Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1920-06-09
fine MEMORIAL ADDRESS
ATTORNEY PORCTOR'S SPEECH
DELIVERED MAY 3lST
Ringing EulOgy of the Deeds of the
Veterans of Three Wars is Rem
dered


and struck the shaekles from four million slaves
And it IS TO preserve this that Memorial
Day was instituted. II reminds us OF cur Ia
the various states Of the south similar days
are kept for this reason, and there. as
here, the flowers smile an. the little flags fut-
ter afTesh on the graVo Of the men who died
for sentiment
We have no day so dedicated to sentiment
as this enc, and sentiment is great power
1t beh0oves not 10 waste it. The spirit Of
this day, which stirs our feelings, is a force
like worship. which should help US in our lives,
and which should stimulate US TO discover and
discharge the duties that We owe TO civiliza-
tion and to one another.
We heirs 10 a great inheritance. of which
this day bids US be eiernaly mindful. Each
year. anew. Memorial Day bids Us 10
crate ourselves 10 the fnl6llment of the charge
fathers made upon Us, to take thought
and care, and with patience and vigilence TO
TO il that government of the people. by
the people, for the people, shall not perish
from the EARTH To this day more than any
other belong Lincoln and his words. To Abra-
ham Lincoln our martyred president. who gave
his life that We might live as a free people.
Why is il that other name in the long roll
of distinguished American Statesmen stirs the
heart Of the nation so deeply that of Linz
coin. Orators never weary of singing his
praises. and hearers never tire of listening.
Books on Lincoln multiply each year. and in
terest in them never faEsg Every trivial relic
of his hOmely life. every scrap Of his writing,
every prophetic saying, every Jest every an
ecdote is treasured to-day. and bequeathed by
is not enough to say that Lincoln wise
and patriotic President for we have had other
wise and devoted preside hts. and he Is not the
only martyr. But there is only one Lincoln.
Washington reverence. Jackson we admire.
but Lincoln We love. His memory is enshrined
more deeply in the hearts of the American
people. than that Of any other man, and there
is none close as he 70 the source of tears
and of emotion. On this day out of all the
strife and pe-p3exitieS Of our current affairs
which have been brought about by a World
var aEa ntA u-L 10 h. Er1F IL
of political aspiration. and get sight. il We
can, through WI. atever mists may intervene
Of the great goal ahead Of US. 1t is not a
goal at which shall arrive this year, or next
year, in another. but il is the goal towards
which humanity reaches, and has been reach
ing since time began; and II is right for US.
yearly, TO assure ourselves in what direction
Il lies, and that thither We are tending, ac-
cording 10 eur strength and TO whatever Wis
ion we may win. Leaders may fail us, where
men are falllble; measures may diSappOnt us,
where legislation is more than an expedi-
ent devised by the wit Of man: but il the spirit
in Us is sound and faithful we can hold our
course true. Ard il is TO strengthen eur spirit
that this day is set apart. II bids remem-
her and resolve, with patience and fortitudc
at any cost and at any secrihce, to keep that
faith eur fathers died to prove. On this day
we feel the inspiration Of historic association
memories Of the past, and hopes and expecta-
tiOns OF the future, and responsibilities Of the
present all arouse the mind TO intense activity
Any one of these American school girls who
have so tenderly deposited vreathcs Of flowers
upon the graves Of the departed heroes can tell
why their parents have laid aside care and
toll. why che schools have closed for the day,
and why the American people have come forth,
TO these cities of the dead, and why on every
hand are unfurled to the breeze the Stars and
Stripes of the Republic. And may IL ever be
our delight it is duty TO keep green
the remembrance of the patriotic devotion and
heroic deeds of the defenders Of eur nation.
