New-York tribune., 1871-05-31
DECORATION DAY
c0.,inreh from First Pase.

men ..n, hnnn hands and which became imbued with
higher power aud glory and more eNtc S aS for tbis
nTious victory Law Riot of order over No%eheg %
e-ghtfu government over unprovoked rebeloh VIII VIII
& nsiutancd the throne Of the nation we are hdep'eu
to ms noble army OF the Republic ,. ,;sn,ovs
-. bnwsn yalor and endurance that the records
of warfare have ever described WHAT cou,e on
Save been more grand than sHERIDAS's won,
,se valley of the Shenandoah by the mere loroe o ms
eNn az re Rattle of Cedar Fords What was ever
more exalted in the history OF war than
ordering der Of the bay TO Mobe Nothing but lovely
Christian letter Of his own TO ms NV ~, Sp, o me
evening preceding which had the privilege ot readhg
al inc time in which in the most solemn ana uahpuli
Anticipation OF death, he eommeh1e1 hnsen anu LIZ
Family and his country 10 the God OF ms saVaEon' S
march ON earth was TO be compared TO sher
man leading Of his mighty army from the mountains O1 %
Tennessee 10 the seaboard OF NMsims' ~
iriumphantly. illustrating the prediction ,Sd "a
ms great commander that sherman -, WUuu upu.
.aVld exceed the majesty Of that imperturbabe lofty
confidence with which Grant pursued ms one % VI
conquest Virginia until RESISTANCE was VAN anu m SUI SUI
render was absolute and essentials What could De noe
wonderful than Wordens simplicity OF Naor MhSn m bis
morning light brought HIM most uheAISooeI tI in the
nftle Monitor I'm the roads OF Norfok direct! IN in c
Merrimas path 10 assumed and apparently certain WV
We owe to this Grand Army Of the Republic me eo,l
plete establishment OF the Union OF ts thnse mani
these Illustrations OF valOr and endurance % %tnese nT
fcstaons of skin and wisdom, were the u.stinment Of
higher and supreme Providence tSr ~ 1nv on the posi-
this great result We cannot look back upon, @ and
bc victory of that fearful rebellion Ttn0g nroy
horn al a
,s arrayins them ln sectional disputes and contr0ver
sizes stimulating them by rival interests ~ ad ami
hlatnc ali the power of harmonious DeneNoaaGe % @ ar
human Improvement and dooming tns r i"nU "
But This warfare ended in victory for the SmOn
establishing firmly than ever ine h Shom Yl v
ION i'm tLe harmony Of the people, IN the ehII m
and sympathy Of their mutual relations, anu IN eo Ho
iermed and consolidated Judgment OF m ihis PeCPV An. IN,
of The Republic that state rebeiOns national DIVISIONS
sba NOT hc tolerated under any pretense Whatever.
IA fbeI Ifuio i'm tfs
ana SO triumphant before; never was the anthory OF
te ,op M so TsS Of the land And this
owe 10 the fidelity, valor and perseverance, VI '' Army
We owe 70 this army the final consummation OF aoso,
,ue and universal freedom Human slave holding could
sDtiDd Bnt how that terrible bond OF oppression laid
man Ms should be broken. BY what means this nation
onastio1 the settlement Of which completely be-
yord the wisdom or the calculation of man. But Army
whAe land Is free free by the effort TO ensaye
II more thor9ughy made free Sg fhe ne r fTeeSoS
by he united action of e the RGSPG o It's s
arms In the neld as a fundamental article. of
their Constitution. But to this army we owe this giori-
national domain Not slave lives beneath M the power
6 81 & sbd UnO9 Sn S What glory has been thus
added nation, 10 its constitution TO lts govern
en1 and 5seniSeso I'M glory Which we dared not hope
for and could not imagine as possible AND YET we now
survey all the difficulties the Instructions the apparent
of the anticipation swept away by the un
disputed power and purpose OF the ARMY OF tne ne
Never upon the bosom Of any land earth were such
mighty operations and results In their relation 70 human
welfare and 10 the future hope of man so grouped TO-
Cether and II is impossible TO survey them rom tls
shore Gi SesIg tbqm not merely TO the glory
man. but to the higher honor OF the wonderiu pioNl
We owe 10 the army the honor Of most exalted tenn
per and spirit in the triumphant settlement OF al these
Sd dspsyed by this army, We're as honorable as the
