Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-06-10
Che bearts Of Our Countrymen
From the Decoration Day Address oaSeesy A
Delivered In Madison, May so, 1905.

veterans, the soldiers OF the National
Guard, the children who are with US,
and will live after US, all give evil
dence of the republics strength. for
such meetings are held today in
every hamlet of the land But numbers
do not disclose the real strength of
the nation. The little girl who brings
the flowers with which to decorate
the veterans grave becomes the
mother Of the future. Her faith, and
her courage will be the inspiration
for men of the next generation as
was the courage of her mother and
her mothers mother before her. No
zen can ever record the strength
gwen TO the Union cause by the wo-
manhood of the north. The world
Knows the union would never have
3een saved but for the sacrificing
Spartan like wives and mothers of
1861. We can never forget their part
in the conflict; woman will ever ex-
ercise a potent influence over the af-
fairs of the nation. because she is
the mother Of the statesman and of
the soldier"
Such was the admonition of Secre-
tary of State James A. rear in his
decoration day address at Forest Hill
cemeterey yesterday. It was an address
filed with the spirit OF patriotism
that strengthens the hearts OF the
people, the spirit of liberty, if you
please that marked this people in the
days when the nation was born, when
the souls Of men were tried
To-day the federal army is no
more:' said Mr.. Frear. 1T has
changed its name and garb The
Grand Army of the Republic is its
successor. An army that never re-
cruits and has ne' er surrendered, as
dear to the people of this country as
was the old guard of France. Its num-
hers are being mustered out here. as
they enlist across the river, and to-
day we are reminded of the last re-
cruiting officers summons, saying;
The boast of heraldry
The pomp of power. and all that
beauty, all that wealth e'er gave,
Await alike the inevitable hour,
The path of glory leads but to the
grave"
I'VE turn back the p9ge today to
the time when these old soldiers were
boys, when peace reigned and the
young republic was girding on new
strength Scarcely a half century ago
they saw the doctrines of states
rights and federal power meet in
mighty struggle in order that a
new understanding of the consti-
tn Jon might be had. Our system of
government wherein the complex
rights, duties and powers of the state
and nation are so closely interviewer.
became a divided house.
The stability of a government is
dependent upon conditions that may
become both its strength and weak
aess. With our government the con-
sent of the governed III each individu-
al state gives to the union its power
Such consent was originally granted,
that rights of life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness vouchsafed by
the constitution might permanently
be secured.
Through long years of acqui-
essence black men and women had be
come recognized subjects of property
and from the supposed property rights
arose protests by slave owners against
any Limitation or infringement, These
so called rights of property placed
in the scales of Justice, against con.
flicting rights of liberty, were decided
by the courts in favor of the slave
holder.
when bred Scott placed foot on
Wisconsin soil just three score and
ten years ago, he was free man.
When he married in this territory, his
wife was a free woman, for both were
living in the free territorial govern
ment of Wisconsin where slavery was
prohibited. Yet the decision of the
highest court in the land, by ma
jority vote, determined that slave
owner could retake and retain his
property in Wisconsin and laugh at
the laws Over two hundred pages of
profound legal wisdom were required
to explain that decision and over a
half million lives were sacrificed to
preserve intact a divided country that
found recognition and inspiration in
a divided court"
Mr.. Frear declared that history is
record of accidental happenings. The
failure of Grouchy to arrive, changed
the worlds map, leaving a broken
spirited exile on St. Helena to mourn
for lost armies and a lost empire
The election of Lincoln, the ap-
pointmeet OF a Grant. the arrival of
Monitor at Hampton Roads, the re-
pulse of Lee at Getty sburg were all
critical events Of the war that con
tributed toward the abolition of slav
cry and maintenance Of the union.
THE price of liberty is immeasur-
able he said TT is TO man what sun
light is to the flower Take away Iigh'
and only barren rocks remain. Am
bition that makes men great and
builds nations strong, is gone when
freedom is lost. This liberty was de-
MED the negro by a free government.
until finally il came to pass that ir.
reconcilable court decisions and com.
promise legislation were swept aside
IN the forum OF war and there was Sc
cured for all raen equal rights.
Can we close our eyes to the fact
that rights Of citizenship guaranteed
IA, th1 constitution nv. cot withhold