Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-05-29

ashes mingle with those Of native born and
other adopted citizens, in this and other ceme.
teries, It was considered appropriate 10 sing ont
piece IN German. This composition was there.
fore selected 10 be sung in the language of the
"Fatherland."l
Address by Hon. 3. 8. Fisher.
Hon. 5. s. Fisher, Commissioner of Patents
delivered the following address:
year ago these mounds beneath which dead
heroes sleep, Were strewn with garlands by
loving hands, and watered by tears from loving
eyes. The flowers thar we scattered have long
since withered; the spring that gave the fl wers
mas long since passed away. Summer. and
Eah aEa,nmn. ID al ana d. winter inter have come and gone
sneet of snow, and bleak winds have sung
dirges over the spot which the living had de.
serted.
But nature never forgets the dead. From
her lap she brings forth green blades and
leaves and modest wild flowers. and herself
decks their graves with beauty. We can only
sdd heI gifts TO us, TO her gifts TO them She
does more than this. for if there be anv tomb
unknown to us, or that we have forgotten, any
peaceful sleeper in some village churchyard,
in the lonely wood. by the ROAD side at the ford
On the picket line, or tenting still son the old
camp ground" she has found the spot where
De lies, and flung over him her mantle of
beauty.
IL these graves be dear to her, by how much
more are they dear to rs,
We read in old familiar story that one day,
In the Roman forum, the earth opened, and
augurs said that this gulf would never close its
horrid mouth until it had been fed with the
most precious thing in Rome. There was
doubt S % as to what the most precious thing might
rode boldly forward, and plunged into ths
chasm. declaring that there could be nothing so
precious a. life given for ones country.
One day In our own land. stretching from
side to side, from ocean to desert, great gulf
yawned, dividing in twain, families communi.
ties, States.-yea, the very nation itself. Into
precious possessions-the youth-the strength
the talent-the virtue-the patriotism of the
land. From homes where gray-halred grand.
tires stll spoke OF Washington-from cabins
fresh from the shores that he had left in search
Of freedom-from the lap Of luxury-from
eramping poverty-from the fwaysids of the
tarmer-from the woodland clearing of the
pioneer-from the jeweled cave of the
miner-from the halls where pale stu.
Ssns, Ss,. the msTts Of trade
the bounding steps OF youth-witn the sober
walk Of manhood-ay, and with the halting of
sgs, they nc came s,,dn in great thrsnE to stand
deer TO them Is TO others-death not more wei.
come; but lite must end and death must come,
and they sang the song OF the old hero. swho
kept the bridge 20 WELL"
Then, out spake brave Horarius,
The captain Of the gate:
TO every man upon this earth
Death c0meth, soon or late;
And how can man die better
Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers
And the temple of his gods.'''
these remind Ms how imminent the danger and
now great the sacrifice. The storm mas passed,
but many giants OF the forest are laid low, and
man trunks are torn, and twisted, and MANNED
We can never chant in too lofty strains the
praises OF those who saved the nation. No
body OF men were ever more unselfish-more
truly patriotic-more actuated by noble mo-
tives-less led by the love OF gain-less goaded
by the love OF ambition-less deludsd by the
phantom Of glory. Glory, Why here, in our
than two regiments Of your countrymen whose
very names are unknown, yet whose deeds
were as noble, whose loss Is as keenly felt,
as many teardrops fall az for any whose titles
marble.
We come not here to mourn the loss of men
like these. Fire no minute gun over their
Rraves-toll no funeral bell. Rejoice, rather
Il at the nation has given birth to such sons
deck their tombs with the crowns and garlauds
and laurel wreaths of victory-bid their chill
dren and ours mark well their example and
Tor ourselves, let us draw fresh inspirations
OF love for our land and liberty, and seek from
them less ons ofdeliverapee from narrow party
spirit, greed OF gam, and lust of power.
And, first, among these ;essons these kraves
remind ne mat we have q country. This
seemed once to be doubted. We were told by
unfriendly nations, and ourselves repeated and
half believed the charge, that we were such
worshippers Of gold that we had lost the love
of country-that the very form Of our Govern
ment had fostered State pride and destroyed
pride In the nation-that men loved party. but
not their native land-that they hated their
political opponents, but not their country's
foes-that, Boosting OF our liberty, we Were q
nation Of slayes-that our coin was circula-
ting falsehood, and our flag a Haunting lie.
This reproach has been taken away forever:
but the answer TO the foul SANDER is found not
much In the great uprising when Sumpter fell
and the thousands OF waving banners that
fioated from loyal hoose.tops-not SO much IN
the gathering bands of armed men or in the
treasure freely Proffered. 1t is found here. II
any man shall hereafter ask, "Do Americans
love their coun.ry!" Have we a nation!"
from these wounds shall the question receive
its fnal. conclusive, eternalanswer; fer if these
men had NO country, why are they here
Another lesson which we review to-day is
the of told tale Of history that no nation can
live that is founded upon wrong. There was
we sulled the voice Of conscience and defed
the voice OF God; we sought In the virtues of
our fathers 70 find excuse for their errors: we
put Union before right, and with the memory
of dead compromises sought to shut out the
knowledge of living wrongs. We failed Not
until we stood squarely upon right and liberty
did success follow our banners. Repenting OF
our sin, we live, while our foe who cung TO IL,
has persisted. But we were slow to learn this
lesson, and the teaching was sharp and terrible
how the young, the brave, the noble, the good
upon either side were madly sacrificed tnat we
might learn that 'f
"Right is might, and truth is God''
For how many weary days and months and
years the war dragged slowly on, while upon
both sides men prayed with equal JUNCTION for
Divine assistance. Both sides were wrong,
and no help came 70 either. When we become
night the fight was over. We Were fighting
for Union-they were fighting for slavery.
God meant that we should fight for liberty,
and whatever statesmen may plan or armies
strive TO execute. -.-.
sHis truth goes marching on"
1t is but little while since these hills were
great fortification. resounding with the notes
Of war. Here, IN long.extended chain, around
the seat of Government stood the men, who
now. rank upon rank, rest behind the pattle-
ments which they built and manned. Then
their living bodies protected the Capital of the
nation from the grasp Of those who would have
seized upon it with unhalloWed hands
VINO would have withstood the will
Of the people, and perverted the free in.
stitutions Of the land. Those living lines were
watch and ward was never lost. To-day they
rest from their labors and hardshfps, but they
remain At the postof duty-they sleep, bat they
sleep in the lane of batsle, and sleep upon their
arms. It seems as II In the grey Of the morn.
Ing the long roll might break their slumbers,
and that mighty hest would fall into line and
stand again 10 their Gnns; and IN truth. net lesa
dead than living. are they wala OF defence.
Let the man Who wishes his country ill, look
be one here who would still destroy what these
have pfeserved-.who would impair the night
OF eelf.goyerument-Who would surrender the
principles which have been baptized in blood