results of triumph attained No nation was ever more
honored in the spirit with which the warfare was closed
and the necessary settlements for peace were made
What a wonderful contrast was the calm dgnlty ana
finished to to the cruel turbulent vindctve unreen-
ing temper and enormities OF the inhde bloodtmrsy
Frnch In our own days The arresting Of the war in the
mpe crisis OF actual victory and surrender ex-
alted illustration Of the ruling sentiment OF our na9n
The magnanimty OF the cOnquering Commander-nchlef
upon the field was an honor to humanty Mheh there
ample power TO destroy and punish Ihere wac ,ne
higher grandeur spirit far mghtier and more honor
able than the power which IL restrained III was the sec
and successful the soil OF Southern virginia, ana
with an equal greatness OF temper. , ~, ,o,,oo,
Naturalization OF this exalted spirit in the succeeding
r,adustng of the whole scheme OF social governments
Tic language OF vindctve has never been heard
from the leading might say has never
be heard any conspicuous meInber-ott the army
navy OF the Republic The manifestation mas Dee
of unlimited pity for the desOations which war newt
ably caused, OF sympathy for the sorrows winch ~
spread through the rebeous territory OF aid 1Or tne
,arugs Of those who suffered only IN the persistence
of their error and crime OF rehe Tor the wants Vi
the loyal and faithful Inl0ns OF the coio[eG raoe,
aud Of those who had held them in urighteous
This has been hgn ana prevailing
pf tho feeling OF the natOh IN union Win tne aIus
generosity not TO be limited by the factions OF few or
70 De disturbed OF 9y tne suspeios or SCI
fshness Of the disappointed ana When sueh hauohsI
temper Is the prevailing feeling over Dretnern VINO
ton OF an exalted humanity tue mere nature anu ndp
ude Of man. but the special providence OF God ana
We owe 70 this army an acknowledgement of high per
sOna example. 10 was an army Of principles II was an
composed Of who understood the value and the i'm
porauce of their purpose and their work They carried
with them the word Of The living God They were am |
mated and encouraged by the repeated voice Of social
and individual prayer They illustrated their character
persons pho firm and moderate in the action OF hie
were calm, thankful trusting in the hour of |
and leaning upon a bosom of Infinite love never
tee6ne pon the neids Of battle were an equal honor
10 the OF the nation AgOnizing in the anguish OF
prolonged suffering and rejoicing in the triumph of
xeacef departure and to the minsterng servants OF
Christ the men and women who followed with His mes
sage in the train Of and death. Many tent
"A iittle church many camp true cathedral, and
many a battlefield and hospital became Bethel with
us ladder Of reconciliation and glory set up upon the
earth whose top reached the heavens with the angels
of God ascending and descending upon it.
To commemorate these glorious dead ana 10 honor the
faithful living by uDdyng remembrance; 10 maintain
the Government and peace OF the iand Tor which they
contended in al the empoynents OF mutual edhcation;
TO transform the days Of warfare alienation and suspicion
into the generous action OF social condolences TO bind
the wounds which have been lncted 10 reconcile the
aienated by action and feeling ana 10 see hat
shall have the protection Of defense in unrestricted
personal freedom and qetness without respect 70 Color
BIRTH free 10 speak, Tree 10 W
travel free dwell free To be useful, honorable ana
trusted according 10 his nghtfu claims ana desires
These will be a lust expression OF the Nations gratitude
the Army, and honorable cOnmemOfdtlOh OF theH
history, their faithfuness and their triumph
At the conclusion Of Dr. Tyng's address, ana after
music from the band the Chairman introduced the Rev.
Joseph y. Thompson, d. d., who said
SPEECH OF THE REV. DIR. J. r. THOMPSON
The flowers seem yet fresh and fragrant that we laid
upon the graves Of soldiers one year ago The mem
es Of the sacred hour then spent together in this
Hall are as OF yesterday. Is 1t not that we come
10 gather flowers, not to scatter themf-t we
L. honrt fhaf Nrh WE