The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-05-31

The gesang section of the Turner
Society came ont of their hall in procession,
marched up the square and grouped them
selves around the monument The band
played national air. Major Mayo, the
president of tie day, opened the ceremonie'
BY few Introductory remarks Rev. d.
Newell delivered an impressive prayer. The
Turner Society followed in the singing OF
grand choral piece. More patriotic music
was PLAYED. Geo. Mixter, Esq, was to
have delivered the opening address, but
owing to sudden illness the whole duty OF
saving what was to be said devolved on
Mai Jas. NJ Besrdsley, and the Major met
tina, duty with his usual modesty, but ac-
quitted:himself FINELY. The following is the
substance of the address, although, the
opening remarks We were unable to get;
MY FRIENDS Once more We lay Asius
our business, forget the busy seoues ~
turn oils of life, and Assem- PIE neie ue.oo,n
| the shadow of this beao'Ioi nionumeh.'
| reared in ,asnorsdm TO our nooie oeao, Win
80 heads and chastened hearts, to recall
fne
bic from the recollections of those living,
and to be ever graphic on the page Of
history in the minds of Americans to come :;
when the destinies of our country were
trembling In the balance, and frstricidal
hands sought to strike down the Genius of
liberty in her chosen resting>plsce, and to
undo the work founded BY the fathers of the
republic, and cAnoniZed by the loftiest ira
49, -
We come here, not to re awaken
the sentiments of strife and local
sntagonism, not to fan the smouldering
embers OF luminosity, not to
exult in the trlumphs of victory, but to fra
ternize in sorrow over good men, dead from
devotion to justice and peaceful unity, and
to temper anew our love for the land in
which we live, our intiexible purpose to
maintain its unity and indivlsibility and 10
keep alive the patriotic fervor that fred the
breasts of those whose names are engrsven
on this monumental structure and whose
bodies are lying in unknown graves, to
break the ties of home and In the forefront
of battle cheerfdlly TO lay down their lives.
We come to renew our memory of the men
who stood sentry over the nation. Who In
summers fever heat and winters cold and
stOEu. upuolu the SIoIiuue Sulooi Vi our
country and carried it through the smoke OF
battle until the last armed foe surrendered.
We come here to demonstrate by our pres
ence that with us their memory is a sacred
heritage, and here at this quiet sanctuary OF
the dead We seal anew our devotion 20 the
cause for which they died. 1t is said that
Republics are ungrstefui, but this floral fes-
tival is a grateful nstion's tribute of bloom
hai we'd feA the who lad
that the nation might live. Yes, fte's
stalwsrt men and gentle women and chill
dren shall strew flowers on their silent rest.
ing place at each recurrence of this snni
versary, and the world shall know that the
hum blest OF our slain defenders has crown
of remembrance beside which the disdeus
Of princes and al the tinsel OF rank and
wealth will be as nothing. The green turf
above their graves will fade, these beautiful
flowers will wIther and die, but the lesson
will remain aud our children and their chill
dren viii be taught the duty of honoring the
memory and names of those who died for
their country.
Th,s demonstration TO-DAY, Is a nations
tribute To she memory of those whose lives
purch ased for us al undivided mon, and
rescued our starry EN- biem from the hands OF
those who sought TO dishonor and trail it in
the dust. That flag which now so proudly
waves over US ; carrying in its folds free
dom, Justice and protection to all the bes,
con light to the opposed of every nation
honored and respected on every sea and in
every land, and hailed as the flag Of beauty
and of glory. Yes. IL is beautiful in paint
ing white hanging IN your parlors beauti-
ful when engraven by the sculptor on the
granite rock, but far more beautiful, whether
in the sunshine of peace or smoke of battle
when towering sloft from flagstaff or mast
head IS the EN- blen of American freemen
1t is glorious in the memories that cluster
around il, glorious in the inspiration il
swakens, glorious in the freedom it symbol
ICES glorious in its power to call a nation
to arms TO defend il from It's foes, glorious
on land or sea, where our proud victories
have been won, and as one has ssidl it is
glorious in the sunlight OF
peace whether floating slofs on
the summer breeze or when dimly seen
amid the clouds of war;" Yes. beauty and
glory blended shine from its folds
as it enwrsps the dead form of
It's heroic defenders and their
pure life's blood tinge its crimson bars
Desr old flag emblem of freedom; oppres
sion dies where ere II waves, and crime and
wrong can never triumph beneath its folds
Then let us guard well this boon of freedom:
let this new national day be observed and
handed down from generation to generation
and each season in the coming glorious
future of this REPUBLICANS beautiful flowers
spring forth from the storm and death of
winter, let the choicest be culled and strevn
upon the graves ofthe nations honored dead.
The Rock Island Turn Eerein then sang
a choral piece, in fine style and the Rev. DR..
Davis delivered the closing prayer and ben
ediction and the people dispersed. The DAY
is now regarded as a National holiday and
should be celebrated as such for all time
It's illusions are grand, and it's teachings
to the conservation of our republic in unity
1t teaches us fearlessness of the grave and
the terrors OF death when the duty we owe
our God, our country, our nsiEhbor or our
with the grand philosophy of the following
lines:
''Thou shalt lie down
With Patriarehs of the infant world-vith kings,
The powerful of the earth, the wise, the good
Fair forms and hoary seers of ages past,
All in one mighty sepuchre. The hills,
kock-ribbed and ancient as the the vaIes
Stretching in pensive quietness between;
The venerable rocks rivers hat move
In N sjesty, and the complaining brooks
That mako the meadows green; and poured
round all
Old oceans gray and melancholy waste
Are but the solemn decorations, all
Of the great tomb Of man"
THE HOGAN HOMICIDE.
Com inundated
EDITOR ARGUs-Dear Sir: About noon