The Irish standard., 1911-07-01
THE GALLANT
FIRST MINNESOTA
Hon. D. W. Lawler, in an Eloquent
Address, Extols the Valor OF
Brave Regiment.
Fame of the First" Will be For
ever Coupled With Battle of
Gettysburg.
Deeds of Daring There Greater Than
Any Displayed at Balaklava
or Thermopylae.

AS the citizens of Minnesota take
just pride in the heroic achievements
of the gallant First Regiment of Vol
unteers that went forth from this state
to do battle for the Union and as the
narration of deeds of valor appeals in
a. particular manner to those who ara
interested in the participants, our
readers will perusc with pleasure the
magnificent address delivered by Hon,
Daniel w. Lawler of ST. Paul at the
Auditorium in that city, June %. on
the occasion Of the celebration Of the
5oth anniversary of the departure of
the First Minnesota Regiment to the
front. Mr.. Lawlcr spoke as follows:
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentle-
mon:
Fifty years ago the State of Min
ncsota was the boundary line of
Western civilization, but In all the ele-
ments of mental and moral culture
Minnesota was in no way inferior to
the older and more settled parts of the
United States. Her population em-
braccd representatives of the most
enterprising and progressive sections
OF the East and South and all that
was best and highest, II. .hnmigra tian. 1,
from foreign lands. If the character
and mettle of Il people can be properly
judged by its leadership. the State of
that day need fear comparison with
no other community in history
The Early Leaders.
At the meeting of the Mississippi
and Minnesota, at that picturesque
and romantic spot immortalized by the
genius of Longfellow, Henry Hast
ngs Siblcy. the first governor of this
state, had for a quarter of century
been easily its leading citizen and the
foremost representative Of the ma
tional authority in the new north
west Fearless of heart, strong of in
telect, soldier, diplomat and states
man. the story of his career reads like
| the story of those men who in Revo-
lutionary days laid deep and firm the
foundations of the government itself.
A few years before to the Senate
of the United States, as one of Min
nesota's first senators in that AS
sembly, had gone Henry M. Rice, who
worthily took his place in that body
of great men, among whom he was
not the least. His colleague was
James Shields. Born in foreign
land, sprung from a people whose flag
had no place in the heraldry of nav
| tions, he carried the starry banner of
his new found home to victory at
Cerro Gordo and Chapultepec and
scattered in defeat the troops OF
Stoncwall jackson on the bloody field
| Of Winchester.
Engaged in the practice of his pro-
fesson at st. Paul was Edmund Rice,
combining in his character and per-
sonality all the highest qualities of the
American gentleman, destined in af-
ter years to grace tn. chair Of Chief
MAGISTRATE of this city, and worthily
represent his people in high place in
the National Congress.
At st. Peter lived Charles E. Fan
dra,1. the Sieur de La Sale of the
early Northwest; his genius and his
learning are forever enshrined in the
decisions of the Supreme Court OF
this Commonwealth. but the future
generations of America will thrill
with pride to read the story OF that
wild day, when at the head of the
manhood of the Minnesota Valley, ne
rode to the rescue Of New Ulm.
Fresh from the halls of Dartmouth
College, rugged as the granite hills
of his native state, had come John
3, sanborn, to contribute his share
to the foundations of civil govern
ment and afterwards on hundred
fl ,lds of awful fight to uphold the
honor of the flag and the cause Of
liberty.
James J. Hill was then faithful
member of the Pioneer Guards; stu.
JjOus. thoughtful and alert. loyal to