The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1912-05-31
REV. DANIEL PAYS TRIBUTE TO HEROES OF 81

Sunday morning Memorial services
were held at the Congregational church
in honor of the departed dead soldiers of
the Civil war, the G. A. R. Post "a being
present in body. Following is SYM
Opsis of Rev. N. c. Daniell's exceedingly
interesting discourse:
''In assembling on this occasion we
follow the traditions of the human race.
In all countries, among all c0lOrs and
peoples, it has been the custom to honor
the brave. The sentiment of mankind
unites in decorating the bodies of the
survivors and the graves of the slain.
"On May the % and "a, 1865 this coun-
try in the person Of the President and
the Secretary of war rendered honor to
whom it was due by saluting the 10000
soldiers who marched past the Capitol
across whose front was stretched a ban
ner bearing the sentiment, 'phe only
National debt we shall never be able to
pay is the debt we owe the victorious
soldiers of the Union armies
''But The sentiment grew that the sol
diers should be hOnOred, not once but
annually. The benefit accrHing from
their labOrs is perennial, the honor paid
them should be similar. By gradual
steps the 30th of May became a legal
holiday with the intention that that day
should be given to recOunting the deeds
of The greatest day in American history
and honOring those who participated in
the war;
The Reverend gentleman proceeded to
show that there were some unique feat
ures characterizing the civil war. lie
said it was battle of boys, and proceed
ed to give statistics showing that the
| vast majority of the Federal cOmbatants
were under 21 years of age. There were
% who joined not over 10 years of age.
/ 1t was an array of statistical facts
which astonished those who were pres
ent. Few of the audience having, in all
the addresses they have ever heard en-
joyed the result of so much research
work.
Many instances of the individual BRAY.
cry of the young soldiers were given and
a good point made in this. Most battles
between great forces, the Reverend
gentleman told us, have resulted from
reasons of policy or politics or such
But the civil war was neither Of these
1t was war of principle. The Nortl
believed with a tenacity, which thei
logged persistence proved, that the FIJI
ture of the North depended on unit.
liberty, 1--we. With sly humor. he Wen
on: "Washingtpn has be@D called HI
father Of our ttlJn. Ihen Line III
the other reared. Il the one fonBded il
the other raised. IF the one laid tl
foundation stone, tho other ccrtainl,
built the walls and the roof"
He concluded with some graphic de
scriptive scenes and fine, delicate ref
erence 10 the many dead. ''ln a few
years" he ended. the long march of TIN
last veteran will be complete. In "a few
years DO man will stand as represent
ative OF the Federal forces. In d few
years we shall be only abe to dec0rat,
the graves. Let us honor the living, bt
generous with our bouquet TO them
while we may. The march which begaI
81 years ago was often painful AM
wearisoma. 1t began in battle it vii
end in the grave. As they slowly pas
us on the way to their eternal rest, lei
us, if only in gratitude. show freely hon
or to whom it certainly is due"