The New York herald., 1869-05-30


country, why are they here9 Another lesson which
we review to-day ID the oft-tod tale Of history,
ta' om wrong nS naiS Ssre wan wss s ms when we re-
fused to heed this warning; we stllled the
sought In the virtues OF fathers to nnd excuse
for Their errors we put union before right and with
out the knowledge OF living wrongs We failed.
did success follow our banners. Repenung Of our
perished. But we slow to learn this lesson,
snd the teaching was sharp and terriDe-how
side were madly sacrificed that we might
learn That fright Is might, and truth Is God" For
war dragged slowly on, while upon both sides men
prayed with equal nnctton for Divine assistance.
W%sn T1 ee ns ana a, no I came 70 we we
fghting for UnOn-they were lighting for slavery.
God meant that we should fight for liberty. What
cute
His truth goes marching on
10 Is but little while since these hills were
great forliGcation Iesounding with the notes
OF war. Here, IN long extended chain around
the seat OF government stood The men who
batements M wncS they built and nd manned. % Thus
their living bodies protected the capital OF the ma
ton from the grasp OF those who would nave seized
withstood the VIII OF the people and perverted the
free institutions Of the land. Those living lines
were never broken; the city over which they kept
watch and ward was never lost. To-day they rest
from their labors and hardships; but they remain at
OF battle ana sleep upon their arms. 1t seems as II
in the gray OF morning the long roll might break
line and stand again to their guns; and, In truth,
not less dead than living are they wall OF de-
| try i'll look well upon these grass-grown
mounds. If there be one here who would still
pair the right OF seli.government, VINO would sur
render the principles winch have been baptized In
the statue Of liberty and set np trone % let him
look upon the shadowy forms Of these soldiers
OF Freedom and Of the republic, as they form ranks
agan-again push TO The charge-again shout their
war cry, and again fall amid the din OF strlfe and
remembering what history they have writien--what
people they reDresent-what mothers bore them
what fathers trained them, and what children they
have left behind them-let him stay his hand, ana
cry with one who like him loved the bloody road to
power-"By SAINT Paul, shadows Tonight have
struck more terrors to the soul Of Richard
soldiers" For II the hand of treason snouId again
be raised and the living should stand aloo it seems
as as sese graves crave wUua open ana t.e dead come iSrth
we we may learn IN their presence The war cry Is no
terng away and the skies are bright after The Storm
Our heroes are sleeping side by side with those
whom they wlthstood IN battle and they sleep in
hands and proclaimed truce forever Let the
living suike hanos also, for we are not enemies,
cumb TO temporary madness, but he is nevcrthe,
less man, and when the cloud has passed away
he IS 10 be restored to a mans loves, rights ana
privileges.
Brother late our foe in battle, but brother STILL
tnlS country was Always our JOINT mnerltancc-thiS
nag was always our Joint banner. The glory OF our
past belongs 10 both OF us. Our grandslres and
fathers stood side by side IN battesat side by side
In council. The glory OF the lutu belongs TO both
Of u.s. This purified land; this great united peoples
these broad acres, stretching from ocean to ocean,
yet bound by chord OF commerce that made
Of oceans neghbOrs ana OF mountains level
plains; this boundIess wealth; .hls treess energy
this hunger for progress this thirst for knowledge
it yours it is ours, aud man can take It from u.s.
we alone can despoil and destroy the rich Inherit
ance. Over brOef graves let brothers. quarrels die
lie tnarah hn
love between us; that these swords that we have
learned SO well to use may. If ever used again,
strike only at the common foe. In few days as
sembled thousands in the city OF the Pilgrims will
sing anthems OF peace: Let the song be taken up
lakes, by the waters OF the Gulf in the land Of the
loom and spindle, In the land OF gold, on broad
and again break FORTH 'sPeace on earth 20 I'd VIII
towards men," We have had enough Of war. Too
TOO many orphan children are gazing upon this
scene II was Just and righteous war. II was
a0S nS f1ag, sna n9H wS Thank 'x GOD &c Is over
And now, we lay our tribute upon these tonibs.
To mese ws rssa osm @ TINS rs sms 9f the lT am
choicest flowers; for here uniecognized, may he
the form OF some stout soldier who stood, in the
bling in the balance, on some bloody field, and when
to stand was TO gam the victory The forms Of those
alas know not that he is here-but we know that |
all who rest In this spot or In yonder vast and beau
tifu camp OF the dead, form a worthy part OF the
noble army OF martyrs whose epitaph is written,
'Faithful unto death.''
After the applause had ceased the ceremonies on
the platform closed by chorus 'Prayer'' from a
quartet club. Near the platform is granite monu-
s Union dead This was covered with canopy % the
pillars OF which were entwined with evergreens ana
bowers while nags were taste Tsasefully esOoned
planted as an ornament on the top OF the
monument. The crowds gathered around it
march, during which time e'', the orphans from
the soldiers aad Sailors Orphan Home passed from
offered next a requiem by the Beethoven Club, ana
then the orphans sang ''shal we know each other"
procession was then formed and passed into the
National Cemetery, where the decoration OF the
epposl,e V sections Of the cemeterT piayed drpes e.
while the graves were being strewn with flowers.
After the obseryances at the tomb OF the unknown
dead the assembage proceeded to the lower part OF
the cemetery, where the graves are located Here
large cross had been erected, and around 1t the
orphans gathered, the bands occupying positions
upon either side. After the orphans nad sung s.Rest
TO the fallen brave" the ceremony Of decorating the
took place. the orphans forming circle around
1t, with widow In the midst Of the group The
flowers were then handed 10 her and sho transferred
them TO soldier In iull uniform, without equip
menis, two other soldiers standing by his side In
citizens dress, one without arms and the other with
arms. The cross was decorated with the various
corps badges and wreatls. Upon 1t was the follow
ing inscripti0n:-
In memory TO the heroes q Anic'sm, Gsysemx Wider
vckburg Cedar Creek, Chattanooga, Cold Hrbor Peters
iHe loOib"tfu Dotc Lit Hdiut~ VI TIE Idst TWO Dat
ties OF the war; Fort Fisher and Five Forks II is
estimated at least twenty five thousand persons were
OF Arlington.
The ceremonies were concluded by the firing Of q
signal gun the people gathering round the small
sini's Stabat Mater" and the chaplain OF the Depart
ment OF the Potomac pronounced the benedlciion
The ceremonies throughout were OF an interesting
aud affecting character. There were the ground
thousands of colored persons Including q company
Of uniformed c0ored zouaves, ana many Of them
like the whites participated In the decoration OF the
graves.
AT the conclusion OF the services nj Arlington "a
delegation from eacn post Of the Grand Army OF the
Republic and large number Of those W no had wit
messed the ceremonies proceeded 10 the cemetery
near Alexandra, where similar ceremonies were
conducted.
The graves OF the soldiers In the cemetcry adion.