The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-06-06
time TO PENSION
EVERY VETERAN
SAYS GOVERNOR
Crawford Delivers an Eloquem
Memorial Day Address at
Aberdeen, S. D.


observed Memorial day in becoming
manner, the occasion being graced by
the presence of Governor Crawford, Of (
South Dakota, who made an excellent 4
address. He extolled the patriotism
and courage of the soldiers in eloquent
manner and declared emphatically that X
the time had arrived when every veter-
an of the war of the rebellion who
could show an honorable discharge
should be entitled to a pension suffi-
,cient to afford him an adequate livell. +
hood and that he be not subjected to
too much red tape in the securing Of
lit. The attendance was very large,
hundreds coming from out of the city.
The governors address in full was as
follows:
influential Characters Of Men.
Occasions of this character WELD
mystic and powerful influence upon the
lives and character of men. They lead the
mind and heart into regions of profound
sentiment and reflection; they bring be-
fore 1t various subjects which enter deep
ly into the life of the nation-for example
patriotism, citizenship, government, relg-
cner1S1ed IDEALS
personal and moral courage. heroism and
self-sacrifice. They cause one to pause
and, review the changes that have come
during the short span of an average life
time, and TO reflect upon individual ex-
perience in its relations to the home the
family, the state, and to the complexity /
OF human affairs in general. They present
to the mind that higher and broader view
which lies beyond the environment OF mar
row selhshnese and materialsm and which
brings one into closer touch and deeper
sympathy with humanity. They are oc-
casions which awaken within US feelings
OF profound gratitude and reverence for
those who by sacrifice, service, and loyalty
in the past, secured to us our great and
Invaluable Inheritance.
Permit me to pause for 4 moment to
address myself to those living witnesses
whose presence here today is In Itself
without the utterance OF one single word /
the most impressive and eloquent fact be-
fore us. ..N
Greatest Army of Citizen Soldiers.
When you, veteran members OF the
grand army Of the republic march in rap
idly diminishing numbers, in public view
behind the flag Of your country, and from
time TO time follow departing comrade
to his last resting place-or upon these
public occasions, when your little group
takes its place OF honor in a public as
semblage--all recognize that you represent
the scattered and broken remnants OF the
greatest army Of citizen soldiers ever
marshalled for the defense of liberty and
constitutional government upon this earth
We note that time, toll and priyation
have left their scars upon your bodies
Upon your heads the fieeting years have
traced their going in silver locks. Upon
your faces they have written the graphic
story Of life. AS we read the tale thus
written and remember the thousands Of
In the bosom of mother earth, we love you
Rs Desdemona did Othello, for the dan
gers you have passed and we rejoice that
you have been spared to be with US this
day. .r
More than forty years have, indeed
made sad havoc with you and yours. Then
of life-youth and health. You had en-
thusiasm. You had hope. You were self
reliant and undaunted. AS you faced the
future, all life was buoyant and thrilling
Great events were happening. You be-
Heved in yourself and faced danger with
that courage which refuses to be con-
quered. You were the flower Of the land.
Back Over the Winding Way.
Now you are old men and great change
has come with the fast fleeting years
back down the long and winding way over
which you have passed since then. You
know far better than ! can tell what
More than once, no doubt-the grim
reaper has taken away members Of your
family circle. Friends OF your youth are
AS the shadows deepen and you face the
sunset, you are lonely and somewhat tired
many of you are not unwilling-perhaps-
to lay down the burden on this side OF !
the river and go to your long rest on
the other. g..
But each of you has a proud conscious
pess within him Of having once offered up
bis life-when life was sweetest--for his
country. You know that you have not
lived In vain, because, when life was full
pr bloom and vigor, you placed II in the
hands Of Abraham Lincoln to be sacri-
feed, II need be, for the cause of liberty,
30 that government OF the people, by the
people and for the people should not for
ever perish from the earth You followed
this act of conservation with a faithful
service of your country In terrible war.
This alone has secured for each of you
nobility founded upon wealth. or fam
lily, or intellect, but nobility founded
upon service to country, fidelity to duty,
conservation to patriotism.
Let me express to you this day the ap-,
probation of those who cannot claim com
radeship with you; and the particular re-
gard Of the younger generation which
fondly seeks to learn from your example
the highest lessons of civic duty. May you
find consolation In the comforting thought
| that you became by impact a part of the
vitalizing spirit that issues out of the very
heart of the great republic itself when
your life was welded to Its life In the
blood of sacrifice, so that Its glorious his
tory cannot be written without entering
in the roll of honor the name of every man
who received an honorable discharge from
its service. You doubtless preserve that
QlSCndrBe as u pTlCelesS IeSllInOHlal, anu
your children and their offspring in gen
erations unborn will value 1t, IL possible,
more than you value It
Entitled to Supporting Pension.
The time has come when the veteran who
can present an honorable discharge from
service as a union soldier is entitled to a
sufficient pension to insure to him during
the remainder of his days comfortable
sustenance without any technical inquiry
as to whether the Ills from which his old
and worn out body is suffering, had their
origin over forty years ago In exposure
upon the field, or In camp, or in prison.
1t is wrong and cruel to ask him to as
sumo the burden OF collecting such proofs,
when, frequently, all the, witnesses are
dead. He should have the benefit of every
presumption
II is the wish of the people everywhere
that the government shall be both just and
generous towards the men who defended
II In the darkest period of Its existence.
With these advancing years, your ability
to earn has constantly declined. Your
right to be secure from anxiety about mat
ters pertaining to bodily comfort should
not be made subject for quibble nor long
delay, because the time will be here very
soon when the power to be just to you will
have gone.
we all join in wishing that your re-