Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-06-04
Decoration Day In MontpeIler.


the Grand Army Of the Republic for Decora
ton Day we're observed in this village on Fri
day OF last week under the direction Of Post
Brooks.
At an early hour in tho morning, flowers in
prolusion and Of rare elegance were brought
OF sent by the ladies to the Village Hall, where
a COMMITTEES u ladies were in waiting to ar
range them in appropriate form. We think
we never saw in Montpelier q larger or more
attractive display Of flowers. Each seemed To-
vic with the other in bcstowing their floral
tributes Of remembrance to those who died
that the country might live. The freedom
with which they were furnished, and the care
with which they we're arranged, were among
the most pleasing and noticeable features of the
OCCASION
At two O'Clock the exercises at the Hill were
opened, by Commander Fred. +. Smith, who
repeated portion Of the impressive ritual GER
emony Of the order. the response being made
by Senior Vice Commander f. V. Randall. A
prayer was then offered by the chaplain. Rev.
N. N. Glazer. The choir, consisting Of some
from each choir in the village, under the COM
petcut leadership Of Col. II D. Hopkins, sang
with fine effect, " America" The Command
err then introduced Chaplain Gnzier. who spoke
as follows
CHAPLAIN ctAzITR's REMARKS.
Comrades and Friends After the close Of
the war Of the rebellion, it was thought to he
well for soldiers sailors and marines, who had
been in the union service b form an organiza-
ton for the purpose Of Strengthening their fra
ternal feelings for the purpose ofhelplng soldiers
in want. and assisting the widows and orphans
Of those who fell and for the purpose OF cSorsh-
ing a spirit of loyalty and patriotism. This
organization i called the Grand Army Of the
Republic. Soldiers and sailors Of the o. $.
Army, Navy or Marine corps, who served dur
ing the late rebellion, and those having been
honorably discharged therelrom after such ser
vice are eligible to membership, but no person
is eligible who has at any time borne arms
against the United States. The object Of this
organization rs set forth in its rules and regu-
latOns arc, first. % preserve and strengthen
those kind and lrateruel feelings which bind
together the soldiers. sailors, and marines who
united to suppress the late rebellion. Second,
toassist such former comrades in arms ne need
| help and protection aud 10 extend neediul aid
to the widows and orphans Of those who have
I fallen Third. to maintain true allegiance to
the United States Of America, based upon o
paramount respect for and fidelity b the Ma
ii0nal Constitution and laws TO disc0untc-
nance whatever tends to weaken LOYALTY, in
cites to insurrectiOn, treason or rebellion. or in
any manner impairs the efficiency and perma-
nency Of our free institutions; and TO encour-
age the spread of universal liberty, equal rights,
and Justice TO all men.
/ As pnst of the Grand Army we meet here
to day together with you alive all as thou
sands and tens Of thousands in our land are
/ doing this very day-tO commemorate the ial-
len heroes. who fell in the line Of duty in de-
Tense Of the Republic during her late struggle
for existence to strew their graves with flow
ers, and IN keep in memory their patriot
ism and heroic devotion to liberty and govern
ment
Comrades, can we ever forget our partner.
in the tolls and hardships of the war. who
fell at our sides, and with their fast failing
breath whispered dying messages of love in
our ears for the dear ones at home. No No
This memorial day, On which we decorate
their graves with tokens Of love and al
lection is no idle ceremony TO pass away AZ
hour, but it brings back TO our minds in al
their vividness the fearful conflicts Of that ter
rble war, in which they fell as victims.
Beside the graves OF the fallen ." with malIc,
toward none and charity for all - let us renew
our loyalty, and fan to a brighter glow ou1
patriotic love. No doubt it is best that an
imosities Of the rebellion should he buried
best that we should all unite in relieving thu
wants of orr common community, and IN ad
vancing the interests of peace but whit
cherishing the spirit Of forgiveness towar'
those who fought US for four years with re
morselesS desperation and with all the terribl
engiury ofdeath-men whom we never hated, ex
cept that they struck at the old 81 say, Will
,Iarfelfrv tho enirit IF fnrUiveupsg lot : de
termine anew, as we stand year by year aroun'
the graves of our dead, to he reconciled I
treasOn-never.
