National Republican., 1873-05-31

Aud ye, 81 the CRY ysialinc army o. stars,
<. ths crownlnl of peace I aud the ceSsins Of wars
The choir and Marine band then performed
the American hymn
the President and Mrs Grant, and, In accoLslance
with the order OF the Grand Army OF the hepuD- |
llc, the graves were decorated with nower..
Il was day full Of thrilling interest," and long |
10 be remembered.
PROSPECT Hill. CEMETERY.
Decoration Ccrcmonie.-oruiion BY Col.
Faehtz, &c.
The graves Of the Union soldiers in this ceme-
tery, where forty-nve bodies are inferred, were
decorated under the direction OF the German
Veteran Union. Al the main entrance TO the GENE
tory large arch was erected, trimmed with the
German and American nags, with suitable mot |
toes In German, and at the entrance To the roads
on the right and left Of the gateway arches were
A. S.sS o'eioeS Inc PROCESSION formed at the
City Hail, under the marshalshlp Of Mr. Z. Rnp- |
pert, and VIM. Helms, Chas. Harle aud Adolph |
kreuse as aides, and marched 70 the cemetery
In the following order; Donch's band, carriages |
containing the, orator, committee OF arrange
ments, Ac.; pupils Of P. A. Mattetn, W. truss. |
man And 9 Deges school ana m M me sSnsesss Of
Reys. 4. Ienkel, O. l. Retz, =. Mengert, K
ReltZel and st. Joseph's Roman Catholic church, |
the children being attired N wn,e, WIN y, ,h sed,
schools; Washington Saengerbund, hrion guar |
tette Club, Washington and Columbia Turn
yereIn Association and the German veteran
Union. -
Un the arrival OF the procession At the GENE
tery gate the band played dlrge, and the col
umn moved slowly 70 the stand, stand, % %wn,Sn
ground, where a halt was made, and
a salute Of three guns was nred from piece
OF artillery on the hill. AZ the stand hollow
f6e stand, erected near the graves Of Prlyates
Ohl and Rckitt, OF company D, Turner Hlnes,
District OF Columbia volunteers, who were
Killed at Great Falls, July I, 1881, was magnih-
Gently decorated with the German and Ameri-
can days, while In the centre, under the orators
desE, was bust Of Lincoln, draped IN mourn
man. over the graves OF OH and Rcket were
also selections OF poetry from Theo. koerner
After the procession had been arranged, the
sHngerbund sung GLOW they rest so softly"
after which John Trcziack, president OF the
Veteran Union, made the opening address in
German. The following programme was then
carried out: Prayer by Rev. q. L. Rletz; at
peryadea your peace" etc.; chorus, Arion Quar-
teite club; prayer by Jul. Otto; Misersre, Tro.
nOwers on the grave" (chorusD sengerbund;
"rhe grave nower," by Q. Lenshow.
TuE GRAFTON or col. HAKnTz.
There are moment. In human life
When We feel ourselves nsar ths Spirit Of the Uni
| UoSoREp FurESps AND COMRADES: Our MASTER
poet may not have thought Of the complex life
e ssafee iHsss TGras SS ai e95 a. i au Is
/ this hour such moment, which guides hundreds
OF tleusands to the soldiers graves with flowers
and the still higher ovation OF noble sentiments
aud Impressions. Indeed, this day re-echoes q
love OF nearly divine origin, which manlfests
purity and harmony In the many sections Of our
country that justlnes the exclamation:
"A million OF souls Inspired by one thought:
million Of hearts bsati6s In unison pIisStions" &"
Who could call II error to ind In such an unsel-
nsh feeling Of masses the influence OF the Great
Spirit. when the Inspiration OF the poet sees even
In the great sentiments Of q lonely heart It's
presence. II ever the voice OF the people Is the
voice OF God, II must be so to-day, when u leads
US to the understanding Of eternal truths and
/ beauties In much closer proximity than the tur-
mol of q stormy life can ever permit, and
awAkens In US impressions and ideas which even
chases the seorn and blame OF the sconer into
the receases OF his miserable breast.
