American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-05-09
MEMORIAL DAY.


in Canton, on last Friday, the LIST
inst, was organized in our court
house square and marched to the
cemetery, where the annual duty of
decorating the graves of our SOL
diers was again performed.
The pageantry of the occasion was
exceedingly beautiful, and reflected
great credit upon the good taste of
our talented fellO x-townsman, Mr..
T. T. Singleton, who was the Mar
shall OF the Day. The music was
most captivating and well selected,
renewing the feeling of pride
awakened on every occasion of pub.
lie performance, in the hearts Of our
citizens, by the progress Of the
Young gentlemen who compose the
amateur band of our city.
The children of our several Sun
day Schools assembled in the square
at tour O'Clock, p. M, and took their
0RRAOkSAb0tO PiaSOo Al OAuCAs MY
were beautifully dressed, and laden
with flowers, and in charge of their
respective superintendent and
teachers. There was congregated,
besides, an immense audience of Ia
dies and gentlemen.
After a thrilling execution of that
piece Of music SO dear to every
Southern heart, "Dixie," the orator
Of the day, Hon. j. A. p. Campbell,
was introduced by the Marshal, and
proceeded to deliver an address that
should be. read everywhere in the
land. 1t " as a rare combination of
force and beauty-an able argu-
ment, clothed with those graces of
style which made it in adnlira BILE
adaptation to the requirements of
the occasion. Its delivery was
graceful. in harmony with the vary
ing tone of it's sentiment, and, in a
high degree, oratorical and impress
CASOs 4ACAC was VUV OA0 AOCl1uS
regarding it in the immense au
dience who listened, and that was
that it was, in all respects. equal to
such an occasion. We exceedingly
regret thar the crowded state Of our
columns denies us the pleasure of
giving to our readers, in full, this
mastery effort of our gifted friend.
We understand it will appear this
morning in the columns of our wor-
thy contemporary, and to it we ap-
peal in justification of our euloglum,
but the reader will be deprived the
pleasure afforded those present, at
its delivery, of the style and man.
ner of tile speaker, which added SO
much to its effect The argument,
while it breatlsed everywhere senti-
ments of the broadcast charity for the
opinions of others, was, neverthe-
less, in full support of the justice of
the Lost Cause.
When the grafton was concluded.
the procession TODD up its line of
march for the cemetery, the band in
front, followed by the children of
the Sunday Schools; next came the
ladies and gentlemen In attendance,
and then the gentlemen of the
fire department. in their uni
forms. OF these last, we will only
say we challenge the world to pro-
duce a handsOmer body of men.
They showed perfect discipline,
much to their own and the
credit OF their gallant chief and his
able assistants. The fire company
is the feature of our little city, and
he must he dead to sentiment who
does not feel pride in its bearing
and efficiency.
At the cemetery the procession
was duly arranged for the purpose,
ana an earnest, heartfelt prayer
was offered up by the Rev. r. j.
Jones, of the NJ. E. Church, the
Chaplain of the occasion.
Then came the tasteful decora-
ton Of the graves Of our dead SOL
diers. 1t was a sad but beautiful
sight to see the white dresses Of
little children moving among the
mounds which mark the last resting
place of our fallen heroes. deposit
ing the first offering Of Spring in
honor to their memory. Above all
waved the peaceful banners OF the
different Sunday Schools with their
melancholy notices glistening in
the sun. These occasions are fit
ting memorials of the patriotism of
our heroic dead. They keep alive
sentiment which should never die.
With the actors should die all
feelings of partisanship and hostili-
ty; and SO, and in accord with the
tone of the address of their orator,
the participators in the solemn duty
of decoration omitted not the
graves of those who had been their
foes. The graves of the strangers