indifference Of
the people.
Rests On Common Man
I'VE have need for the greater exercise
of moral courage. Proper laws are pos
sible of enactment by Legislative bodies
only when the peopIc awaken to a gen
uine realization Of their surroundings and
attack greed and discrimination without
thought Of personal favor or gain. These
mucll-Sought ends will not come from
themselves nor from the efforts Of a few