Decorah public opinion., June 01, 1897, Image 1

About Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928

Image provided by: State Historical Society of Iowa

                
Vol. 3.
OfwrU&n
PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY.
By AKERS A GREEN.
Official Paper of the City of Decorah
and Winneshiek County, lowa.
orrici— an west water street, upstairs
TELEPHONE NO. is.
Winnesheik County
BANK,
Decorah - - lowa.
THE OLDEST BANK IN IOWA.
ESTABLISHED IN 1855.
The Largest,
The Strongest,
BANK
in the County.
Capital, - • SIOO,OOO.
INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY.
$300,000.
Safety Deposit Boxes,
for the Use of Our Customers.
C. J. WEIBER, Pkks.
y. RS. L. A. WEISER, V. P.
E. W. HOLWAY, Cashier.
OLE P. ODE, Ass’t Cashier.
L. J. ANDERSON,
Dealer *ll and Breeder of Fashionable
Bred Trotters and Pacers.
FIRST CLASS FEED BARN IN CONNECTION.
Horses boarded by day, week or month.
Cor. Washington and Broadway Sts.
DECORAH
Steam Laundry.
MILLER 8c SON,
Proprietors.
All Classes of Laundry Work,
Also Cleaning and Dyeing.
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED.
Our Wagon will call for and Deliver Werlt.
EDWARD LARSON,
Fire, Life and Accident
ABSURANCE.
REPRESENTS
The Hawkeye, of Des Moines.
Security, of DavenjM>rt.
Dubuque Fire and Marine, of Dubuque.
Westchester, of New York.
The Manchester, Manchester. Eng.
Northwestern Mutual Life, Milwaukee.
Office in Steyer’s Block, Room 1,
Water street, DECORAH, lowa.
Ulccornlj public Opinion.
MBMIKIii.
Memorial Sunday and Decora
tion Day Exercises Befitting
The Nation’s Defenders.
A MASTERLY SLUM MB M Ml IK.
Memoriai Service iu Grand Opera House Sunday Morning and
Decoration Day Exercises in Updegraffs Park Yesterday.
Both Attended by a Large Concourse of Liberty-Loving
People, Who Gathered to Unite in Honoring the
Memory of Those Who Gave Their Lives
Upon The Altar of Freedom.
Memorial Sunday.
The day was a beautiful one. The
sun shone bright and clear and nature
seemed itself to feel that this was the
day on which all America should unite
in a chain of services in memory of her
illustrious dead. A refreshing breeze
wafted across the mounds where sleep
the brave the tidings that millions
of people, were holding solemn service
in commemoration of the patriotic
deeds of those who went forth to battle
for the preservation of the nation, aud
who now rest beneath the folds of the
old Hag, under which they marched to
victory. The time for the Memorial
Service to commence drew nigh aud
Decorah began to wend its way
toward the Grand opera house; in a
short while the house was packed full
and stauding room was at a premium.
The stage was beautifully decorated
with Hags, Hewers aud photos of de
parted oues, and upou it sat the mem
bers of Col. Hughes Post, No. 168,
.1.11. lb, m.iul.r. 1 1 ..i^h
L. Lookard, a beautiful was
rendered by Mrs. Mildred Alien-Baker,
following which the Memorial Orders
were read by Capt. E. I. Weiser and a
mixed quartette sang “All Hail the
Power of Jesus Name.” Rev. A. G.
Wilson read the scripture lesson and
the quartette followed with “We’ll
Keep Their Memory Green.” Dr. Wil
lett announced the text for the morn
ing discourse, Exodus 12:26, “What
Mean Ye By This Service,” aud as
good a sermon as has it been our privi
lege to listen to in a long time was de
livered by him. In his usual apt way
he handled the text, and from it drew
out thoughts in accordance with the
occasion which were profound and
logical; he talked for nearly an hour
and gave to Ids hearers a sermon full of
material for meditation. We regret
our inability to reproduce the discourse
for we are sure that our readers would
enjoy reading it. Following the ser
mon Rev. W. D. James ottered prayer,
the congregation sang “America,” Dr.