The thoughts and feelings must be ennobllng
which can an thousands Of grayeyaris with
at all times q mysterious shudder, whic'. even
the most courageous shnns, and even the charms
Of spring cannot altogether banlsh.
"The grave Is deep and silent,
j How fearful Ills 10 stand
| Upon its yergel II ahroudeth
| With gloom an unknown land.
"The nightingale may waTbie,
| II heaTelh not the sound;
| And friendship strews It's roses,
| But on iis mossy mound"
Oh! how sombrc and yet how true and beauLl-
ful Is this language OF the poeu The slumberers
10 moi near the SewitchIne sounds OF nature
| when she awakens from her deathlike sleep; but
| 10 US, the living, these signs OF returning life
give the sweet assurance that also for US and our
| dead there shall dawn morning OF resurrection
which will unite us with our departed dear ones
In purer existence.
ARISE, yes, yes, arise. thou my dust,
From short repOse thou must
Immortal lIyeth
The soul the Maker glyeth."
This hope alone can mitigate the griet OF our
separation and soften the longing for the dead,
and the comforting presentinent OF such q re-
lnion helps US 10 shake on the choking atmos-
phere OF death and 10 remember the more cheer
tul reflection that to-day We celebrate the day Of
offer our homage 10 their memory.
The grand idea OF this National Memorial Day
Is deeply impressed upon our souls, and needs
no lengthy explanation, but not TO Withhold In
silence our praises to this beautiful anniversary
custom, we may express our Views upon the
subject IN the terse Adage, that nation adds to
It's heroes, and with full emphasis we declare, |
that even had we no other reason, this would
snince 70 US as American citizens 10 Join cheer
fully In every movement which conteInplates the
doing honor 20 the defender Of mis- country,
shch Is SO richly due him, aud IN this spirit We
now remember all the soldiers 81 freedom IN the
might have tinRed their bIows, or what language
they may have stAmmered In their infancy; and
no matter whether our nowers may rest upon
unknown and unapproaohabie places, may no
one be forRotten-the living not excluded Nay
all, all be lovingly remembered IN gratitude for
the sacrinces they have made and the services
they have rendered TO our dear country
After these words II would become, In fact II Is
the custom, on such occasions 20 burn incense to
the dead by relating some Of their heroic deeds.
But, friends and comrades, bear with me II ]
Ieylate from such cust0m-in part, because
believe Il to be injustice 70 the living and the IN
yidual cases; and, again, because ] wish to en-
large somewhat upon the specific slgnincatlon OF
the special ovation In this cemetery without de-
u Y'ii0s i0Sso. s00 '0ns '"' 1' ' '"' "0'A
Yes, comrades and friends, our festival array
here has special slgnincatlon, and THIS grave
yard mas peculiar yet unobIectionAble attractions
foT u.s. The compass and understanding OF 1t Is
not without general interest, aud certainly has
legitimate claim upon our recognition.
We are German born, and all the comrades who
rest here under the sward came from the same
shores as we did. This IA not mentioned to erect
a hateful barrier between US and our native com
demonstration for the purpose OF talking secrets
In a language unknown 10 them, nor Is IL done
with any jealous wish 70 bolltlle their fame. No
After the speech the programme was con- |
clndeu as follows; "Father, Call Thee" ". II. |
lIlmmelO grand chorus, BY the Sengerbund, |
Ar!on Qaartette Club and Donchs orchestra;
symphony, (BeethOyen,) DOnchS orchestra
The line was then formed, and the procession
proceeded 70 strew the graves, each OF which
was adorned with an American nag. During the |
Btrewing the artillery fred Q salute OF thirty
seven guns.
Upon the conclusion Of tho strewing the line
was again formed and proceeded TO LgflieTs
gardens, where refreshlnents were given the
children.
The attendance OF our German citizens was
large among the number being many OF the rep
resentatlYe men Of this class. Il
OAK HILL CEMETERY.
A Series Of Interesting Exercises.