The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-05-31
DECORATION DAY.

Christmas. II Is well that II should be 80
for whatever differences Of opinion there
may be us to how such day should be
observed, 1t Is conceded by all thatits OBJ.
servance speaks well for our country,
and our people; speaks soplainly that all
the world may know that as nation we
honor the memory Of the braves who fell
on the battle field. And then how appro.
pirate that NOVEMBER the war isa thing
Of the past, that we should forget II; for.
get the bitter feelings engendered by 1t,
and come together on such day as
baothers and decorate alike the grave Of
friend and foe.
The day was very generally observed
as a holiday by our citizens most Of
the business houses being closed In the
afternoon and many during tho entire
day.
The procession formed at the corner Of
Fourth and Monroe streets at two o'clock
and little before thres, the column moved
down Monroe to Main, preceded by q
brass band next came Company G., Ma.
tional Guard in full uniform. As to the
debut OF Company @. we were quite ia.
vorably impressed. The appearance Of q
body Of uniformed men on our streets in
the capacity Company @. took yester-
day as something Of rare occurrencein
the last lew years, and the rank and file,
as well as the officers Of the company, de.
serve modest compliment at least. The
marching and such evolutions in the man
ual Of arms as they went through, gave
evidence Of q considerable amount Of dis.
cipllne. Tho only hint necessary is, that
no little disturbance on the pavement
while marching, should call the attention
Of the men in the column to such de.
gree as to make them turn their eyes from
the front where they always should
be when at Attention.
Then came Post Thoburn, G. A. r., fol-
lowed by carriages containing the speak.
ers, clergymen, citizens, Sc. The Mar
shals were Messrs. Hugh Sterling and
Clarence Irwin. The line Of march was
down Monroe to Main, up Main to Wash
ington, up Washington to Market, and
thence by the National Road to the speak
ers' stand, which was erected on the brow
of the hill just above the toll gate, and
south Of the entrance to the cemetery.
Arriving at the speakers stand, Captain
Csrlin called upon Rev. A. ]. LYDIA, who
made q very appropriate and impressive
prayer. General Capehart was then In
troduced. he said he was present by in
vitation Of the committee to participate in
these solemn and sacred ceremonies, moi
in honor Of the living but in honor Oh
our fallen braves, to cherish anew
their memories; to remember those
who fought shoulder to shoulder
with US; to remember those to whom we
promised on the battlefield, with hands
uplifted toward heaven, that we would
perform some sacred and holy duty fol-
them.
He said there may be those present who
will ask if the presence or men clothed in
uniform will not bring up bitter snimos'
tiles answer for myself and comrades
no; it is all forgotten, and We remember
only the dead. There is not an old sol.
dier present to-day, who is not proud that
he is an American, and has been soldier.
Our country will soon rise up and be the
grandest of all the countries on the globe
for we have elaborated from our national
escutcheon that which was national dis
grace; 1t was curse but Is now gone
to return no more forever; and to-day, life
and liberty are secure in all parts Of our
country. He said we are here to strew
with flowers the graves OF those who fell
defending the old flag. Their death
was crowned with victory; and to-day we
realize that victory. Young men, there
is great future in store for you, for
God has lavished his blessings upon US
and our country; let US be proud OF our
coun try and proud that we are Americans.
The speaker stated that it was not q
time 70 make long speeches, as that was
not what the people were present tor.
Capt n d. Cochran was then intro
duced and spoke about as iollows: de
was present with no preparation, but
as the committee had kindly invited
him he would saw few yvorda
de telt That II would pc Tres
pass on the audience to detain
them longas the eloquence Of the heart
was far more appropriate than mere elo.
queuce of words on such occasions. he
SAID this glorious occasion Is one calcu.
lated to do us all good; we have met to
give manifestation to tho fact that we
Iannreciate the ac,s and yalor of those