is dedicated to patriotism. We cannot have a more important lesson than love of country and devotion to the country's good.
The dead whom we honor, sleep their last sleep, no music and no words can touch their hearts, " no sound can awake them to glory again." It is the rising generation that need the lessons of this day; so for one day the plow stands in the furrow, the busy hammers are at rest and the marts of trade are silent. Here and all over our beloved land is heard the tramp of veterans marching to the last camping ground of their comrades who sleep; nor come they here alone for the millions of patriot hearts that beat responsive to the echo of their arms now beat in sympathy with the honors which we bring. Here are the widows and orphans, the grey haired fathers and the Spartan mothers of the dead, and their presence deepens in our hearts the memory of our departed comrades who rest in yonder cemetery or in unknown graves: It is to those who fought and won, to the living and the dead; to those who fought and failed, and here come to rejoice with us in the dawn of a better day; that our country should be kept on the road of progress, toward the goal of the greatest human weal.
The evils that we overcome were vast, but the evils that we face today are numerous and great.
The passions of men still trample upon liberty and law. The disturbances of the old world pervade our changing population, and endanger more and more that purity of life, without which popular government by and for the people cannot stand.
I think we need to magnify the functions of law if we would prevent crime, awe the vicious and inspire confidence in the hearts of all good citizens. I once read a statement that one of the New York regiments was composed of men of foreign birth, spoke eleven different languages, but when the bugle sounded the line was formed, and when the order carne to charge all moved forward, and no man questioned why. This was to do and die. So may we all move forward to the command of the law and the music of the Union. Let us cultivate the sentiments of temperance, justice and peace. The Norwegians, proud of their native hills, inscribe upon their Rex dollars, temperance, virtue, probity, and whatever is of good report let the world learn among the rocks of Norway; so let us in this grand and noble commonwealth of Iowa not only assume to be, but be the very eagle's nest of all that makes man noble, great and free.
Hon. John L. STEVENS, in behalf of the citizens responded as follows:
Commander and members of the Grand Army of the Republic! On behalf of the citizens here assembed I take pleasure in thanking you for the kind welcome extended to us.
We recall to-day many tender memories of years gone by, many which bring grief to our hearts.
We see fathers, sons, brothers and lovers forming in line at their