Willett pronounced the benediction,
and the audience returned to their
homes with the feeling that the ser
vices was a fitting tribute to the veter
an soldiery of Winneshiek county.
Decoration Day.
Yesterday was also an ideal day for
Decoration Day. People began to come
in from the country early aud when
the procession began to move the
streets were crowded full. At ten
o’clock tile parade formed on Main
street between Court and Winnebago,
headed by the Decorah City Band, wiio
were followed by Hose Co. No. 1, the
Hook and Ladder Co., Hose Co. No. 2,
Col. Hughes Post, G. A. It., Geo. Q.
Gardner Cump, 8. of V., the Luther
College Band, students of Luther Col
lege and Decorah Institute, the Mayor
aud City Council of Decorah and West
Decorah in carriages,
and citizens iu car
riages. The proces
sion was a beautiful
wmrr one, and iu step with
BBIIR music marched
PBBl|| east to State street,
j|S||l|l north to Water, west
MUUA|| to Mechanic, south to
T Broadway and west
to UpdegrafF’s Park,
where the exercises
were held. After mu
sic by the Luther Col
lege Band a ad a male
9 quartette the ritual
services of the G. A. R. were performed.
The Decorah City Band played a se
lection. the salute to the dead was
fired, tbe quartette sang another song
and Prof. H. L. Cofteen, the orator of
the day, delivered the Decoration Day
address. He spoke with a loud, clear
voice, and with excellent delivery gave
an address which will long be remem
bered by those who heard it. After
“America” by the Decorah City Band
and audience, Capt. Hoyt pronounced
the benediction. Detachments of the
Sons of Veterans decorated the sol
diers’ graves iu the different cemeteries,
after which the members of the differ
ent organizations enjoyed a picnic din
uer on the lawn of L. L. Caawell. The
address of Prof. Coffeen is so highly
spoken of and contains so many good
thoughts that we publish it in full
as follows:
DECORAH, WINNESHEIK COUNTY, IOWA, TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 1897.
I As the Great Builder created the
lands of the earth, He seems specially to
have formed one for the royal home of
liberty. When the auspicious time for
its settlement came he sowed the seeds
of liberty iu the hearts of those who
were to be the pioneers. Grand men
and women, whether they came in the
Mayflower to the bleak, sterile and in
hospitable coast at Plymouth Rock or
were led by Calvert to the forests of
Maryland or a baud of Hugenots with
the leader of their choice, found rest in
the wiles of the Carolinas. Although
of different sects all came with the
of freedom springing into active
e. They hesitated not to say:—
We raise our banners for the right,
Proclaim our principles ’gainst tyrants
might.
We are not worshippers of dross nor gold,
Bear summer’s beat and winter’s cold.
A foothold where liberty’s seed is sown,
A church and home to call our own,
For the«e we braved dangers of the sea
That here forever we may be free.
They came as humble people strong
in principle and it is of humble people
we will speak today. Our brilliant
literature pays its highest tribute to the
genius, the bravery, the statesmanship
and the patriotism of our great men.
Orators sound their praises upou all
national days. The renowned sculp
tors have raised monuments to the
skies to commemorate their valorous
deeds. Their images are upou the walls
of nearly every home; not only are their
images upon the wails of the home, but
their living achievements are en
shrined within the hearts of the family
that constitute the home.
Today we will not detract from the
patriotic fervor which keeps green the
memory aud alive the feeliugof respect,
of love, of devotion and of gratitude we
owe the great leaders, but rather add
to and intensify the feeliug by building
up and encouraging a patriotism so
broad that it will include all who have
aided in producing the improvements
that have elevated the civilization,
broadened the culture, extended the
liberty and more firmly cemented the
union of this unsurpassed uation. We
may not constantly dwell iu cloudlaud
if such dwelling place will cause us to
forget or fail to properly honor the men
who fill the ranks of toil in the march
of progress or suitably acknowledge the
bravery of the rank and file in our
armies when men were needed. We
reach back across but one full ceutury
into the beginning of the 17th, and in
its primeval beauty we see a country of
vast forests, extensive prairies, broad
lakes, magnificent rivers, lofty aud
rugged mountains. Truthfully he
wrote who said:—
"Our country Is a glorious laud;
With broad arms stretched from shore
to shore:
The proud Pacific chafes her strand,
She bears the wild Atlantic roar,
And dark on her ample breast
Matured many a beauteous prospect lies.
