The Van Buren press., 1875-06-01

Mr.. Browns speech was credit TO the
heart and head OF the gentleman, and its ap-
probation was manifested by the fearful eyes
of many of his hearers. The occasion
was an interesting one and the address was
thrillngly and beautifully appropriate.
After the address the band played again,
after which Hon. Gran. Wilcox was introdu-
ced and spoke as follows:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
1t is no easy task TO prepare an address that
will fully answer the demands OF an occasion
such as the present. Trusting more to the
Indulgence Of my auditors than TO my own
ability, | have essayed to comply with the re
quest made by the committee appointed to Sc
lcct speakers.
We have assembled to-day to pay fitting
ribute to the memory OF the heroes whose
mortal remains have found last,long resting
place in this holy ground. The least poeticai
and imaginative amongst Us can but feel that
the time chosen for the performance OF this
sad duty, is peculiarly appropriate. Our re
ligion teaches us that in the great hereafter
there is eternal spring. No chilling winds or
biting frosts come to mar the beauty Of the
promised Paradise No ungenial winter with
his icy touch to lock up the music OF the tink-
ling rils and rob that new world OF its un-
ending melodies. What more appropriate
time could be chosen for our coming together
to do honor to departed friends? Our beauti-
ful earth, clothed in her mantle Of green. the
air redolcnt with 4 thousand perfumes, and
the ear rayished with the enchanting carol of
birds. Winter has gone. and his chilling foot
prints are erased by warm and genial spring.
SO our grief for the dead should he soothed by
the comforting reflection that lite Of eternal
happiness is theirs after they pass through
the chilling shadows of death. lhc dead
whom we today honor, fell in defense of
southern Institutions and homes. These were
equally heroes whether they fell on the field
amidst the rattle OF musketry and the boom
ing of canon. or breathed out their lives sur
rounded by the horrors of military hospital
The terrible war in which they fell was n
struggle for principle, by men fully believing
they were in the right. The power OF COM
promise had been paralyzed and final aD-
peal was made to the sword Generations
must pass away before a iust and unbiased
view of all sides of this struggle can be ex-
pected. We of the present generation. fresh
from the field of slaughter. heated by passion
aud prejudice. cannot avoid errors of fjudg-
ment. AS brute force never decides the right
or wrong Of principle, so men rarely change
their opinions, merely because they were
on the losing side War, however in civil
ized countries settles the question ofpractica-
bility or policy. and it is our duty AS good
citizens to accept the solution in this case,
and join honestly and heartily in building up
our magnificent country. And while we bow
our heads in the shame and modification that
our pride Of country suffers. because the
corruption unveiled in high places, let us de-
termine to put forth the greater energy and
finally wre.t the helm of state from the hands
OF those who but disgrace us and belle our
valued institutions. While we turn our eyes
in sadness from the flag of the Conledcracy
aud remember it only as the banner of dsap-
pointed hopes, we must not forget that wearc
citizens of the American Union, and the flag
of that Union Is now our own and the defense
of its honor is entrusted to us all, When it
was borne high amid The storm of battle, it
was the emblem of antaSonism and Gestruc.
ton, now as 1t floats above rs, its ample folds
caressed by the gentle winds OF peace it is
the emblem of unity and protection. 1t Is
now the banner Of cur common country its
honor is ours and our country honor; it,
degradation would be ours, and our countrys
shame. But while We thus contribute by our
conduct, to our cOuntry's welfare, it would he
contrary to human nature. and greater
shame If We should neglect the duty We owe
to those who died in the fun belief Of 4 future
great Southern Confcderacy." these brave
men gave their lives in the defense of our
sunny land. and they must live in memory's
pictured hall|u 4 We ought to pay the trib-
ute justl" "esuoJec''' who thought with us,
fou"' ''t'ing for n com
Nose passion
.. .... .-.r humanity
al, .,ication of Con-
federa.e,~ ...,d Cne decoration Of the
graves of tho. no wore the grey, and other
appropriate ceremonies, are calculated to dis
turb the ,peace, and should not be counte-
nanced by good citizens. or tolerated by the
general government. Thanks to the moilif,-
ing influence of time, the number of such men
can now almost be told on the fingers. But
the other day the Grand Army Of the Repub-
lie. branch ofwhich only two years ago pro-
tested against the decoration of the southern
graves at Arlington. by its members at Chica-
go. extended a cordial invitation to southern
soldiers and others, to attend and join in the
decoration at that place. Sectionaism ami
mostly. and all illwill must melt before such
conduct like frost work before the sun. Nor
is the south without large hearted and patri
otic sons, who nobly ana warmly respond to
such generous advances. Gen Evans, whose
gallant career is known to us all delivered an
address at Augusta Ga, short time ago. on
memorial day. the occasion being also the
erection Of n handsome monument TO the
memory of the silent slecpers. In that adj
dress he said Let Us do nothing to keep
alive the passions of war. To study its lessons
Is prudence; to profit by its teachings is wis
dom; but to stir up the old animosiies is
madness The voice of this monument will
not be for war, but for peace, 1t will say to
us. The Coniederacy has expired. Its great
life went ont on the purple tide of blood that
flowed from the heatrs of its sons. We have
buried tive do not intend to exhume its re-
mains. We were utterly defeated ard we dis
miss our rescnmentS. Sadly We parted with
the dear old cross of stars, which we followed
through many storm Of shot and she'll but
we take with the true hand Of southern hon
or the staff that holds the flag of stars and
stripes" After the address the ladies' of
the southern Memorial Association decorated
the graves of Federal and Confederate sol
dicrs alike. What a noble spectacle! She,
the last best gift of God to man, who ever
delights to pour oil upon the troubled billows
OF passion. here stands forth like an angel of
peace, beautifully foreshadowing the era of
good feeling that we all feel Is rapidly com
ing Once the graves of the Federal dead at
Arlington were strewn with rare and beauti-
fu flowers, while the bare graves of the Con-
fedcrateS stood out naked and lonely, appeal
ing in their mate neglect. to all beholdrrs in
hearttones irresstibly sad and sorrowful.
Night threw her sombre mantle over the
scene and when the sun peeped over the east
ern horizon. behold the winds had been busy.
and that tribute. which man had refused to
his fellow man had been bestowed by the air
OF heaven. The flowers from the Federal
graves had all been blown upon Confederate
graves. This singular incident is forever EN-
halmed in poesy, by a poet well known to us
all a poet. whose Tyre has often answered. in
sweetest notes to his magic touch:
The broken column reared in air
To him who made our country great,
Can almost east its shadow where
The victims of grand despair
In long long lines of death await