Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-10-17


there is way
Those of them whom We have
known gave ample proof, on many
occasions, that they had a will of their
own, and that circumstances must
yield to their control
Just think of the odds that were
against them at the outset. No resi-
dences, no schools, no churches, no
stores. no mills; but superabund-
ance of out of doors. The style OF
architecture was American. Houses
were built after the Abraham Lincoln
pattern. And the way 10 fence a farm
was to do as he did, go into the woods
with AK, and maui and wedge ana
make the rails; with OK teams haul
them out. with naked hands and mus
GUAR arms build them into place.
Not Handicapped by Fads.
Those were days when men enjoyed
American liberty pure and simple.
They were not cramped, nor handi-
capped with society fads and fashions.
| IT. very large sense they were law
unto themselves and they were an ex-
ceedingly law abiding people. States
attorney, judge and jurors were neither
lCyerworked nor overpaid.
| Graft was unknown save as II ap
piled to trees.
| There was no quarreling over the
sold and silver standard. Men did
not sit around discussing 16 to /.
Neither was there a postal savings
plank in any platform. There was nc
fuss making over railroad tariff rates.
Organized labor strikes were an I'M
known quantity. Boards of trade were
about as quiet as housewives
kitchen.
| o. those good old times of yore!
| OF political parties there We're two,
and not enough to bewilder a plain,
straight, honest voters.
The primaries were little bother and
no expense, and the voting did not
take your breath.
| When they wanted to cross stream
they could ford it, or build a bridge
to suit themselves.
When they wanted TO go fishing
lthey could take their tackle and fish
, when and where they pleased. When
they wanted to go hunting they could
take their guns and kill any kind OF
game they could find at any time OF
the year No law, no license o.
glorious liberties Were they the pion
GERS enjoyed in their own way
They lived a stirring life, and left
their impress upon all this region OF
country which we should highly ap
preciate, and which generations yet
unborn will appreciate when, taking
u retrospect, they measure up the
worth of what they were, and what
they did. We ought to cherish and
revere their memory.
Life, in its best forms and develop
ments has in it the element of serv
ice. and surely they were servants o.
posterity. They planned, toiled. en-
dured and persevered that we Nigh
have the better things which have
come to us in the developing and i'm
proving of the country. in the civic
social, educational and religious ad
vantages which We enjoy today.
The fruits of their lives remind u
@: what can be done and endure,
> when men and women with a heroi
will, and spirit of intelligent enter
> prise, and a heart big with courag
and with hope determine TO settl
and improve a country.
, Lessons From Lives.
Rich lessons came to us from thei
: tlives, and great blessings as well
Surely we should be forever mindful
e. their heroic times and efforts, a
er the past We ponder.
How can we. how dare we trave
the roads through the length an
: breadth of these townships and nc
think of them, not mention thei
names nor talk of their works?
Il We talk of the prairie flowers {
the Indian and the buffalo; of tn
, bear, and the deer, and the wild tn
key that have long since ceased to il
Eabit these bounds and to fall at tn
crack of the hunters rifle
:" Why are they seen no more? B.
n cause our forefathers ventured TO l.
= cate here among them, Danish then
q and prepare this splendid country fl
~ educated civilians. for magnifcel
crops of all branches of agriculture
d for finest herds of cattle. horses. hos
n and sheep.
Is We speak of them as dead; rath,
Il let. us recall them as thus alive ar
III busy for our prosperity and welfar
I'd True, the ring of their axes is NJ
Sc beard making rails in the wilderness
ly nor the rattle of their wagons comir
IN Down the bluff with loads Of graf
i'd The square, the saw, the hammer, Il
in compass, and the trowel have droppe
y from their hands long ago; but fac
y. and form, and voice, and works a
with us still else what do we he
at al this suspicious hour?
g They reach forth their hands fro
n, their narrow houses of clay and b
m uc do our best. and point us onwa
8, tc still more glorious goal.
r. The cabin and the wigwam ha'
= been converted into a palace. tt
OK team and the breaking pillow a
at among the things that were. We