The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1875-05-30

Most Of them played the game Of dedca-
ton aud decoration alone. aud rode or
walked tn the cemetery at their own com
mand. The procession was under the
marsbalship Of Mr.. Phil. Howard. Of this
city.
The Odd-Fellows assembled at the Ord
nance Building. their headquarters,
where they were received by the com.
mittep. Bros. John w. Carter, John Lin
egar. Ed. Hays, Geo. Taylor. and r. J.
smith, of Mound City Lodge.
The procession of the order, headed by
the Delta Cornet band. was formed by
Past Grand Master Z. Bross, In the fol-
lowing order: Alexader Lodge, Cairo
Encampment, Jonesboro Lodge, Carmi
Lodge. Vienna Lodge, Mound City
Lodge.
Al TIE CEMETERY.
Alter the arrival of the procession of
the cemetery, the ceremony of the deco
ration of the graves was performed.
and the people gathered into squads to
indulge in the luxurics OF lunch in the
green sward, if such am "aillction' may
| DE called luxury.
THE ORGANIZATION.
At half past O'Clock the peopla were
| assembled around the stand which had
been built outside the cemetery in the
Smallest spot that could be found.
At O'Clock the meeting was called to
order, and Hon. Newton X. Casey was
elected president OF the day.
Mr.. Casey returned thanks for the hon
or ia few words, when the following
| additional officers We're elected:
| Vice Piesidents.-.i. NJ. Brown, Pu-
la.H; c. Kirkpatrick, Union A. n. SAT-
ford. Alexander; a. i. kuykcndall.
| johnson Geo. W. Coriiss. Massac: l.
Clements, Jackson; G. Sloan, Saline
II. J.. Bo.eman. White; ID. Lcsher, Wa
| bash.
Secreiaries. B. .. Jones. Massac :
II. r. Potter. Pulaski; +. /. Bouton,
Union; A. Alderman, Pulaski; ID. J..
Davis, Alexander; \. j. Alden, Union.
There was then music by the Cairo
Delta Cornct band, and song by the
Cairo Concordia.
DISAPPOINTED AND SUBSTITUTE.
1t was announced by the chair that the
| eminent gentlemen, Senators Logan.
Oglesby and Morton, who had been in
vi,ed to address the people on the occa-
sion could not be present, and that Mr.,
John II. Obcrly had consented 10 do
what he could to supply their place.
oBERLY's SPEECH.
Mr. Oberly was then introduced. and
after rcciting substantially the history of
the monument given above. said:
This, briefly. is the history ofthe bcauti-
ful monument you purpose to now dedi-
cate to the memory of the heroes who
sleep in the National Cemetery close at
hand.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
Why did the people of Illinois. in
General Assembly convened. appropriate
money to build this monument: why
are you here to-day to dedicate il: Why
| have you brought in Your hands the fra
| grant flowers OF Spring to make beauti-
| full the graves of the dead buried here.
| Who were they that these honors should
bo paid TO their 'i"siS Tho .ieadars every
| where. Graves furrow the earth. the
I great tomb of man. and each contains
| but a handful of dust. /, the dust of the
! dead of this cemetery more precious than
that OF the dead of the village church
| yard of the dead OF the more prrten-
| tious cemetery Of the busting city of
the dead who sleep
"Where roll. the Oregon. and hears no sound
| save his own dashinssf'
In graves not honored by monuments
| like this, not distinguished annually by
the presence multitudes who come with
| floral decorations tor them--n graves
quiet in the sunshine aud the darkness.
aforementioned save by those who knew
and loved them. repose the ashes of men
and women that in life digniiied humanity.
were true 10 duty, and with kind hearts
aud open hands lived faithful to the
Golden Rule. True; and these were
| moral heroes Of private lite whose mon
| umcnts are the influences they have left
behind thcm-their good works that were
not buried with their bones.
Here, however, sleep greater than
those-iive thousand one hundred
siNty-three brave men who fell defending
| the principles of the constitution. devO.
! tees OF patriotism. of all forms OF hero
ism the most unscliish. They died for
| their country, and their reward is the
gratitude ofthe nation, 10 which this mon
umcnt. not ont of its ponderous and mar
bic jaws, but in II silent language more
potent than uttered words, will give mys-
tic utterauce.
THE SACRIFICE OF The rnivArEs.
Al Belmont Fort DonuclsOn. shiloh