The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-15
ON FANE'S ETERNAL
CAMPING GROUND
Senator McManus' Address.

of the day addressed the assembly
with the following patriotic and elo-
quent remarks:
Ladies and Gentlemen: Here on
this sun kissed hillside, in this beau
tiful cemetery dedicated by a grateful
nation as last resting place for its
heroic dead, We gaze upon the sepul-
chures wherein repose the precious
dust of more than fourteen hundred
unknown union soldiers. These dis
tinguished bodies we're transferred
from southern battlefields by tender
hands and loving hearts, here to be
committed to the bosom Of mother
earth and here to remain until gath
cred by the great hand of God on the
judgment day. My friends, and II
speak particularly to my youthful
hearers. these brave boys left home
and loved ones a trifle more than a
half century ago. They we're then but
entering upon their respective voca-
tons, they looked forward to future
just as bright and prospects fair as
you do now, but they saw the poison
Gus weeds of discord threaten the
very foundation upon which this ma
ton is builded. They beheld the fruits
of the labor of the founders of this
government about to be destroyed by
a seditious movement They stood out
against the division of the union, and
proclaimed that this must be one ma
ton and one people. They saw in the
union cause the incarnation of prin-
ciples in defense of which they deter
mied to pledge their lives, their for
tunes and their sacred honor. They
gave up their lives in defense of these
principles. in other words, they died
| that this country might live. So we
are here this afternoon to commence
rate their deeds and to dedicate to
their memory modest token Of our
1 appreciation, this monument which
in the years to come shall remain a
landmark in the history of this Gate
| City of Iowa. It Is conceded that
more imposing cenotaphs have been
raised, costlier mausoleums have
!
uments have aspired to kiss the
clouds, but when the inscription on
this granite base shall be deciphered
by the youthful minds who with each
i recurring year will journey here,
assert with supreme confidence that
none appeal more significantly or
more powerfully to the loyalty and
patriotism of these future citizens.
And now, ladies and gentlemen
while it may seem presumptious and
not part of the duties assigned to
me today, I am going to take the lib
erty and claim the privilege of making
brief mention of the movement that
made this occasion possible. Several
years ago, after returning from Me
mortal day exercises held in this Ma
tional cemetery, the idea was conceiv-
ed by some of our patriotic leaders
that there should be placed over these
unknown, unmarked graves suitable
monument. The Woman's Relief
Corps enlisted in the cause, bright
eyed girls, young ladies, mothers and
gray haired grandmothers worked to-
gether for the cherished purpose
J Weeks, months, aye, years passed
: each year adding to the fund by these
faithful toilers. 1t was berculean
; task to raise the twenty-five hundred
dollars required, but this splendid
, American womanhood never faltered
they would not be denied. Finally
friends familiar with the cause decid
ed that help should be given them
and the great state of Iowa was ap
pealed to, and when the bill asking
for an appropriation was presented
for passage, contrary to all precedent
the one hundred and eight members
of the house of representatives and
the fifty members of the senate to
their honor be 1t said, voted unani
mously in it's favor. say all honor
to these gentlemen, but what OF these
good women, God bless them. Oh
them have this to say, they have
built for themselves monument
greater and more enduring than any
} shaft of granite though it reaches the
: skies. They have painted upon the
: hroizon of this land of the free and
!. home of the brave in letters Of gold
I the name of that noble organization
: the Woman's Relief Corps. Long
g may it exist.
n Women at the Monument.
l. The dedicatory exercises of tbs
! Womans Relief Corps were tender
.. and simple in nature and consisting Of
u short responsive service in which
the following ladies took part;
= Mrs. Charles NJ. Teeters, presiden,
y of the Terrence Relief Corps, leading
:. with appropriate words which brought
:. forth responses from the other partici
AZ pants.
: Mrs. Marie Busch, chaplain of tbe
corps opened the services with ar
earnest prayer and then Mrs Teeter;
lead and the other ladies resnond 81