The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1909-10-21

OAKES, DICKEY COC
people have initiated and carried out so
successfully.
We have message from Iowa for
you. We are very prosperous there
and we are glad to know of the bright
prospects for North Dakota.
You have a beautiful monument,
nicely located on this historic spot and
you will be prouder of it as the years
roll by.
None From Nebraska.
Response was called for from Me-
braska, but none came. Nebraska
shared equally with Iowa in this men,
orable battle.
Prof. r. L. lockwood of the Ender-
lin schools was present to give an ad-
dress on "Indian Raids" but owing to
its length said he would reserve it for
some future doings for this monument
when he hoped to be present. In his
brief impromptu talk he took issue
with Governor Carroll in saying that
there were more Indians now than
formerly. The red men were gradually
falling off from the results of tuber-
culosis. The Indians were not all bad
they had been wronged and were
entitled to justice and their rights.
All honor, however, is due the soldiers
and pioneers who have built up and
made this country habitable and pros
porous.
Address by President Worst.
1--WE have today assembled on this
historic battlefield to discharge an OBJ
legation too long neglected; to pay a
debt that could not be outlawed by
time or circumstance.
II cannot recount all the circum-
stances that led up to, nor shall ! at
tempt recital of the details connected
with the Battle Of Whitestone Hill but
instead shall dwell briefly upon its his
toric aspects.
''Fi-st of all, l wish to disclaim any
lack of patriotism on the part of North
Dakotans for not having long ere this
erected suitable memorial for those
who fought SO gallantly and who died
so courageously on this, now historic
ground, in defense of our common
frontier. 1t must be remembered that
the date of this battle, September 3,
1868, was year of battles. The civil
war was at its most critical stage and
great battles were almost of daily oc-
curence. Moreover this vast territory
was then wilderness, untenanted by
civilized man and far within our west.
ern frontier. The oldest of us were
still young when this battle was fought
and living in distant states or ir
foreign lands, while the. great majority
gathered here today were not yet born.
For these reasons the sentiments asso.
ciated with this engagement did not
appear, at first, as entirely domestic o,
local, but general in their application.
It remained for those who better un'
derstood the ethics of war-those Of
our fellow citizens who fought so gal.
lantly to save the Union-to remind US
of our duty to those who fought with
equal valor to protect our frontier
homes. Even then our first duty was
to our families It was necessary tt
transform this wilderness, where these
men fought so bravely and died sc
nobly, into land of homes and to en-
act laws for the direction and govern
ment of this young state. Scarcely
however, had the sharp edge of poverty
worn off and that era of prosperity
dawned which always follows in the
wake of intelligent cultivation of fer
tile soil, when these old soldiers begar
the agitation for this monument. Fol
fifteen years they planned and dis
cussed and supervised, and s, nobl.
were they sustained by the public i,
their laudable enterprise that toda!
they realize the fruition of their hope
in the unveiling of this monumen
which shall for all time commemorat,
the memory of those who fell here
comrades to them, benefactors to tn,
early settlers of the Northwest. Til,
wisdom and patriotism Of the pro
moters of this monument cannot b.
questioned. The lesson it imparts t;
the rising generation will thousan'
times repay its cost.
ga nation may forget many of it
obligations, but its obligation to it
soldiers, never. Whether in defens
of a great national principle or in de
fense of the frontier home, the soldie
who undergoes hardship or falls il
battle fills, ultimately or immediately
; hallowed grave. We honor the livinI
and erect monuments to the memory o