The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-06-07


flicting emotions that we are assembled
here today. For while we have come to
do honor to the memory of our citizen
soldiers who fought for the nations honor
in 81 and 1898 we are also keenly aware
that our citizen soldiers are again in
arms, and again fighting for the nations
honor. on the blood stained lelds OF
France. In our thinking today it win be
impossible TO separate the boys of 81
from the boys of 1913. The honors We
today show to the men who saved the
nation in the days of its severest test,
we must show also to the men who in
this day will save the world in the hour
of it's greatest trial.
The Civil war was fought to determine
the people, by the people. and for the
people," could remain upon the earth.
1t was conflict to demonstrate the
stability of the doctrine of human rights:
the declaration that every man has the
inherent right to be free. And the
victory gave to all mankind the as
surance that a government based upon
the principles of liberty could endure, and
that such a government could guarantee
freedom and safeguard human rights.
From that day to this the eyes Of the
down trodden and oppressed IN the re-
hottest corners of the world have been
turned toward America as refuge from
tyrants and land of golden promise.
And the world today is calling as never
before for the universal establishment OF
the principles, spirit and beneticent power
of this nation which was saved to the
world by the heroism and sacrifice of the
men who fought the battles Of the
Civil war.
1t was for these sublime principles
that the boys of 81 fought and bled and
died. 1t is because they made the SUI
preme sacrifice to preserve for us ana
our children this great free nation, that
we assemble in their honor today. We
come to strew flowers on the graves of
the mighty host that has gone on before;
we come to deck with garlands.. the
brows of the little remnant that still re,
mains In almost every city, village anu
hamlet in the land, out In the cemetery
is at least one mound that marks the
resting place of one who never faltered
when his country called, but went out
to fight and die that truth and right
might live. And in all these places CRAZE
full sons and daughters with loving hands
are decking these mounds with flowers
But more than this we are today, as a
people, pouring out our souls IN deFo,
lions and honor to the men who. showed
us. All honor to the fallen heroes Of. 81.
Their spirit lives in the land today. Their
spirit is being reproduced IN the armies
that are going forth under the stars ana
Stripes to fight again in the cause OF ma "a
to the soldiers of 81 than that their
heroic and sacrificing deeds should have
so wrought upon the hearts and lives
of their posterity that after-6O years
another mighty army, inspired by SINH
lar sublime purpose, should go forth IN
the spirit of 81 to fight for justice and
humanity.
All honor also to the little handful OF
the Grand Army of the Republic who still
linger at the sunset of life. 1t is only
bv the accident of war that you still re-
main among the living. 1t might as Wen
have been you who fell at AntletGm'
Chattanooga. Appomattox, ana 1el.Ss
blood upon those memorable nelds; NO
less honor is due you because you lived.
You gave your all as truly as Qua they
who fell Your soul sacrifice was 5usr
to die. On this Memorial Day, by the
strewing of the flowers, by our process
sions, by our songs and patrlotlc au
dresses we have been wont TO emphasize
the heroism of the dead; but, my frlenas,
we ought. in this hour equally to empha-
size the heroism of the man who went
to die but who in the PROVIDENCE OF COO
were spared to live Your life in these
to the nation You have been Americas
foremost citizens. From your ranks nave
come some of America greatest leaders,
Sherman Grant, Mckinley, CARRIED, ana
others In all the affairs of our national
life you have taken pre-eminent part.
You proved yourselves heroic soldiers In
tbe DAYS of ,61: you have proved your
selves heroic citizens in the years Oh
peace since then. We sslute you, mem
hers of the Grand Army of the Republic!
valiant soldiers, superb citizens, sun
crowned men.
But TODAY a wave of sadness sweeps
over us. The living remnant OF tn, the
Grand Army is so pltlfully small an ,,i Int
when these must close their eyes IN
eternal sleep Each year the roll call
reveals new gaps in the rapidly tninnlis
ranks Soon the last roll call VIII ne ne
read the last taps sounded, ana the
Grand Army of the Republic will be IN
the ranks of the immortals. But the
Grand Army will live. live IN the neirl .,
of a grateful people. live in the history
of q, preserved nation. live in the sacrlv
ficing deeds of the new army OF today'
live in the craftsmanship that shall re-
construct the world in the new era,
when the war drums throp no LONGER
and the battle flags are furled.
In the Parliament of Man, the Federation
of the world" 100,
wrought better than they knew. In the
refining fire of that tremendous COMFY, nc
the nation was purged, not only OF the
scourge of slavery but also of the menace
of sectionalism which would have rent
it into innumerable fragments. ana RE
nation was unified into an lnseparaole
union of states. The nation was not
preserved simply that it might live among
Tho nations Of the earth. that it might
he a blessing to it's own people ana
refuge to the oppressed. But in the pro-
violence of God this nation was preserved
that it might in this dav lead the worl1
in it's. struggle for Christian democracy
against pagan autocracv ana Iniiis .fla
force. For this supreme purpose was
America raised up and preserved until
This purpose has been and is being
exemplified in American history In hef
relations America mas az
WAYS stood for the recognltion Oh nn'l .asn
rights. When Cuba. PROSTATE under inc
cruel hel of the Spanish tyrant' caiieu
to Columbia for help she girded herselI
and went with alI speed TO rescue ner
and give her place among the natlons
of the world. Whenever any natlon mas
Impressed any people America has been
the first to raise her voice in protest.
And now in the largest sense America
is exemplifying this purnose. we are
again at war in the hottest cause Tor
which man might take up arms we are
engaged in war which shall determlne
for I'll time whether government snali
he based upon the principles of righteous,
ness and juctice or upon brute Iorce a..u
military power AS nation we are about
to fulfill one great purpose Tor Wnlch Coo
called lis into existence.
IF we were in times of peace IL mlgnt
he well if we would spend this time IN
recountfng the deeds of the past, IN
dwelling upon individual examples OF
heroism in calling to mind some OF .ns
as Picketts Charge. sheridan rue
sherman's March to the Sea, Grants
siege of Vickshurg. All that would b.
thrilling End inspiring. But we are not
in times of peace: we are confronting me
most serious crisis in the nlstorT history, 81 e .ne