Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-05-31

In the Rural cemetery.
THE AFTERNOON EXERCISES.
About two O'Clock the rain began to fall in
scattering drops, which soon increased to
steady rain, and continued during the after
noon. The crowd upon the street was not quite
as large as during the morning, but still there
were great many people out to witness the
parade of the Grand Army. The members
OF the post assembled at their headquarters
promptly at two O'Clock, and after standing
around in the rain for some time, formed into
battalion, under the command of Post Com
mander j. A. Titus, and took up the line of
march in the following ORDER
Platoon of Police under command of
PatrOlman Gates.
Worcester Brass Band
Post 10 Drum Corps.
Father Mathew Temperance Band
JOhnsOn's Drum Corps
Post 10 G. A. r. Twelve Companies
The column marched down Main street to
Lincoln square, attended on either side of the
street by large crowd under the protection of
umbrellas. 1t was expected that the Highland
cadets would join the procession at this point,
but on account of the rain they failed to put in
an appearance. The column countermarched
'NAONeS4 4Aalh obtCSl " lHC Clly ndll where Ills
honor Mayor Very, the city government and
invited guests, were received and escorted to
Mechanics hall. Upon arriving at the hall, the
invited guests were assigned places on the plat
form, and the members of the Post occupied
the centre of the house. The galleries were
well filed with an audience mostly composed of
ladies, but the attendance on the floor was not
as large asiusual, owing of course to the rain.
The exercises began by voluntary upon the
organ by Mr.. Henry S. Rice, followed by PRAYER
by [. G. Bidwell of Trinity church. By partic-
ular request the choir of the Universaist church
sang Collins ode, "How sleep the brave" in
beautiful manner. Col. Titus then introduced
Col. Homer B. Sprague, the orator of the day.
The speaker began by alluding to this day as a
new American anniversary, which, with its sim
pie and sacred rites, seems destined to become per-
petuated. He spoke of the appropriateness and
value of its objects, which incucate lessons of Un-
selfish patriotism and heroic sacrifice of its
beautiful and impressive ceremonies an an. |
nua tribute of earth's fairest and purest produc-
tionf to the memory of the brave-and of its
language, teaching lessons of personal honor deyO-
ton to principle, and the defence of home and ma
tive land. He called attention to the memories |
awakened by each return of this anniyersary-mpm-
Dries which include panorama of the whole war |
but different to each participation as each was ndi.
Vidnally impressed or affected by its incidents
pshed fact of secession-Of the fall of Fort Sumter
of the first call of President Lincoln for 75C men
and how nobly and how promptly that call was met,
Massachusetts being most noble and most prompt |
in her contributions the bloody fight in Balti-
more on the anniversary of the battle of Lexington
of the campaign in northern Virginia in the sum
mer of1S61-of the battle of Bah Run where SO |
many gallant men of Worcester county met their |
fate-of the dark days which follrwed the |
the people which followed the frsf de- |
preston as soon as the real scope and magni- |
tude of the struggle became apparent-and of the |
grand achievements of the war, one by one they |
followed, step by step, in the path which ultimately
led to victory and peace, were each alluded to and |
briefly sketched in few words, but in such manner
to bring before the audience vivid pictures of |
those remarkable scenes in the life OF the nation
In all these scenes he traced the presence and the
influence of Massachusetts soldiers for in each thew
acted conspicuous and distinguished part every |
where showing themselves worthy REPRESENTATIVES |
Of the honor and worth OF their noble state. He
Worcester county soldiers took part but not to ALL
for hardly battle was fought during the war which
had not in IL representatives of the heart of thp
commonwealth, and not an arm of the service INF
was honored with the same brave men, He gave
brief statistical facts showing the numbers Of the
slain, and said that of these some rest here under
New England skies, in the cemeteries of their
fathers, while many and perhaps the most rest on
the glorious field on which they fell, or in the bed
of the river or ocean where their ships went down;
and it is with sad peculiar pleasure, and with deep
emotion and sorrow, that their comrad& deck their
empty tombs to-day.
Many of the best and bravest died In hospitaI
more in number than those who fell in action and
many others died in lOathsome prisons under cir
cumstances which were hard tests of their patriot
ism and honor, and he said there is no brighter |
painting a dark background than that which |
exhibits the moral heroism of the Union soldiers
who calmly and for many weary weeks chose to die |
in prison rather than to take the oath of allegiance
to the confederacy. 1t is brave and noble TO die in
the heat of BATTLE but ii is far higher moral corr
age and faith which sustains men through such or
deals as were common to many of the comrades of
the men who to-day decorate their graves. He
EnIf aHW,.na
given, but the suerings of the Union soldiers could
never be forgotten; they are part of the history
of the war.
He said one of the leading lessons nj to.dav 10
that while there Is something more precious than
human life the liberties and the institutions OF the
country are costly and precious, for they have been
bought and paid for with much Of toll Of hand and
heart and of costly sacrifices of blood and of snr.
row; He would have 1t remembered too as lessons
OF the war-that we are one nation, not simnIe
league OF states, and that the authority Of the Union
is paramount to all its members,--that false views
OF state rights" and Estate sovereignty" are the
seed from which has sprung this harvest of death
that human rights even in the of the humblest
and weakest are sacred,-that compromise with
moral evil for any iancied gain is dangerous and
certain to bring sorrow and ruin, and that any
fundamental departure from right even in minor
matters, may result In tremendous and disastrous
consequences.
He traced in strong colors the protracted strug.
gle which was waged between the inquitous sys- |
TEN of American slavery and our national life, and
recognized In the emancipation proclamation OF |
President Lincoln the axe which reached the foot |
OF the Tree ana ny destroying the cause of the war
occurred the return of enduring peace For the exc
stence ofslavery both the north and south shared |
the responsibility, and retrbutve justice measured
out to each its share of the punishment in the
pangs and sorrows of that punishment both acc. |
ions have learned to respect each other for sincpr
ty, courage and manhood. The sincerity of tho |
southern soldiers must not be doubtpd--thev were |
mistaken, but they true to ther teppest con. |
victlons, and their bravery in action and under tho
circumstances Of disaster and defont IL
unquestioned In the sorrowful recollectlons Of |
this day he would strive to bury all the unkndness
that was generated by the struggle.
But, he urged with special earnestness and force !
the duty of the survivors Of the war does NOT end
with the decoration OF soldiers graves nor with
the cherishing Of their memories Justice and nnh |
lie honor will not be satisfied till the duty which is
owed to the living survivors Is performed The |
helpless veteran, the aged fathers and mothers the
orphan children, and the desolate widows who |
often sacrificed more than did their husbands who
fell on the iteld,al these are entitled to care pro
lection and most generous aidif ali ese IL IL IN
liviOn, these must not be forgotten
In closing he urged that the day also appeals eor
peace none knew so well as veteran soldiers liLe |
those who have conducted the ceremonies of to-day
that the horrors of war cannot be exaggerated and
none can more heartily nor more understandinpiy |
and he was sure none wouldlmora willingly foIn !
In the fervent duplication, God speed tic dov
when throughout not only this land but through |
oil lands the sound OF war shall DO heard no more
The address was delivered in an eloquent aud