For with each succeeding year the great dra-
ma of the Civil War in which they so bravely
bore their part, recedes farther and farther
from our view. and one by one the actors dis
appear from the once crowded stage. II is
true and always will be that one great event
will Overshadow a former one. And since the
Civil War have had the Spanish American
War. and We have with today veterans of
that war, and while this day was originally set
apart for the veterans of the Civil War
know that | voice the sentiments of those vet
Grams when say that they gladly join hands
with them, and tender them all the praise that
is due them for their heroic acts and sacrifices
in that war with Suain, and the same unseIf-
| ish patriotism they tender TO the veterans Of
| the last Worlds War. So we might say that
| the last two wars have partly OvershadOwed
4 the great Civil War and while IL never could
be forgotten, still interest therein might pos
sbly lapse If we did not keep il forever fresh
in the minds of the youth of the country So
let il be the Office of Memorial day to keep
open the history Of the past, and let its ever
recurring anniversary recall its memories and
| renew its vows. 10 the end that in the ages TO
come those privations, those sacrifices. and he
roic deeds, may be fresh in every mind as
If II were only yesterday.
While the effect Of the Spanish American
war was not as far reaching the Civil War
yet its influence has been materially felt BY
the nations of the earth. and il only continued
TO preve that when American men, backed
by American intelligence, and American
wealth undertook TO make their power felt.
that 1t could be done. Many the trying
incidents of that war, and many were the he
| ros that IL made. and we cannot pass by with
out giving &c them the thanks and gratitude of
a loving nation for their good work well done.
I M HFFN #
Spanish American war that are with us today,
and reflect with pride 70 the memory of those
who were called upon TO answer the call OF
their country in its time Of greatest need
Our country has Just passed through another
great war, and while the causes which led us
into the war must be fresh in the minds of all
still i think that the sacredness of this day
compels TO take a short review of the rea-
sons which brought into that mighty strug.
gle across the seas. Perhaps the shortest rea.
son for entering the war would be "be.
cause could not keep out" The invasion OF
Belgium which opened the war led to the
invasion Of the United States by slow. steady
! logical steps. Our sympsthies evolved into q
conviction of self-interest. Our love for fail
play ripeHed into alarm at our own peril. vs.
talked in the language and in the spirit OF
good faith and sincerity, as honest men should
was construed cOwerdiee. And then Mexico
was called upon to invade us. We talked a,
men would talk who cared only for peace anC
the advancement Of our own material interests
until we discovered that we were thought TO b,
a nation Of mere money makers, and devoid
of all character, and until We were told thai
we could not walk upon the highways Of ths
world without the permission Of a PrussiaT
soldier; that ships might not sail ,sithou,
wearing striped uniform of humiliation ans
! on narrow path Of national subservience
We talked as talk who hope for honest
| agreement, not for war, until we found thai
the treaty torn to pieces al Liege was but tn,
symbol Of policy that made agreements worth
less against purpose that knew no word bu
success. And so We came into the war for
! ourselves. We came into the war to saw.
| America. To preserve or self respect. to Just
| ify our right 20 live as we had lived not a,
name Of freedom challenged with ships
and men, and money and an undaunfed spirf
| written upon the and upon the land. Fol
( American not the name of so much ter
! rit0ry. But il proved TO be a living spiri
born in freedom. grown in the rough schoo
and conscience. spirit that knew why q
wanted to live and to what end and knew
| why it had become 10 be respected by tn,
1 whole world. II more precious to us thai
America should i've, than that we as Amer
leans should live. And TO this end We did MOI
propose that the rights that We held SO sacreC
should be torn from as by the will Of ons
military power, under the leadership Of onc
man who had placed himself even ahead Of
/ God"
say with all pride and due satisfaction. that
We fought for and because Of Belgium in.
vaded, outraged, eusiaYed and impoverished
Belgium. II was because could not forget
LieRe and L0uvain, Cardinal MERCER
And translat into terms Of American history
these names stand fer Bunker Hill, Lexington
/ and Patrick Henry. We fought because Of
/ France. invaded end deseeratsd, a million Of
whose sons had given their lives 10 save the
land Of LaFayette' the first land 10 follow