In nature’s wildest grandeur urest,
Enamraelled by her loveliest dyes.”
Since she was thus left by nature’s
hands no glacier has uprooted and
swept away her mighty forests, leaving
the laud in condition to receive seed
and produce harvests. No voicauie
action has burst asunder the mighty
mountains of the Aileghanies and with
fiery heat rendered soluble the ore aud
caused it to How in iron bands to cross
and recross this great continent.
Neither has such force crumbled the
mighty quartz mountains of the
Rockies and with hydrastatic power or
vulcau’s crucibles separated tons of
pure gold from the dross. No fabled
genii nave reached their hands in*o the
lower strata of the earth and taken
therefrom force producing material
enough to warm a world, start aud
keep the spindles, looms, mills and all
the rest of the machinery of a nation
in motion and change darkness into
light if necessary. No floral goddess
has scattered the seed which produced
the waving fields of grain, whose pro
ducts have filled to overflowing your
! cribs, granaries, ware houses
and elevators. No sprite
with supernatural power
has caused beautiful vil
lages to spriug from every
hamlet and populous cities
to adorn the face of nearly
every commenwealth. No
fairy waved its wand ever
the fertile farms and mused
millions of comfortable aud
commodious rural homes to
spring into existence. The lightuing
called not to its assistance the bolts of
Jove to set the poles aud construct its
pathway from home to home and from
village to village and city to city,
neither to sink the strong cables that
conduct it upon its swift journey from
continent to continent. The well kept
forest home of a few acres; the broad
prairie farm; the forgo in your black
smith shops; the great fiery furnaces
in your rolling mills; the ooffee mills
in your kitchen; the great quartz
crushing machines; the ditches that
drain your farms; the great canals that
join the waterways of different slopes;
the peat for fuel taken from the marsh
in the rear of the settler’s cabin; the
millions of tons of coal from the great
coal mines; the railroad of easy grade
across the slightly rolling prairies; the
mountain track that tunnels through
mountains or sinuously climbs the
mountain side, bridging deep canons
in its course; every telegraph line
whether to be used as your errand boy
or to carry the power of scores of en
quiries to where it can be utilized; your
cottage homes and your mansions of
magnificent architecture and beauty of
finish; aye, the food upon your tables,
and the filled warehouses. If any or
all were challenged with the question:
“From Whence Comest Thou?” They,
if they answered truthfully, would
raise the calloused hands of labor and
say: “Behold the creator of the crea
tures.” Verily all progress are monu
ments to peaceful labor. Oftimes, how
ever. fiery trials have been necessary
to make such results from peaceful
labor possible. The lurid midnight
sky that borrowed its hideous coloring
from the burning cabin home; the
ghastly features of the tortured and
scalpless victims of the Indian’s hatred
and revenge called men to a duty that
could not be performed with axes or
plows nor planes or saws, but the ever
ready rifle of the frontier’s-man. In
collonial times we sea the national
mother through her representative,
sending that stalwart young Virginian
surveyor througli pathless forests to
ask her rivals to make no further en
croachments upon her territory. We
note his return through hostile foes,
across swollen and ice-gorged streams,
with the report that peacenil overtures
were of no avail. Later we see him as
he rises above taunt and overlooks re
flections upon his ability as a soldier
as with the aid of his Virginia com
rades he covers the retreat of Brad
dock’s defeated, disorganized panic
stricken, trained soldiers. Loyal sons
from their forest homes strike constant
and telling blows until the invaders
are conquered. What a reward for
loyalty we behold as those sons who
survive the conflict return to their
peaceful vocations and ere they have
fully cleansed their battle stained gar
ments the mother whose interest they
have so nobly defended rises in her ar
rogance and threatens them with a
slave’s portion if they refuse to pay for
the spoliation caused by her defeated
enemies. Those sons have tested their
strength in her behalf and they are
not weaklings. With courteous but posi
tive refusal to her uujust demands they
say to that proud, haughty mother:
“Gladly will we be loyal to you if you
are just, but any coercion tending to
destroy or sap our liberties, we will
resist uuto death.” The instruments
of coercion are upon the grounds and
the order to start them into action is
issued. A solitary horseman walks
back and forth by his horse’s side with
expectant eyes fixed upou the tower of
the old north church in Boston. He
secs a gleam of light and with greater
alertness gazes a moment longer when
a second gleam falls full on his sight.
