The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-06-06
DECORATION DAY.
At Savannah.


house was compactly filled with ladies
and gentlemen of the city and neighbor-
ing country, each bringing their tribute
OF flowers and evergreens to the dead
soldiery, whose lives had been offered
as a sacrifice that the nation might live.
The house had been tastefully decorated
under the superintendent Of Captains
Caldwell and Whitaker and Samuel
Frodsham. A number o! handsome
and appropriate pictures graced the
walls and the '.stars and stripes" were
happily displayed. At 2 o'clock the
meeting was organized by the selection
of Danial yanBuskirk, Esq, as Chair
man, and o. f. Paul, Secretary. After
music by Dugan's brass band, David
Rca, Esq, was called upon for an ad-
dress. lie responded in a speech of an
hours length, in which he presented
ideas and views which should be strong
ly impressed upon the hearts of Ameri-
a citizens. After more music by our
brass band. an essay was read by Miss
Shoemaker, which was really excellent
and to the point. We consider it well
worth publication. 1t is as follows:
A TRIBUTE OF RESPECT TO OUR FALLEN
HEROES.
We deem il a pleasure, as well as a
duty, to pay the small tribntc
of respect to the memory of our depart
ed heroes, who took their lives in their
hands and went forth ut their country's
call to meet, not only the hardships
which fall TO the lite of q soldier, but
death, if need be, far from friends and
those they loved best on earth that the
Union might be preserved. In taking
a view of the rebellion from its CON-
mencement to its close, what vast
changes are presented to our view! At
the war aforementioned, our country
trembled. The scene was one of havoc
and bloodshed. 1t seemed as if peace
and harmony had taken their fight,
w again to return. Confusion and
tumult were the order Of the day. But,
after q time, peace and harmony were
again restored; the cloud of adversely,
which had east such a fearful gloom,
moved away, and sunshine was wei
coined in its stead. But there are those
within the sound of my voice to whom
the sunshine of peace is a mockery,
when they think of the loved ones who
are sleeping at Gettysburg and Antic-
tam, mt Shiloh and the Wilderness.
Need l recall the horrors that were en-
acted ut Libby and A~ndersOnrille pris-
ons, where ficnds in human form de-
stroyed the lives of thousands Of the
brightest and nOblest Ofour land where
men would plead in vain for a glass Of
water to cool their tongues, and the
ears were closed to the cries of the dy-
ing ; where deeds were committed, the
recital of which would make even u
Modoc tremblc; when men seemed to
forget the high and noble aim for which
they were born, and could stoop to any
thing so base and so degrading?
In view of the above facts, is it not
just that we should meet annually to
show the friends of the fallen that We
are not altogether unnindful of the de-
parted heroes of our country that their
deeds of noble heroism are still fresh in
our memories and should be in the
heart of every true American citizen
Then this day. how well chosen a time,
when all nature is clothed in beauty,
and the earth is robed in her mantle of
green, and the whole mir is filed with
balm; when the earth Gems lightencd
of her cares, and beckoned by the fra
grant June, we wander through the
garden and pluck the fairest flowers to
deck the graves of those we love.
And when w stand gazing On the graves
Where they lie still forever more,
Our brothers sleep and spon shall we
Rest from IN. tempest's surge and roar;
W hen NIL the suffering and the pain
Are -nsled, and we cease to weep,
What comfort hath the soul like this
lie giyrth his beloved TO sleep.
Mr.. j. r. Altgeld then read that
beautiful and pathetic poem, "Bin gen
on the Rhine" commencing:
~ soldier of the Legion
Lay dying at Anglers"
Mr.. Altgcld rendered the poem in
a truly superior manner, aud vas re-
warded by the applause of the audience.
After prayer by Rev. J. Gillies. the pro-
was formed, headed by the
band, and marched to the cemetery,
after prayer by Rev. DIR. Cruik-
the procession dispersed to strew
upon the graves of soldiers,
had previously been designated
BY q committee. A short address, was
then delivered by DIR. Cruikshank.
After bcnediction was pronounced, the
dispersed to their homes,
that another good action had
been done-another day well spent.