Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1869-05-31


nations glory, in suffering, in blood and
even in death. .
The service of this hour, is one,
more of action, than of speech. will
1etain you but few moments in re-
marks, before you shall scatter the
sweet, bright, God-adorned blossoms
which you have brought hither, over
'fhe green hillocks of our patriotic dead.
To us, this Ceremony and service
seems new; to many, it is one of ques
rtiouablee propriety is not a neW Gus
tom, butas old as the worlds history
the embalniing of the memory OF the
patriot, the chieftain and the hero,
the cherishing of loved memories of
wives and children, OF patriarchs and
prophets, of priests and prelates, we
have the testimony, all along the
90 course of empire" and the track OF
civilization. Scripture presents to us
the purchased plot from the Hittite as
the adorned family resting place of the
patriarch. We find also, "the pillar Of
Rachel's grave" bespeaking affection for
the memory of the dead. History points
us to the pyramids of Egypt to the
groves and temples, the shrines and al
tars of the Athenian to the consecra-
ted campus of Rome where the heroic
dead rest under the sanction of the
Senate. England and France, coven-
anting Scotland, - and dear old
Ireland - struggling Ireland leach
point in pride to- tho; monuments and
mausoleums of the dead. the graves of
their heroes where the droops of the
morning and the bushes of evening
are ever found speaking the praises of
the martyr dead while deep in the ma
tional heart, there burns the fire of
loyalty and devotion, which made their
hills and plains vocal, with the songs of
triumph, while glory rolled in the he
roism of lives offered on the affairs OF
national pride, prosperity and piety.
Thank God, to-day we are not left to
travel amid the scenes of the old world,
to Finger amid the graves of the heroes
OF other nations-for names to en-
balm, or graves to adorn. We have
our own. offer not the pean of praise
because of war-or to aggravate memo
ries as to its cause, or to perpetuate the
Slightest ill-feeling towards those who
were arrayed against rs, but because,
when it came, thousands of gallant
hearts responded for the nations veal,
so that now We point not alone to the
sacred treasure of the tomb at Mount
Vernon, but to the graoes of Gettys-
burg, Antietam, Chattanooga and
Vicksburg, our national monuments, and
from these to the thousands ofsceme-
teries throughout the land, where, with
the dust of their fathers mingle that Of
the fallen but no less heroic sons.
We come to-day to commemorate the
deeds of valor of all the fallen in their
country's cause, but especially to do
homage, and to honor in this beautiful
ceremony the. names, the courage, the
sacrifice Of those who sleep in the dust
at our feet-the graves of our Macpelah.
Whilst other nations may erect their
tablets and shoniments to perpetuate
the glory of the past, we gather with
the fragrant blossom, the evergreen
wreath, and symbolic banner; and while
in silence we lay these above the bodies
of the soldier dead, we rejoice that
their names are written on the &C feshly
tablets of the heart, " requiring no cold
mortality " to chisel them deeper.
This is u consecrated service, conse-
Grated by the blood of our comrades by
what they fought for and what they
won, even at so great a sacrifice.
Where is the patriot who would ques-
ton the propriety of this ceremony:
Palsied be the tongue that would utter
one word against this simple, this beau
tiful this touching memorial to the
memory of the dear fallen sons.
Comrades, you especially, who, with
myself witnessed on the field of battle,
the struggle and the sacrifice for the
perpetuity Of the Union, the defence
of the flag, and the achievements OF the
fathers long ago to you I make my
appeal, let not this custom die. True il
may be simplified in its management.
but urge you, suffer no influence OF
priest or | rslate,S of sect orassociatioa,
to deter your annual visit to our broth
er's graves, Jet not the whirl of com.
merce, or the excitement o. trade,
shut out tho thought, the fact that al
OF prosperity, of unity, of honor,-the
fact that we have country undivided,
is the purchase of the sufferings, the
sicknesses, the sorrows, the privatiOns,
the blood, the life of each nobleman,
whose grave we adorn to-day the
lives of the thousands whose heroism
this service embalms throughout the
whole country. '-9S' ~