The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-05-31
DECORATION DAY.
At LoUIsYILLE.

OF Federal graves at Cave Hill, to-day,
was attended by large crowd. Secretary
BristOw delivered the Grafton, followed
by short address by Hon. Jas. Speed, ex-
Attorney General, q S, A.
SECRETARY BRIsTow's GRAFTON.
Perhaps nothing more distinctly marks
the degree Of civilization attained by d
country or community than tender re-
gard for the memory OF its dead, The
monuments erected, the flowers planted
by loving hands in the resting places OF
the dead testify to the virtues OF the liv-
ing. The splendid cemeteries Of great
cities and the modest graveyardS OF vii
lagos and nGighborhoods betoken the ex-
istence Of a sentiment alike CrGditable to
each. Our own beautiful Cave Hill,
wherein we meet to-day, with its green
sward, its trees and flowers, its marble
monuments, bearing names familiar to us
all, tell US the people Of Louisville cher
ish the memory Of departed friends.
But our solemn and tender feeling for
the dead il here exalted by the generous
spirit Of patriotism which This day must
revive. We are assembled to celebrate the
valor and virtue Of men who died to pre-
serve tho blessings OF personal liberty
and free government TO us and our pos
terity. The memory Of their heroic en-
duranGe and daring courage should live
in the hearts OF succeeding generations
so long us the principles FOL. which they
fought and died shall survive and DO val
ued among men. Occasions like this
must ever be full Of interest to those who
love their country and desire the perpetu.
alton Of iR institutions. With mingled
feelings Of sadness and joy wo come to
decorate with fresh flowers, emblematic Of
Of our affection, the graves OF soldiers
who gave their lives in defense Of that
Union which was preserved by the yal6F
Of themselves and their comrades, nor
are We alone in the performance Of this
sacred and patriotic duty In all parts Of
the country, this day Is devoted to the
CommemoratiOn Of the patriotism and
courage OF those who fell in struggle
which the world can never forget. AL
though ten years lave passed since the
conflict, II Is even now too soon to know
and appreciate 10 their fullest extent its
beneficial results, or It's influence upon
the destiny Of great people. For the
purposes and the duty Of this day 1t IL
enough to know that they who sleep be-
meath this sod baLtled and died for n
country which still survives toshed It's
blessings upon us. By the united efforts
Of themselves and their surviving com.
rades the government for which they went
forth to battle has not only been saved
from overthrow, but Its foundations made
deeper and broader,
The fundamental idea upon which the
great founders buildod has been carried
to its logical result, and the political
axiom OF our fathers that all men are
created equal, that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain inalicnable
rights, that among these are lie, liberty
and tic pursuit Of happiness, has found
further illustration aud broader applica-
tion. This immortal declaration Is no
longer limited by ideal boundaries, but
reaches forth to every man Of whatever
race or color, who breathes The uir or
treads the soil Of the Union. The uni
versatility Of It's application is now plainly
declared in our written Constitution, and
our national emblem floats over none
who are not entitled to its equal pr0tec-
tiOn. Looking back to the beginning Of
the struggle, and calling to mind the de-
clared purposes with which the Govern
mCnt entered upon il, the results achieved
may we'll excite the special wonder Of the
civilized world. Al first engaging in
war Of self.defense, the Government I'M
dertOOk TO repOsess s.own property and
to assert its rightful authority in dis.
puted places, Il was regarded by most
persons us little more than u trial Of
strength OF free government, and for Il
time the battle was uncertain. TO many
the issue seemed doubtful. Dependency
lowered over the heads and gloomy fore.
bOdings filled the hearts Of patriots.
Political intrigue and clasEing OF person
al ambitions well nigh destroyed at least
one oiour greatest armies. But amid re.
verses in arms and the wrangling Of poll!
ticiana, the valor Of the sOldiery. never
faltered, and in Ills own good time, God
raised up for us great military leaders,
who were equal TO the emergency, and
who, having no selfish ambition to crafty,
lead our gallant armies to final victory.
Meanwhile the delays and postpone.
ments resulting from the causes referred
to had furnished time and opportunity
for thoughtful consideration Of the ques-
tlons underlying the conflict. The man
who then stood 1T the helm Of state by
the, choice Of the people, and who by the
Constitution was COmmandbr.in.chicl OF
the Army and Navy, had declared in
1858, with scarcely less than prophetic
vision, that this government could not
endure permanently half slave and half
free. As the struggle progressed the
truth Of this announcement forced itself
upon the people, The men Of the South,
who were In rebellion against the author.
ity Of the government, had avowed their
purpose to build up separate govern.
nient, with slavery for its cornerstone.
The irrepressible conflict between free.
dom and slavery had now begun in earn.
est, and the people of the adIicring States
at first reluctantly and slowly, but at
last Irnily, resolved that slavery and the
rebellion should perish together, and TO.
day they sleep In common grave. He
who fails to see In all this the hand OF an
All-wise Providence Is but dull reader
Of events, and who In all this brOad land
still now avow a desire for n different
rcsulI2 Speaking upon the soil Of one
Of the late slave States, | but declare the
truth, which will not be cOntroverted or
questioned by any considerable number
Of intelligent persons, when assert that
n great blight has been removed from
the South by the abolition Of slavery. 1t
requires no prophet to foretell that soon.
er or later the South must enter upon q
career Of uncxampled prosperity under
the influence OF free Institutions. Her
resources are practically bOundless; her
fertile soil, her rich mineral deposits, her
ptopitious climate, all point to future
wealth and power. Free labor must and
will develop these, as il has already done
in the less favored region Of the North.
Tile causes which have operated since
the close Of the civil war to fetnrd the on.
ward movement and check The prosperity
Of tho South might be easily traced, but
this Is not u suitable occasion 10 discuss
them, II | am asked when will this pre-.
dicted prosperity be realized, my answer
il when the passions and prejudices en-.
gendcred by the strife shall have entirely
subdued; when the inalienable right Of
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