The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-05-31

hear the sounds OF preparation that
early morning of your departure away
back in Ohio or Indiana or New York
or Connecticut or Kentucky-the low
ing Of the oxen or the neighing of the
horses, the rattle of the great prairie
schooner as it moved off on its long
journey to the far west, sounds OF the
shouts OF the children as you gather
ed fagots for the fire as you camped
by the roadside for the night, their
spirits gay with the thrill of adven-
ture; and then as night came on par
haps you can hear the sound of q
fathers voice as in the Light OF q
pickering candle he reads from the
Great Book those words that now out
under the stars in a strange land take
on new meaning: "The heavens de-
clare the glory OF God and the firma-
ment showeth his handiwork." There
are sounds OF breaking camp in the
early morning. OF the long journey in
the days that followed, the shout OF
the ferryman or the splash OF the
water as rivers we're crossed and
then the rattle of the schooner as you
moved or the Mississippi ferry and
up the street in Alexandra or Keokuk
or Burlington Later there are sounds
too, that you can hear OF your faith
er's axe as the building of the cabin
for the new pioneer home began here
in Les county and then as down the
years the family grew, with its splen-
did spirit of pioneer hospitality. there
are sounds of laughter and OF happy
welcome from voices that are now
but a memory in pioneer hearts. Oh
wond srful home-seeking, home-loving
movement of which you were part!
oh splendid opportunity that came to
you pioneer men and women! On
treasured recollections worthy indeed
to be wrapped in the softsst silk and
tucked away beneath the arm OF mem
ory!"
Our American Inheritance.
On this which we term Memorial
day, we gather to express our sense
of the sacrifices of which we are
reaping the benefits. All. what a
heritance which you children here to-
day are to share. What sense OF
pride 1t should arouse that of the
wars In which we have BEEN engaged,
not one has had its inc anuye IN a
desire for national aggranuizement-
but sprang from our love OF liberty
of which we have been the stewards
,sor hn
seen the legions OF Rome traversins
the highways of the empire at the
bfding Of Caesar urged by thirst
for conquest. It has seen the Eagles
of France screaming at the gates OF
the capitals OF Europe, fired by the
love OF dominion. 1t has seen the
shining helmets of the lancers OF
Prussia reposing in the palace at Yer
sailles because Bismarck chose to
cement thu unity OF the German en-
pire by an appeal to the sword. But
never before cor since has it seen
war just like that from 1851 to 1866
for the vindication in our little world
of the ideal Of democracy. And 1t
was the great service Of Abraham LIN
bodying that ideal in his own life. he
bore it through the fires Of conflict
to the peaceful realm of accomplished
fact. And in July last year you wit
messed something possible only to
rsat people, the meeting of the vet
Grams OF the blue and the gray on the
immortal field of Gettysburg, their
rejoicing together in reunited coun'
try and telling over again the tales
Of valor of American youth-now
their common h heritage.
Factors In History Making.
You veterans and early settlers sit
ting before me were witnesses and
factors in the great political move
ments between 1910 and 1860. You
felt the onward sweep OF the spirit
Of democracy as its rising tide chafed
at the barriers of human slavery. You
were FESTIVE at the presence of this
inconsistency beneath the stars and
stripes and felt the peril involved to
tho state Won 1iSfened IN the Discus