Comrades. to-day scenes OF the camp, tn
march. the bvOuac, and the battle wildly pre-
sent themselves to our minds. What soldier /
not stirred in spirit as he thinks over the hattl
fields of the war-sOme TO he sure OF defeat
but many Of victory at last OF triumphal VIC
tory The names of the battle fields OF tn
war for the Union can never he blotted out
: Talk of ernsing the names of the battle field
. from the flag Men can do that, but thOs
! names are written in wounds upon the b0dle
of thousands Of the survivors OF the war ; the
are inscribed upon millions of human heart
that mourn for brave ones fallen they are er
graved in deep burrows made by shot and shell
upon the fields and upon the mountains, an
upon the valleys, aud upon the hill-sldes, an
7 upon the forests they are whispered by III
winds they are murnured By the rivers; the
are chaniod by the ocean they speak, an
their voices ring around the earth they speai
t telling of the orerfhroio of slavery, treason an
D rebellion. and telling of the triumph OF freedoi
and loyalty and government; they are Il
worlds heritage entwined for evermore wit
the rights OF humanity
Suffice it then to say that slavery thre
t down the gauntlet, and freedom picked
, up: slavery drew the sword, and ireedO
accepted the challenge, calling on a
good men to stand BY the country, al
preserve unsulied the honor Of the o
Y a,g. which their fathers had consecrat,
G to liberty and law The spirit OF the iathe
T. lived in the sons, and the farm. the worksho
= and the factory, the counting house, the sehoo
C the Office, the professional chair, contribute
c TO the thousands who assembled to vindlca
y the majesty Of the law, and the honor OF Il
0 nation.
e Whoshall tell the heroic dcad2 Histories
: the struggle have been written, and will he wri
= ten hut after all, there will remain an vi
r written history, which the world viii new
T. know. known in its full extent only to Iii
= who marks all things, even the sparrow $ ial
+, The heroic dead they went out from us hus
{ with life, leaving the delights ct home, NEE
Q ing the dread hardships of war, but, alas the
$ fell in liie's clear morning or high no0ntld
t conscious, il may be, of no victorious results
: conscious only Of having answered the call I
duty. and Of following that duty TO the en-.
: What shall we say of these shall they
: unmourned. unremembered, unhonored? ID
] they die in vain? No, In onr mountains a
d silver and gold; in our valleys are gems ar
;. diamonds, hut nowhere is dust so precious
r that of our fallen braves, for from this sprin.
r the harvest Of civil liberty. The gloriol
;. fruits of Tree government are gathered on
8 from soil fertillzed by the blood OF patriots al
u heroes. They went down into death that q
;, republic mig ht rise into newness OF lie. The
e died for liberty, pouring their hearts blo'
: into its channels, stamping their character pt
% its pillar, paving with their bones the hig
II way upon which the nation now marches
y greater glory and renown. They, under Go
= regenerated the political Lille Of the natio
e They bore in triumph through shot and shs
n the glorious Tag of their country.
i Sleep on, brothers, sleep. Rebellion has pc
i ished, hut the old flag remains, and from q
, dune ola nations capitol waves yet, the grea
: grand old banner of freedom and equality {
It's ample folds we read, written with your ov
le blood, that these United States shall be one al
r, indiyisihle that the separate states are n
n absolutely sovereign, and have no right TO di
N member the republic that universal ireedc
y is indispensable to a republican government
y, that slavery is utterly and forever abolishe
u that man is man no more secession, no mo
n. disunion, no more slavery.
{. Our fallen heroes. - Being dead, they y
lr speak" Ii was touching memorial to tn,
I'd comrade, the warrior OF Breton birth,
IN Tour d Auvergne, the first grenadier OF Franc