A touch of spurr aud the ready horse
bounds away. The ride of Paul Revere
has begun. On the morrow the 19th
of April, 1875 will pass into history. A
day frought with great events for on the
green at Lexington the tree of liberty
is fertilized by the blood of patriots’
hearts and ere the month of May passes
the branches dressed in beautiful foliage
and invigorating flowers reach from
Maine to Florida and from the Atlantic
across the Appalachian mountains, and
the clasli of arms shakes fruitful pollen
from the blossoms upon the receptive
stigmas of all loyal hearts in the colo
nies. The return from Concord and
Bunker Hill are erected monuments to
mise to every faithful patriot while its
stripes send the light of encouragement
to every forest home. During the years
that follow it is dyed with the blood of
its defender’s; rent, torn, trampled up
on aud dishonored by its enemies, but
to be resurrected with greater light aud
brighter radiance until it waves iu
triumph and unsurpassed splendor over
the ramparts at Yorktown, heralding
the glad tidings that a nation couceived
by oppression aud born in patriots'
biood is acknowledged by all the world.
As the Star of Bethlehem promised sal
vation to all who would accept it thus
did the old flag at Yorktowu in its gor
geous luster promise freedom to all who
would loyully gather under its folds,
and that the pure strips of white would
light them on their pathway ever pro
tected by the valor which the red indi
cated. How well that promise was
kept when the rights of American citi
zens was assuiled was answered
emphatically from 1812 to 1814. When
the loue star state reached out her sup
pliant baud aud craved a home under
the hautier of the free the liberty loving
people could not say her nay.
Tlius far ail soldiers who loved their
home had fought upon oue side. Lib
erty had ever been their watchword
and Old Glory since its inception their
hanuer. This nation, however, with
all its virtues, witli all its boasted wis
dom eudeavored to do what your high
school pupils will tell you isimpossible,
i. e., to assimilate opposites, viz., Cau
casion Lioerty ana African Slavery.
The explosiveness of such ingredients
when brought in contact showed itself
in the early history of the country and
the barrier of caste was erected. As
they grew they broke through such
barrier and sectional divisions were es
tablished, such restraints Being fouud
inadequate. The emulsive property of
compromise was tried but mix as often
as they would and as much as they
could ingredients so opposite would
not emulsify. The considerate and
thoughtful urged that the explosives
be covered with the strong, deep stra
ta of brotherly love ana patriotism,
hoping that the combination would
make so tenacious a covering no explo
sion could affect it. All efforts proved
unavailing and on the 12th of April,
1861, the dreaded catastrophy occurred.
Liberty and Slavery separated. Liber
ty followed the old flag. We remem
ber the electrical effect as with
blanched cheeks men and women
gazed into one another’s faces and said,
“It has come, what will the end be?”
However, the reaction soon came, and
all through the northern states there
was an united sentiment expressed in
the words: “The Union must and
shall be preserved.” On the anniver
sary of Lexington, April 19, 1861, the
6th Massachusetts was fired upon in
the streets of Baltimore. Truthfully
may we and future generations say to
the justly vCproud old
Bay St a t e:^r^ A“Your list of
eminent mens oversha
dowed by o m m o n
wealth. Your'JHKHg/F ranklin
procured u s substantial
aid and recogition at a time it was
needed. He caught the lightning from
the skies, and left many trite sayings
of wisdom for men’s guidance. Your
Whittier, Holmes, Bryant and great
adopted son, Longfellow, have sent
woras of cheer to all the world. Your
Horace Mann stands unequalled in his
labor for the advancement of the cause
of public education.” The words of all
wifi live and shine through time, and
their influence extend into the great
beyond. But none will live longer or
shine with brighter glory than the
words of the common soldier, who
when shot turned and saluted the flag
and said, “All bail the stars ana
stripes” and fell in death. Comrades,
he was God’s chosen witness to pro
claim to the world why he, you, and
thousands, aye hundreds of thousands
donned the blue.
