The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-06-02

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memories we cherish. oF +
But, now that the bloody carnage is
over, how. fortunate are those whose
/ dead sleep in our beautiful cemete-
ries, side by side with the loved ones
1 who are now bivouacing with them on
| the bright. beautiful plains beyond the
riyerl Aht a low, sad wall comes
up from memories depths, as we think
of those who fell in. the sunny South,
and scarcely found a graye-whose
| bones now whiten the hillsides and
plains of distant States, uRhenored and
uncared for. r5f
The prisons. too, cannot give up
their dead, and many wife and moth
ca has no grave at which to weep to-
day. Oh, how sad sight is the soli-'
tary grave with the word "ufikhown "
rudely carved upon its simple head
board. Somebody's darling is sleep
! ing there, and it NAV be. that the wife
or mother of the loved and lost one is
! with US here to-day, hearts almost
/ breaking with bitter grief, as they
think of the brave soldier boy who
sleeps il that lonely grave.
| 1t may be, tor, that stranger hands
are this day twining for some of those
distant mounds wreatnesi of fragrant
blossoms-if not, let us hope that an
| gels are crowning their. brave spirits
with never fading flowers, plucked
| fresh and fragrant on the banks of the
beautiful, river of peace that. flows
| from the 'thfoneJ of iGodj and the
/ hearts of a grateful people. 60 out in
sympathy to the poor desolates wives
and mothers whose dear ones sleep in
those unknown graves! II 1EJfs
Now, my fellow citizens, in this
hour of sadness, as we strew our hum
Bile offerings on the GRAVES of our nor
Bile dead, let US divest our hearts of all
hatred or harsh feelings that may have
/ been engendered By the conflict be-
| tween brothers; and, as peace holds
sweet dominion over our, happy land,
let US forget the errors of the past as
we stand around the graves of onr fal-
len heroes. While they are. Joining
in anthems of praise to-day over, not
only a Union preserved, but a BROTH
1 erhood restored, let us unite in one
common effort, under theiI, angelic IN
fluence, TO make this. indeed free and
happy country, East, West, North and
| South. h5'
But. my friends, on this day of'mu-
tual sympathy ard love, let usnot for
get that it is not the dead alone we
! should hold in remembrance we
| should remember those who have been
left to mourn-those whose hearts
| have been lacerated by having their
idols torn from them-Whose homes
have been forever darkened by the
wing of the death angel. They are.
deserving of our tenderest care. ~
! Though we cannot remove the
shadow from their lives, we can do
much by our outspOken sympathy to
silver DER the clouds, and make their
homes of mourning less gloomy and
I dark. We should receive the widow
and orphan as sacred trust from, the
hands of those who died TO perpet1ate
a government under which. we enjoy
so many blessings We -canneyer re-
:. place their great loss, it is true, but
we can do much to smooth their path
way to the heavenly realms, where
they hope to once more clasp hands
with the loved and lost. a -raT
See to it, fellow citizens, that the
1 graves of your country's defenders
are not forgotten IN all coming time
hand them down to your children as
a sacred trust. Tell them of the dark
and troubled times when, with una,
nimity unparalleled in the history of
4 the world, the men of this country
4 sprang forward eager to peril life and
fortune in defense of their country.
When oble wemeii, with streaming
eyes and ciinging arms sent forth
their best beloved to meet the sadvan-
cling foe. Make them understand that.
it is not only duty but a glorious
privilege to thus honor the noble
dead, and preserve their memorylever
fresh and green, And let us hope
that as each rolling year. blots out,
minor differences, we may see this be-.
come more essentially National re-
membrance.
4 Those who have been comrads in
the late sanguinary and bloody war;
who have fought by each others sides;
| who haye rushed to arms at the shrill
bugle call, will of course ever be
bound together by the strongest ties
of friendship. The remembrance of
the blazing camp fires, around which
they were wont to cluster to indulge
in the passing story; the many weary
marches ON which they strove to sus-
tain and buoy up the, feelings of each
other; the incidents of many hard
fought battle, or weary, waiting
months in prison, will all serve to bind.
them close iii the bonds of love and
friendship, and render each man who
fell in the struggle dearly beloved
and regretted brother.
4 Thousands Of noble hearts throbbed
beneath the private soldiers uniform.
Men Whpse stars did not show forth
from gilded epaulet or gaudy trap
pings, but were cmblazoned upon the
flag of their country, where they
shone brighter and brighter as the
brave lads sank to that sleep that
knows no waking. To the private
soldier promotion was scarcely pos
to action than the NOBLE impulses of
his own PATRIOTIC heart. Now that
peace Feigns once more in our land,
] we feel sad when we reflect that they
!. cannot be here to enjoy the blessings
for which they so CALAMITY fought !;
but
They sleep their lastis isleep. they havelfought
: No sound can awake them to glory again.
Knowing as I do what the private
soldier had to suffer, and how patient
: ly and nobly he suffered, what deeds
! of noble daring and bravery he ac-
. complished, I should be doing. injus-
: tice to my own feelings, if 1 did not
pay this slight tribute to the rank and
, file of the late Union Army. e g. All!
, well do I remember s-ies -r5e
! How they cheered and how they. rallied, .,
How they charged mid Shot and shell,
How they bore aloft the bannerI
T How they conquered! How they fell.
Brave, gallant boysl What tongue,
what pen can do justice to such hero
ism, to such pure patriotism
Then my fellow citizens, all credit,
all honor TO those who died for us and
oqf country s t9I
6 On fane's eternal camp ing eroIuid al
: Their silent tents are spreads 81 4
J And glory walks her solemn round S - :
, Tnfh nff fI,e daad