Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-02

! COURIER, TUESDAY, j
| to grave will require more steps than
ever before. You have planted few
more flags to mark the graves, where
the warrior of freedom quietly rest
awaiting the bugle call of the Judge
of all men.
For more than twenty years have
tried in humble way to aid in me.
mortal day services. And come, not
to initiate some great orator of his
tory, but with you as plain citizen
feeling a loyalty to the institutions of
our common country, and with our
hearts filled with love for the fathers
of the republic, to pledge anew our
allegiance to the flag of our country.
| It may have been the design of the
God of nations to withhold from for
| mer generations the blessings which
this century claims. And He may have
used the Grand Army of the Republic
! in the years past and gone to prepare
| for the people the advantages of our
present civilization. But our flag is
the emblem of loyalty, and I believe
[
eminent that exist among men,
Around it is gathered the destiny Of
one hundred million OF people who,
with you, believe in greater repub'
llic. And we give to you and your
comrades the honor Of preserving the
union Of the states; and pay homage
to the valor of all the loyal young men
who followed the flag through the dark
days of the Civil war, to victory and to
death.
AlIudes to Monument.
Many of the states of the Union
have erected and unveiled monuments
in memory of the soldiers who fell in
battle in the south. The general gov
eminent is the guardian of all our ma
tional cemeteries where thousands
of the defenders of the union are bur
led We have tried to make perman-
ent, in marble granite and bronze, a
record of the deeds of these brave
young men who suffered and died, that
united country might be the inheri-
lance of this and future generations.
These monuments are public ex-
preston of nations gratitude to ner
honored dead. In your cemetery we
unveil soldiers monument, which is
the gift of a benevolent human soul.
The living can look upon those beau
tiful granite blocks and the statue
which they support, and fully realize
that we have men who will keep alive
the lessons of patriotism, as taught
by the old soldiers on the battle field
and in the walks of civil life. This
monument is concrete example OF
devotion to the spirit that animated
the old soldiers in their youth, and
still thrills their hearts as they near
She sunset of life.
This magnificent presence believes
in the patriotism of these soldiers. We
have heard their camp fire jokes and
patriotic songs and felt their inspir.
ing presence, on many public occa-
sions. But we have never heard
single sentiment expressed that would
detract from the love of country, or
loyalty to the flag. They we're schooled
and taught the lessons OF governm ent
bv the greatest patriot that ever lived
among men. When God gave Abra-
ham Lincoln to the American repub-
lie He gave a soul that could not be
DESTROYED In the crucible Of fire and
blood of four years of cruel war. And
his memory like yours will live and
be honored as long as we are free
people.
Country Stands for Liberty.
This monument is one of the best
erected in our state in honor of the
soldier dead, by private parties. And
hone it will stand for one thousand
years to teach the youth of our coun-
try to "look kindly on what our faith
ers have wrought" For 5000 years
oppressed and prosecuted women and
men longed for civil and religious lib.
erty as we enjoy it at this time. When
founders of this government said in
America, civil and religious liberty
shall be given to the people IN the form
of constitutional guarantee. the souls
of men leaned to the mountain peaks
Of hope. When Abraham Lincoln and
two million young men sWore alleg-
lance to the flag, and said man was
a human being without regard to col
or, the historian wrote bloody page
in the history Of free America. And
the crime of all the ages. human slav-
cry. ceased to have legal protection
under our flag. And l believe In the
light of past experiences, that present
day craftsmanship should weigh all
public questions in the balance OF pat
riotism and free their minds from I'M
holy ambitions and preserve our 1nstl-
tut;ons in all their fundamental use
fitness. For our flag is floating over
a people entrusted with the best pin
ciples Of government ever enjoyed by
men. And these expressions OF pat
rictism come from honest hearts, who
know what liberty and freedom have
cost. The granite may be but cold
substance of the material world, yet it
signifies the tender thought of beneyo-
lence and patriotism Cor the future of
one hundred millions Of intelligent
men and women.
We believe in the patriotism that
will decorate the graves Of every one
of these soldiers with our sweetest
flowers as long as old glory IS the flag
Of our country. Man may drop by the
wayside and be forgotten but nation