The east and the west vied each other
in trying to see which could do more
for the country in its time of peril. The
native born American, and those who
had chosen this as the laud oftheir adop
tion were equally brave. Today we re
member the charge of Meagher’s brave
sons of Erin upon the stone wall at Fred
ericksburg. We remember how cheer
fully and uncomplainingly the boys in
biue fought without fire or tents in
snow anu sleet at Donaldson. How
they gave the support to gallant Phil.
Sheridan at Murfreesboro, which en
abled him to resist Bragg’s furious
charges. Remember the reception they
gave the flower of Lee’s army on the
crest of Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg.
Remember their stability as they
stood by Thomas and made that brave
general the “Rock of Chicamauga.”
Grant, the hero of many battles,
among which conspicuously stand out
Donaldson and Vicksburg is given a
broader field and all is life in the vicin
ity of Chattanooga. Thomas, with his
troops in parade uniforms, makes a
dash and seizes Orchard Knob. The
nextmorniug we know how Hooker
charged the fortifications of Lookout
Mountain. Forgetting orders to
stop on the crest they swept on,
driving the enemy before them aud for
once the artillery of the clouds, although
in God’s cause, is furnished and operated
by loyal men to hurl the enemies of
liberty and union from the mountain
fastnesses of east Tennessee. The next
morning the six cannon shots sound
out at intervals of two seconds and a
charge is made which for picturesque
brilliancy has never been surpassed.
Men in their enthusiasm forget the
orders to halt at the foot of the ridge,
but with ardor carry the works at
the base. With hues broken aud brave
color bearers far ahead surrounded by
the most active they press on to the
crest of Missionary Riuge, capture the
guns aud turn them upon the retreat
ing foe. Bragg’s heart is broken and
the key to all parts of the confederacy
is obtained. Gen. Grant soon after
reached the highest round in the ladder
of fame and with stubborn fighting
forces the enemy into Richmond and
Petersburg. Sherman cuts his way to
the sea. Sheridan devastes the Shen
andoah Valley. Thomas destroys
Hood’s army. April 2d, 1865, Lee’s
position at Richmond aud Petersburg
has become untenable aud he seeks
some avenue of escape. Grant thuu
ders after with a victorious army.
Sherman with his usual dash and brav
ery hangs on the ilauksof the retreating
army aud finally throws himself square
ly across their front. Lee sounds the
charge, his gallant though hungry
troops rally to respond but as the>
form in battle line the union cavalry
move aside and solid phalanxes of in
fantiy are revealed. To cliurge would
be to be annihilated, aud L**e accepts
the terms ottered by Gen. Gruut. At
Appomuttox Court House April 9th
the war practically ended. What are
its results? The Ist of Jan., 1803 that
greatest American,—shall I stop today,
comrades, when I say greatest Ameri
can or rather say greatest of men?
Great in integrity, great in kindness ot
heart, great iu his appreciation of duty
nobly done, was given u privilege
through the aid of the boys in blue
to rise to a greatness that but few men
in all history ever approached. His
wisdom enabled him to see the oppor
tunity lie wisely embraced wlieu he
cast the shackles of slavery from four
millions of people, and we iielieve to
day that as the years go by and the
national history of past generations is
read the only glory that will shine
forth with a luster equal that of Wash
ington who gave the world its un
equalled republic will he that of him
who purified it by his proclamation;
and the names of Abraham Line >ln
and George Washington will dazde
the eyes of all beholders as side by side
they shine forth above all others from
the topmost summit of the monument
raised to commemorate the achieve-
No. 15.
ment of the great and good.
The stain upon our national escut
cheon is washed away in blood and not
cleansed by blood alone but made
whiter by womens’ efforts and womens’
tears. Today we acknowledge the
many comforts that reached us from
their living and dexterous hands.
