American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-04-29
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+" The Southland Mourns Her Dead"

year Is past, anu we are pieaSeu I
say that it was observed with it
usual beautiful and appropriate
customs. That it should be OBJ
served in this of all other years wa
eminently proper, for one hundred
years ago men were dying tor q
cause none hOlicr than that fol
which our martyred dead now SLEEP
beneath the sod and while it il
sought to make this the year of re-
Cancellation throughout the entire
length of our land, and while we
most earnestly pray that the pas,
sions sngendered by our late war
may be lulled to sleep by the gentle
hand of peace, yet to accomplish
this desirable end We do not think
that we are called upon to forget
the bravery of our dead, or that we
are to turn our backs on the bright
est and, at the same time, most
mournful history of the South. Ten
years have not blotted out our re
collections of those who died in the
grey. We love their memory still
and we cannot for one moment be-
Iieve that the North will ever de-
mand of us that We shall forget
them. May not the heroes of the
late war and others point with pride
to these fower-strewn mounds all
over the North and South as monu.
ments which tell the rising genera
ton that Americans ever revere
and honor the memory of those who
die in q cause they believe to be
right.
At the appointed time the various
schools and benevolent So
cieties assembled at the Court
house; while, TO the sound of mar
tial music, the Rifles, the pride of
marched with glistening
bayonets and buoyant steps to the
same spot. The address was deliv.
cred by Judge j. w. Downs. who,
in spite Of the many speeches de-
liyered heretofore on the same
subject, marked out for himself
new line of thought. His Grafton
was of the highest order of merit,
with fancy's rarest:f flowers,
aud yet resting on q foundation of
the most invincib!e logic.
After the delivery of the address
the procession was formed, and
wendell its way to the cemetery,
where the graves were literally
covered with flowers-Spring's first
and most beautiful offerings.
Intermingled at the graves of the
dead were innocent childhood, ma
ture manhood, lovely womanhood,
and the gallant soldlery of to-day.
After the decoration, the Madison
Rifles, headed by the band, in most
gallant style marched to the resi-
dence of their beloved captain,
George Handy, where the dust and
fatigue Of the march were quickly
in the taste of the good
things there spread. Toasts appro
pirate to the day were drunk, while
he gallant captain received for
himself and worthy lady the thanks
and assurances of esteem of the
gallant body of men whom he has
the honor to command. After |
honor to the dead comes honor to |
the living; and as this was the first |
of the citizens Of Madison
since Judicial honors were bestowed |
IN some of her most worthy sons,
tho gallant Rifles marched to the |
lOuse Of Hon. j. A. p. Campbell,
Who, to the regret of all, was alb
vent, but this did not prevent the |
giving of three hearty cheers for
he distinguished gentleman, who |
will SO worthily fill the chair once
occupied by the distinguished
Alex. Fl. Handy. This latter gen.
tleman, 10 response to the Rifles,
who halted in front Of his mansion,
expressed in . few touching and
eloquent sentences his kind wishes
for the Rifles and his thanks for the
After reaching the
residence of Judge 8. 8. Calhoon,
who made a talk in bis usual happy
style, the Rifles enjoyed his hos
pitality, which was marked by that
whole sO,,led warmth which char
acterizes all his relations with his
felIow-man. With certainty of full
filIment. we predict for him a bright
judicial future. One of the most
exquisitely beautiful little rep,i Q
that We have ever heard on any
occasion was made by Major Il. j.
Semmes, in response to a toast
drunk at Judge Calhoon's.
Thus passed another Decoration
Day. Let others think as they may
as for ourselves We say, keep its
holy every wear, 1t is