Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-08-25

TO the accomplishment of good. How
many of us went 10 him for coun-
sci and advice have heard lady
say since his death that she would
sooner have trusted him in time Of
trouble than almost any other man
she ever knew.
Comrade Martin was unselfish. He
would serve others rather than HIM
self He was generous, ready to
give his time and money where they
were needed. We Grand Army men
know of several instances when i'm
pecunious comrades making their
/ way from place to place have, on
their solemn promises to repay as
soon as pension day came, received
money or railroad tickets from Com
rade Martin. Notwithstanding the
fact that, so far as he knew, the
pensions never came, he was still
touched with every story of need.
Two years ago last spring the COM
| mittee of arrangements for memori-
al day invited Comrade Martin to
give the principal address of the oc-
casion. At first he positively de-
clined. He said it was due to the
day and to the people that good
| speaker be got We told him we
knew that as we'll as he, and for
that very reason we wished him on
the program. He argued the case
with us, and in due time we got
the better of him. for all the reason
was on our side He finally con-
scented to speak, but under protest.
Those who heard that masterful adj
dress, and gave attention to it, can
not forget it. He did not go back
into ancient history did not refer
to Leonidas at Thermopylae nor TO
even the struggles of the founders
of our republic; and he did not go
n,o politics. He told 'us about the
struggle to save our union. OF the
self-sacrifice of the boy soldiers of
1851, especially those of Wisconsin
and Dane county, and how many
went down into soldiers graves He
told how many of the 791 Dane county
dead went out from each of the
various towns in the county He
old how many soldiers were lying
at rest in Forest Hill and Cavalry
cemeteries. And he deeply regretted
that neither Madison nor Dane coun-
ty had ever done so much as to
rear any kind of monument to the
memory of those heroic dead.
In his address that day Comrade
! Martin did more than merely state
these facts He warmed up to his
.. theme and grew eloquent as memory
and imagination brought back to him
the events and scenes of those days
of struggle for the life Of our ma
ton
l have the address of Comrade
Martin in print before me now and
| wish had space to quote freely
from it; but / can not do so. When
he closed we all felt that it was
: one of the best, most fitting and most
eloquent memorial addresses ever
given here. 1t was not generally
known that the poem with which he
closed his eloquent address that day
was one which Comrade Martin had
himself prepared for the occasion
When asked about the author he &C
knowledged having written it,
Hark, seem to hear the tramping
OF a host with measured tread;
And it moves with martial order
No
With the discipline OF armies
Marshalled on the battle plain,
Ever onward move those forces
! To a conquering refrain.
Though l hear no orders issued
From Commanders in the rear,
Yet the battle wages fiercely-
In the ranks | see no fear;
And with military promptness
Each division does its part;
And the line of battle presses
Ever onward from the start,
Though / hear no noise of battle,
Host with host in conflict meets
Ever conquering through the ages
Never sounding retreat;
For the host of truth must conquer
Though we sometimes stand in
fear;
Wnvre today its vanguard halted
There, tomorrow, camps It's rea".
Upward from the silent city,
With the sprightly step Of youth
Come the ever marching columns
That do battle for the truth
New recruits 20 join the army
On the battle line in front,
! Still enlisted in the service
As, in lifetime, was their wont.
These are souls of those who BAT
tied
For the right in ages past,
: Gone to join the silent forces
Hov'ring DER us % the last
Gone to join the conquering legions
! Which on fields immortal camp
Onward through the ceaseiess ages
Shall this unseen army tramp.
3
A City Made 20 Order.
/ Some of the wonders c. Prince RaP