Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1869-06-24
ELOQUENT TRIBUTE TO THE
NATIONAL DEAD.


3Oth ult, Captain A. S. MCCLURE,
who will be remembered by our
people, as the gentleman chosen to
deliver the Fourth of July Grafton
here last year, paid the following
eloquent tribute to the National
Dead, which we reproduce from the
Wayne County Democrat. We do
not think our space could be better
occupied, and believe that the peru
sal of this brief, patriotic and elo-
quent address will prove treat to
our readers as it did to us. We
heartily commend it.
ADDRESS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN :--God has
wisely planted in the human breast
q sentiment of respect for gallant
deeds and of reverence for the
heroic dead. Characteristic, alike
of savage and civilized man, the
operation of this feeling announces
the existence of the noblest and
purest emotions. In the whirl of
civilization-in the rush for wealth,
power, fame, public position, civic
and military honors-so much cold
heartedness; so much base, unhal-
lowed passion is displayed, that it is
refreshing to see nation, or an in
dividual, turn from the gilded pleas
ures of life to decorate the resting
places of the dead.
The grave of an ancestor, BRAN
ble-grown and unnoted, proclaims
the ignomy of the descendant; the
graves Of a Nations dead, unhonor-
ed, tell the mournful story of a
nations decay.
History asserts the unchallenged
truth, that when a nation turns,
with cold indifference, from the
graves Of those, who in the fiery
ordeal of battle, protected it's flag
and built up its power, the elements
Of dissolution and decay are al
work.
The living owe the dead honor
| reverence, care. The violation o1
this natural obligation, whether by
nations or individuals furnishes the
clearest evidence of debasement
Fortunately, the American people
are not open to the charge of cri Ii
nal forgetfulness IN this matter.
To-day the nation bends over the
tomb OF it's blue-coated dead! Ii
the roar of great cities-in the un
broken stiffness of country Wales
by the side of river, lake, gulf, ant
ocean-on historic spots disfguret
by war-in sequestered cemeteries
unprotaned by blood-throughou
the continental area of our vast do
main, millions of gentle hands strev
the offering Of fowers-the pur
token of the purest sorrow-ove
the ashes of our soldier dead.
The ceremony hallows the day
1t invites the selectest emotions. l
is no unmeaning parade. No empt.
Ipomp; no cold, conventional, court
ly, curious out-pouring. No hal
low profession of sorrow; for GU
hearts are with the flowers we strey
on the grave of our heroes. Thougl
dead, we see them again in memory
Though cold and motionless an
silent, we hear their voices as o
old. Though mouldering in tn
grave, we see them again as when
in the hot courage Of stout man
hood, they went forth to do battl
for their country's cause. We &C
Icuse ourselves for harsh words t.
them in life time spoken. We ben
over their tombs and see their dea
faces through the clay. We reani
mate their liteless forms. We kindl
in sad enthusiasm over their glow
ling promise of glorious future
We she'd tear over their untimely
but honorable, departure. We scat
ter flowers, with heavy hearts, o
their humble graves. We bow ou
heads in sorrow, and hope they al
with God!
Fifty one soldiers graves homo
this home of the dead. The ashe
Of veteran and recruit-broad-ch chest
ed, full grown man and promisin
boy, general and private, foreigne
and native born; father, husband
son, and brother, the represent:
tives of every battle that covere
the national arms with glory, mad
the national success brilliant, owe
whelming, conclusive = repose
honorable slumber about US.
The startling history of that te
rible conflict for American nationa
ity we have this day covered up wit
Unpack these graves, and you wi
discover the ashes of men who wre