The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-06-02

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power as irresistible as instinct in
animals brought these heroes to the
'front.'
True patriotism, /" said the speaker
us the spirit that leads a man who
lives in this country, not only to fight
for it but to die for it.
1t is very easy to profess patriot
ism but it takes the true patriot to
exercise it and may the day never
come when the example of these heroes
shall be forgotten.
This patriotism did more for the
country, north and south alike, than
all the years of the republic before.
It not only accomplished it's direct
purpose, the preservation of the union,
but it gave freedom to the slaves and
destroyed the constant contention over
trif1es and conferred the purposes of
the people on a national life. -
*x X
"Someone has said of the civil
war; said Mr.. Wright, 'sthat it
crowded four centuries of progress
into four years of war. Up to that
time our republican institutions had
been looked upon as mere experiments,
and monarchical Europe generally
believed that the republic was but a
rope of sand that would part the
moment the least strain was brought
TO bear upon it, But at it's close, all
the nations ofthe earth had been taught
the lesson that America in arms could
defy the world. And lest they forget
that lesson in the passage of years of
peace, it was dramatically and forcibly
repeated in the late Spanish war.
''The one event necessary to demon
strate that the war had not only fully
accomplished its purpose, the main
tainance of the union, but that the
unifcation of the states and people
was complete was the blowing up of
the Maine ia the harbor of HAVANA.
By that shock the whole country was
electrified and cemented together in
one solid, inseperable nation. The
work of Lincoln and the boys in blue
was complete. The old flag once more
became the flag of the south as we'll as
of the north.
"And it is fitting here to pay our
tribute to the gallant boys in brown.
to the memory of the dead, in honor of
the living. Both on land and sea
these boys displayed the same eager
spirit of patriotism, valor and devo-
ton in '9s as did the boys in blue in
'6l.n
Soldiers of the Grand Army, this
is pre- eminently your day. You are
the orators, whoever may be the
speakers. All over the land, today.
flowers, medals, empty sleeves and
graves fill the hearts of many by their
silent but visible eloquence. It is one
of the sacred days of the year. The
people SO regard it and by common
consent and legislative enactment it
has been set apart as Memorial day.
The exercises of the day are touching
and beautiful.
While this day IS devoted to the
dead, it's lessons are for the living,
It is and must ever be day of sseduca-
ton. These ceremonies, the flags,
songs and flowers, the children from
the schools, the presence of the war
survivors must fill us with nobler
thoughts and lift us to higher and
better plane of patriotism and citizen
ship. The true purpose of the d ay
will have been altogether lost if it
fails to iaspir in our hearts deeper
sentiment of Americanism and a.
stronger attachment for those great
ideas for which the soldiers of the
north gave up their lives.''
Mr.. Wright advocated the cont1nu-
ance of the day, that our children
might not fail to note at what ire
mendous price the country was saved
from ruin.
ssThe work of the Grand Army on
earth is finished, = said Mr.. Wright.
''They have bequeathed to us the
richest gift it is possible for a man to
oestow upon his fellow man, liberty of
freedom Of thought and
speech and equal rights to all. Their
marches and battles are over. They
rave passed in review before the Great
Commander and pitched their tents on
he other shore. Let us see to it that
What they did shall live forever, and
" so doing honor and revere their
memory, by the faithful observ ancs of
he ceremonies of Memorial day.
9 Let little hands bring blossoms sweet
To brave men lying low.
Let little hearts to soldiers dead
Their love and honor show.
- Wen love the flag they loved SO well,
The dear old banner bright.
Well love the land for which they fell
With soul and strength and might ~ L
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