Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1871-06-29
ADDRESS OF A. R. CREAMER.
Delivered on the Occasion of the Dec
OraII0n 0f Soldiers Graves at Jeffer-
sOnviIle. o., june I7th. 1S5Is
Pnblished bv Request.

am indeed sad that the prospects OF
the weather have so greatly marred
the solemnities of this occasion. But
while our grateful purposes have been
the farmer is reminded as
in many times heretofore, that seed
time and harvest will not fail The
showers have prevented us
from wishing many graves we had de
sired and promised to visit. Yet a
willing spirit is abundantly demonstrat-
ed by this unexpected assemblage of
people
trust we are here to-day, not so
much from feeling of duty, as from
a grateful remembrance for the dead
who died in defense of our common
country. We are here in memory of
our fellow heroes; those who went
forth to the country's defense, leaving
home and friends, in fact every thing
that was near and dear on earth and
who by the pestilence of the camp,
upon the battlefield, or in the loath-
some prison pen, were stricken down
in death that the institutions of their
country might live and be perpetuated.
And it is by their noble sacrifice that
you and l to day are permitted to
dwell in a land where the sacred right
of liberty is held inviolate.
We, as inheritors Of such rich and
noble legacy, and which was so dearly
purchased by our fathers in the great
struggle of the revolution, and repur-
chased by our sons and brothers in the
late rebellion, conceive it to be fitting
and proper to set apart and dedicate
this day as emblematic of the soldiers
patriotism and expressive of his vir-
tues.
The circumstances that surround
us, awaken within, feelings that rem
der this occasion peculiarly solemn,
patriotic and suggestive. Solemn be-
cause death is solemn. Patriotic be-
cause it gives Us more lofty concep-
ton of the importance, necessity and
value of the institutions of the coun-
try we inhabit. Suggestive because
it so vividly recalls to our minds the
dark hours of our country's history :;
when our land was rent with war and
bloodshed, until the very ''heavens
were draped in mourning" because of
the slain sons of our fair republic
But the clouds of war have passed
away and peace is again with us, to re-
store the country and heal the sorrows
and sympathies of the long and bloody
conflict. And how welcome was the
day when peace with her balmy wings
of quietude, wrested the hand Of death
and destruction.
Now almost six years have passed
by since perfect tranquility dawned
upon US as peaceful nation. But we
are yet too near the events of the wal
to be unmindful of the broken ties o.
natural affection, as we'll as thos;
created by the dearest sacrifice to coun
try. Yes, many that went from among
us have not returned and many, who
have, are battle Scared and mained
This glooms our homes and hangs ove1
our reception like a dark pail Blu
where are the unreturned braves ?
Their bodies sleep in death and are
found in every patriotic cemetery
throughout this broad land. But thei
souls awake in Christ have fount
peace with the COP Of WASHINGTON
and LINCOLN.
Ny friends we are not here on thi
sacred day to be controversial, not t.
discuss the causes that led to the dis
ruption of this great commonwealth
nor the political issues that hav,
grown out of the restoration o
the country to its normal, and
might say more than primitive con
dition; but to cultivate a spirit o
harmony-a unity of brotherhood, b.
coming together in mourning, at th
graves of our fallen patriots and strew
ing the flowers of Spring on thei
! silent ashes. Our duty demands tina
we should strengthen those ties tha
bind us together as great people, tha
we may in the future be willing t
compromise all personal and politics
; differences, entertaining malice an
enmity towards none. But not fol
getting that fealty to the laws IN
constitution of our fathers is our 81
preme duty. And may we realize ths
we have common interest, a commo
country and q common destiny
Voices from the graves of those W
have looked upon to-day invoke us
be true to our country in the preseI
and future, as our brave heroes hay
been true to it in the past. The saere
S blood of the revolution also ''criet
r from the ground" Protect the gre;
charter Of liberty for which it W;
: shed.
The annals of the race, both sacre
and profane, evidence the fact the Ii
ing respect and venerate the dead
No nation, however, savage, no ag
: however, dark, neglects this sacre
: duty. No custom of feivilized nation
4 obtains and commands more respe
than those thai do honor to, and pc
. petuate the name of the heroes of h
. manity. The magnificent archite
: tural structures of a memorial cha
e acter that dot the continent of Eurol
IS and excite wonder and admiration
the mind of the ranger-especial
q those in the Catacombes of Rome ar
many other ancient places, are ivir
: monuments of the peoples gratitud
The beautiful custom of bringing fio7
Il ers and strewing them on the grav
o or hanging in1mOrtelJes on the mon
ments of the dead is observed with I
ligious zeal. So sacred do they ho
this custom, that upon its observan
d they believe depends the nations gloi
s. and prosperity. 1t is said upon OF
occasion, because of war the people
~ -. Rome neglected this ceremonial da
in and that the spirits of the patriot
II fathers-s'a phantom crowd d'-aro
from their tombs and visited the thu
II L