»We never can forget their
loving services in the hos
pitals and their sweet
songs that charmed the
ear and reached the
heart of the wounded
and diseased patients in
the wards. Those soft
musical strains in such
places sometimes roused
us from fevered uncon
sciousness and as a ray of
reason returned we lay with closed eyes
and thought the beautiful music of
heaven was our’s to enjoy. Brave
hearts at home made braver men on
the field of battle. No one knows bet
ter than the soldier, husband, lover or
son how well deserved is the tribute
Bdd to the “Brave at Home” by T.
uchannan Reade.
“The maid who binds her warrior’s sash
With smiles that well her pain dissembles,
The while beneath her dropping lash
One starry tear drop hangs and trembles.
Though Heaven alone records the tear,
And fame shall never know the story;
Her heart has shed a drop as dear
As e’re bedewed the field of glory.
The wife who girds her husband’s sword,
’Mid little one's who weep and wonder,
And bravely speaks the cheering word;
What, though her heart be rent asunder!
Doomed nightly In her dreams to hear
The bolts of death around him rattle,
Hath shed as sacred blood as e’re
Was poured upon the field of battle.
The mother who conceals her grief,
While to her breast her son she presses,
Then breathes a few brave words and brief,
Kissing the patriot brow she blesses,
With no one but her secret God
To know the pain that weighs upon her,
Sheds holy blood as ere the sod
Received on Freedom’s held of honor.”
Sons of veterans and other youths,
you can justly be proud of your home.
The living remnant of Union and Con
federate soldiers reaches across the
united and healed chasm of past con
flicts, and places in your hanas the gift
of this priceless nation, now firmly
bound by the interest of mutual pro
gress made stronger by their love for
the old flag, with the prayerful wish
that you will have the required integ
rity, the true morality, and the broad
intelligence necessary to add luster to
its proud position among nations. Let
no star of Its grand galaxy be dimmed
while iu your keeping and if no allevi
ation of the miseries can come to suffer
ing Cuba without your aid do your full
duty in a manner becoming men whose
most precious gift has come from the
hands of freedom’s soldiers.
We think all nature is in sympathy
in doing honor to our noble dead and
that she reaches a hand from the snow
capped summit of Mount Wrangle in
Alaska to meet the one extended from,
the orange groves of Florida. While
from the pine trees of northern Maine
the extended hand is met courteously
by the handclasp from the vineyards
or Los Angelos and in the center of
tills greatest of nations where the four
hands meet each section enters into a
compact that from its resources it will
give such aid and modification to the
others as will make the climatic con
ditions most propitious for the pro
duction of earth’s choicest flowers to
cover those over who gave so freely to
create and preserve intact:
This bounteous birth-laud of the free
Where wanderers from afar may come
And breathe the air of liberty.
Still may her tiowers untrammelled spring
Her harvests wave, her cities rise
And yet tell time shul 1 fold his wing,
Remain earth’s loveliest Paradise.
Ball Games of the Week.
The base ball games between the
lowa College (Grinnell) and Luther
College teams last Tuesday and Wed
nesday were the best that have been
plaveii here this season. The Grinnell
boys arrived on the Burlington Tues
day afternoon and were met by tbe
college band. When the time arrived
for ttie game to commence a large
crowd hud gathered on the college park,
and they witnessed an interesting
game throughout. The game was nip
aud tuck witli considerable doubt as to
the winner until the eight inning,
when the home team managed to bag
three runs and tbe game was their’s,
for Grinnell was goosed in the ninth.
Following is the score by innings:
Grinnell 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 1 0-5
Luther 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 x—B
No arrangements were made for
Wednesday’s game until Tuesday
evening, but as the teams were so
evenly matched ami the Grinnell boys
could not leave until 3:30 p. m., it was
decided to play seven innings Wednes
day afternoon. This was us pretty a
contest os one might care to witness.
Davis twirled for tlie visitors for five
innings ami allowed the home team
hut oue lilt and one base on bulls.
Then Shephard was put in the box
and Luther managed to cross the plate
once. Jensen pitched for Luther and
Griunell secured seven hits and
four runs. But two errors were made
on either side and the game ended with
four soores in favor of Grinnell to one
for Luther. The Griunell team will
always lie accorded a warm welcome
iu Decorah.
Marquis Ito, the Japanese states
man, is pussing through IT.l T . H., but he
isn’t doing as much talking as Li
Hung Chang did, at least not for pub
lication.