Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-01-26

mlllar ngure-csr Uncle Sam. II Is
name that touches the heart and
appeals to the manhood and pride on
every true American, native or for
eign-born; a figure that always
pleases, from the youngest to the
Oldest.
That figure adds fuel of duty in
peace or in war, and it has become
so much a part of the national life
that the patriotic puunc couples II
with the national emblem, the stars
and stripes, sun-kissed "old glory"
To tarnish or insult Uncle Sam is
almost If not quite equal to an insult
TO the fiag-Uncle Sans fiag-in the
shadow of which he has stood in ev-
cry American-fought battle, ever look
ing ahead, always encouraging ana
cheering to deeds of valor-a VIC
tory achieyer, ever hopeful, helpful,
optimistic-a warrior of unquestloned
unquenchable courage and patriotism;
as gentle, tender and comforting as
the sweetest of sweethearts and the
most loving of mothers; in times OF
peace real uplifter all along the
line.
Such is our Uncle Sam.
Has he made mistakes? II so,
when and where9
He was born the day that the
American flag was given birth.
That was not a mistake.
Did he make a mistake when he
rode by the side of Washington In
the revolution, approving, cheering
and fnspiring2
Did he make a mistake in 1872
while at the forefront in that at
tempt to crush the life out of a ma
ton still in it's swaddlings?
What of his determination to oc-
cupy the great northwest territory
as his very own? Was that mis-
take? How could the nation grown
so great without that vast addition,
worth how many billions, today?
Surely, that wasn't a mistake
Did Uncle Sam err when he poured
into Jefferson's ear passionate APP
peal to clinch the Louisiana pur-
chase? How could we have buiIded
the great nation without that vast
expanse Of territory, rich in son,
minerals, timber and other incompar-
able resources, a section that now,
with the improvements of century,
is worth scores of billions of dollars,
and which Uncle Sam would not bar
gain away for hundreds of billions.
no matter how much he night be
in need of funds?
Wise, statesmanlike old Uncle Sam.
Uncle Sam did fine thing for his
own country as well as for Mexico
when he went with Scott and Taylor
to that land of revolutions, earth
quakes and hot-headed statesmen,
whose revolutions have been grow
ing less frequent and harmful, and
her statesmen cooler-headed, ever
since our good Uncle's war visit,
there. In that small war two Amer
lean soldiers had experiences ana
learned lessons which helped to fit
them for generalship in a great war
that placed their names in the list,
and well at the head of it, of the
worlds greatest military chieftains-
u. s. Grant and Robert e. Lee.
Some people have thought that On
Gle Sam should not have had that
war with Mexico. Well, some people
think that the Lords prayer itself
should have been constructed on
different plan.
What wouldn't the United States
and the world have lost if Uncle Sam
had possessed a wavering mind ana
an angleworm back during the civil
war period? While he glanced down
the lines of American soldiers IN
gray, under strange flag, he grieved
over their waywardness, went on
loving them, renewed his oath of al
legfance and throughout those four
terrible years was in the Lincoln
heart, and a tower of strength be-
yond compare with the army and
navy of more than 100000 of men,
a power that only the destroyer of
worlds could have shaken. With tears
for the men in gray and cheers with
liinitless backing for the men in
blue, his great heart was laden as
with lead, but he cheerily pointed
the way with only one thought, one
purpose-the Union. His reward, ana
what a reward it was, came with
Appouattox, when the blue and gray
began to blend-and the blending
was continued
In 1898, when Spain hao to be
taught lesson, the army and navy
that did the teaching was largely made
up of youngsters in whose veins
flowed as good fighting blood as ever
found its way to veins-descendants
OF high type American soldiers from
the north and south, who helped to
make up the batt1e-lines of blue and
gray and whose higher rank com
manders, with few exceptions. were
conspicuous in those blue and gray
lines. Little wonder that the Span.
ish American was a short war. when
Uncle Sans fighting machine was
composed of such sort
Again, what wouldn't the United
States and the world have lost il
Uncle Sam had lost in that family
disturbance of almost half a century
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